Permanent residency is the ultimate goal of most skilled migrants coming to Australia. In a time when Australia is still lacking in skilled labour, there are two migration pathways for skilled professionals with competitive profiles: the newly launched Skills in Demand Visa and the popular State Nominated 190 Visa.
Both of these are options for skilled individuals, yet have substantial differences in terms of long-term residency, processing time and employment condition flexibility. Each applicant should be aware of where each option lies in Australia’s labour shortages, and which pathway would be most suitable in line with long-term career and migration plans.
What is the Skills in Demand Visa?
Part of the government’s new migration reform package, this visa replaces the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) model and has three main streams:
The Skills in Demand Visa allows employers to access the critical workers they need for high-priority occupations across health, engineering, technology, education and many trades. A significant benefit is more flexibility with jobs, as well as a faster, clearer pathway to permanent residency.
Designed to be more flexible than the older Employer-Sponsored Temporary Visas, the Skills in Demand Visa is a temporary visa however it offers an excellent transition pathway to Australian Permanent Residency for eligible applicants with Australian work experience in an eligible occupation.
What is the 190 Visa?
A permanent residency pathway is the Skilled Nominated Visa 190. It’s based on receiving an invitation from a state or territory to live and work in their region as a skilled worker.
Skilled Nominated (190) Visa eligibility includes:
The 190 Visa is a popular path for applicants seeking direct permanent residency without employer sponsorship. However, competition for invitations to apply is highly variable depending on state nomination limits, occupation ceilings, and regional and seasonal rounds of invitations.
Processing times in 2025: Which one is faster?
Skills in Demand Visa processing: Visas for sponsored applicants are generally faster, because the employer wants you and you fill a current skills shortage. In many cases, you can expect:
This new visa is tied directly to labour market shortages, so processing is expected to move faster for occupations on the priority lists.
190 Visa processing: Processing times vary, and in many cases are dependent on:
For nominated applicants in 2025, it’s more common for PR to be granted within 6-24 months (post-nomination). Getting the initial invitation is the bottleneck. Highly sought occupations can receive state nomination in a matter of weeks, while others may wait longer based on state needs.
Verdict: For temporary residency, the new Skills in Demand Visa is much faster. For direct permanent residency, the 190 offers quicker processing once nominated.
Eligibility differences: Who qualifies faster?
Skills in Demand Visa: Most eligibility is tied to employer sponsorship and occupation lists. Applicants who can show strong English, recent work experience, and recognised qualifications go faster.
190 Visa: Eligibility is tied to skills assessment, point score, state nomination, and skills assessment. Highly-skilled applicants may still wait long if their occupation has low state demand.
Verdict: Skilled workers with a job offer and employer sponsorship qualify faster on the Skills in Demand Work Visa pathway. Independent applicants often consider the 190 routes instead.
Priority skills and occupation alignment
Skills in demand visa priorities:
190 Visa priorities are very state-specific:
Verdict: The 190 will likely be faster for PR if your occupation is on many state priority lists, and you’re eligible for nomination. If it’s in high demand but the states have limited nominations, the Skills in Demand Visa may be a more direct path.
Long-term residency outcomes
Skills in Demand Visa: The visa is a temporary pathway to PR with a possible access to Australian permanent residency visa a Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream.
190 Visa: Visas that grant immediate permanent residency on application decision, with full work rights, Medicare access and a stable long-term settlement option.
Verdict: Go with the 190 Visa if you want a guaranteed PR from the beginning and meet the eligibility criteria..
In the current climate, both routes are great options for skilled workers; it just depends on your profession, the jobs you can realistically get, and how long you’re looking to take. The Skills in Demand Visa is for those with a solid job offer who want the quickest route to getting into the country to start living and working. The 190 Visa is the better option for applicants who wish for direct permanent residency and have the skills and state options that allow them to compete for a nomination. For many skilled workers, using Australian migration services like Heenan & Browne Visa Migration Services can help determine the most strategic pathway for long-term career goals.
At Heenan & Browne Visa Migration Services, we take time to learn about you, your background, and your goals. We also consider the current market to guide you on which visa you are most likely to succeed with in the long term. We take personal responsibility for your case, guiding you through the whole process from eligibility and application to the final grant of your visa, to make the process as seamless and stress-free for you as possible.
