Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Minimum points to enter the SkillSelect pool

Age range scoring the highest points

Max points — skilled employment experience

Max points — educational qualifications

Applicants must generally be under 45 at the time they're invited to apply.

Must hold a nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) specifically.

A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for that occupation, current and not expired at the time of invitation. Skills assessments typically lapse after around three years, so timing an EOI around a current assessment matters.

An EOI itself is free to lodge, but it expires after two years if no invitation is received, at which point it needs to be resubmitted.

Skilled professionals who want unrestricted permanent residence with no obligation to live in a particular state or regional area and who are prepared to compete on points rather than rely on a sponsor.

This visa suits applicants with occupations commonly represented in recent invitation rounds, such as nursing, teaching, engineering, ICT and select trades, though eligibility always depends on your specific occupation sitting on the current MLTSSL rather than a general sense that your field is in demand.

Specialist Points-Tested Expertise

• Our agents are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA)
• We hold Graduate Certificates in Migration Law from the Australian National University
• Points-tested visa strategy requires a distinct skill set from employer-sponsored visa work — expertise we bring to every Subclass 189 assessment

Honest, Strategic Advice

• The 189 isn't always the fastest or most realistic pathway, even for eligible applicants — and we tell you that upfront, before months are spent waiting on an EOI
• We assess your points score against recent invitation trends for your specific occupation
• Where the 189 isn't competitive, we explore whether state nomination or an employer-sponsored pathway gets you to permanent residency sooner