Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Application Process — Step by Step

1. 01

   Check occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

   home country

   Subclass 189 is points-based and invitation-only. Your occupation must appear on the MLTSSL. Check the current MLTSSL at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Many IT, engineering, healthcare, accounting, and trades occupations are listed. Some occupations are listed but over-subscribed and require very high points.

   Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗

2. 02

   Obtain skills assessment from relevant assessing body

   home country

   Each occupation has a designated assessing authority (e.g., ACS for IT, Engineers Australia, ANMAC for nurses, CPA/CAANZ for accountants). Submit academic transcripts, employment references, and pay assessment fee (AUD 300–1,000). Outcome: positive skills assessment letter. Allow 4–12 weeks.

   Typical duration: 8-16 weekssource ↗

3. 03

   Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect

   online

   Lodge EOI at skillselect.gov.au. Calculate points: age (max 30 points for 25-32), English (max 20), skilled employment (max 20), qualification (max 20), partner skills (5+), NAATI (5), regional study (5), professional year (5), Australian study (5). Minimum 65 points to lodge; practically need 85-95+ to receive invitation.

   Typical duration: 1-4 weeks (lodgement) + wait for invitationsource ↗

4. 04

   Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA) from SkillSelect

   online

   DHA runs invitation rounds roughly monthly. Higher-scoring EOIs invited first. Points cut-offs vary by occupation and can reach 90+. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application.

   Typical duration: Variable — 1 month to 2+ yearssource ↗

5. 05

   Lodge visa application within 60 days of ITA

   online

   Apply via ImmiAccount. Pay application fee: AUD 4,640 (primary applicant, 2024 figure) plus AUD 2,320/adult dependent and AUD 1,160/child. Provide all evidence: skills assessment, English test result, employment documents, health, character, status declarations.

   Typical duration: 2-4 weeks to submitsource ↗

6. 06

   Complete health examination and police clearances

   home country

   Book medical examination through eMedical at an approved panel physician. Obtain police clearances from every country you have lived in 12+ months since age 16. Character requirements are strict — any serious criminal conviction is disqualifying.

   Typical duration: 2-6 weeks

7. 07

   Visa grant and travel to Australia

   destination

   DHA assesses the application. Timeline varies widely (6 months to 2+ years). On grant, you have a 5-year initial entry validity window. Must make first entry within this window to activate permanent residency.

   Typical duration: Variable

Documents Required

Realistic Costs

~ Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.

AUD 4,640 primary applicant fee (2024). Add AUD 2,320/adult dependent + AUD 1,160/child. Skills assessment fee: AUD 300–1,000. English test: AUD 300–450. Medical exam: AUD 300–450/person. Police clearances: varies by country (AUD 50–300 each). Migration agent: AUD 3,000–8,000 if used. Medicare access after grant — no private health insurance required pre-visa.

Realistic Timeline

• Consulate wait4–104 weeks
• Decision → arrival4 weeks
• Residence card issuance0 weeks
• Total to residence card30–130 weeks

189 grant times highly variable: median ~12 months post-application, but occupation and volume affect this. Skills assessment adds 4-12 weeks before EOI. Invitation wait depends heavily on occupation and points score. 85+ points typically invited within 1-3 months. Borderline scores (65-80) may wait years or never receive invitation.

Renewal

First renewal after

60 months

Subsequent cycle

60 months

Renewal fee

$400USDEURGBPCADAUDINRAEDTHBSGDBRLMXNZAR

Requirements

Subclass 189 is a permanent visa — no annual renewal. The travel component (to re-enter Australia as PR) expires after 5 years from grant. Renew with a Resident Return Visa (RRV subclass 155) to maintain travel rights. Must demonstrate substantial ties to Australia.

Path to Permanent Residency — Details

Years required

0

Integration test

Not required

Path to Citizenship — Details

Years required

4

Processing time

12 months

Language test

Yes (B2)

Civic test

Required

Oath

Required

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Application fee

$490USDEURGBPCADAUDINRAEDTHBSGDBRLMXNZAR

Tax Residency

Trigger

183 days/year of presence

Taxation scope

Worldwide income

Exit-tax country

No

Health Insurance

Mandatory

No

Public system access

After 0 months

Examples: Medicare (public), Bupa Australia, Medibank, HCF, NIB

Banking Setup

Open account before arrival

Not typically possible before arrival

Family Specifics

Spouse work rights

Spouse included on the 189 visa has full, unrestricted work rights as a permanent resident from day one.

Child school enrolment

Children included on 189 can attend Australian public schools at no cost. Universities charge domestic student rates (HECS-HELP eligible).

Parent inclusion

Not eligible

Sibling inclusion

Not eligible

Gotchas — Things to Watch For

• ⚠Points cut-offs can rise dramatically between rounds — a score that received an invitation last year may not this year
• ⚠Occupation lists change: your occupation may be removed from MLTSSL between EOI and invitation, invalidating your EOI
• ⚠Employment reference letters must be precise — DHA is strict on format, and inadequate letters are a top rejection cause
• ⚠The 60-day lodgement window after ITA is tight — prepare all documents before submitting EOI
• ⚠Australia taxes worldwide income as soon as you become a tax resident — plan for this if you have offshore income
• ⚠Partner/spouse can be included but adultt dependents add AUD 2,320 to the visa fee
• ⚠Subclass 189 is employer-independent (no sponsorship needed) — a major advantage over 482/186

What This Visa Does NOT Allow

• ×Does not by itself grant citizenship — separate naturalisation applies after the required residence period
• ×The permanent-resident travel facility requires residing in Australia at least two years in every five to keep automatic re-entry rights

Before You Arrive — Checklist

1. Obtain positive skills assessment from designated assessing authority
2. Complete English language test if not exempt (only select native-English-passport-holders exempt)
3. Gather all employment reference letters meeting DHA format requirements
4. Submit EOI and optimise points — consider upskilling (professional year, NAATI, Australian study) to boost score

After You Arrive — Checklist

1. Enrol in Medicare (universal healthcare) at a Services Australia office — immediate eligibility as PR
2. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online via ATO website
3. Open a bank account (CommBank, ANZ, Westpac all offer new-to-Australia accounts)
4. Enrol children in school — free public schooling for PR children
5. Register vehicle and obtain Australian driving licence (typically requires passing a local test)

Common Rejection Reasons

• •Occupation removed from MLTSSL between EOI submission and invitation
• •Skills assessment negative or expired by time of visa lodgement
• •English test result below Competent English threshold or expired
• •Employment documentation insufficient — references missing required detail or not on letterhead
• •Points overclaimed (e.g., counting employment in wrong category, inflating hours)
• •Character failure (serious criminal conviction, or misrepresentation)
• •Health failure (active tuberculosis, or conditions requiring significant Australian healthcare costs)

Recent Legislative Changes

• 2024-07-01

  Visa application charge (VAC) increased to AUD 4,640 for primary applicants. DHA also updated the MLTSSL, removing some over-supplied occupations and adding several healthcare roles.source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions