Subclass 189 Visa: Skilled Independent Visa for Australia PR

Planning a permanent move to Australia without an employer, state, or family sponsor? The Subclass 189 visa is Australia's flagship points-tested permanent residency pathway built for skilled professionals who want to live and work anywhere in the country on their own merit. At GreenTree Immigration, we guide applicants from India through every stage of the Australia PR visa journey, from points assessment to visa grant.

Whether you're an engineer, IT professional, accountant, or manager, this explains who qualifies, how the points system works, what it costs, and how to apply with confidence.

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent visa that lets invited skilled workers live and work anywhere in Australia without needing sponsorship from an employer, state, or territory or family member. It's a points-tested visa, meaning your eligibility is determined by your age, English proficiency, work experience, qualifications, and other factors scored against a national benchmark.

Once granted, the visa entitles you to the following:

• Live, work, and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely
• Access Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system
• Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency
• A five-year travel facility to enter and exit Australia
• A pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements

This makes the Subclass 189 visa one of the most sought-after categories under Australia immigration, since it offers full independence from sponsors and unrestricted location choice, unlike the Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 regional visa, both of which require nomination.

To qualify for the Skilled Independent visa eligibility checklist, you must meet the following:

• Age: Be under 45 years old at the time you receive your invitation to apply.
• Nominated occupation: Your occupation must be listed on Australia's skilled occupation list, specifically the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Applicants whose occupation appears only on the STSOL or ROL should consider the Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa instead.
• Skills assessment: Hold a positive, current skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation (such as Engineers Australia, ACS, VETASSESS, ANMAC, or AITSL).
• English language ability: Demonstrate at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band, or an equivalent score in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge C1).
• Points test: Score a minimum of 65 points on the points test. In practice, invitations typically go to candidates scoring well above this — often 80 to 95+ points for competitive occupations.
• Expression of Interest (EOI): Submit a free EOI through SkillSelect to be considered in invitation rounds.
• Health and character: Meet standard health examinations and police clearance requirements.

Points are awarded across several factors at the time of your invitation:

1. Age — applicants between 25 and 32 receive the highest score
2. English language ability — additional points for Proficient or Superior English beyond the minimum requirement
3. Skilled employment experience — both in Australia and overseas
4. Educational qualifications — including Australian study and regional study bonuses
5. Partner skills — your partner's qualifications and skills assessment may add points
6. Professional Year — completing an approved Professional Year program in Australia
7. NAATI accreditation — a recognised translator/interpreter credential

Since requirements change frequently and your actual score depends on individual circumstances, the most reliable way to know where you stand is to calculate your PR points with our free assessment tool before lodging your EOI.