The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent, points-tested visa for eligible skilled workers who do not require employer, state/territory or family sponsorship. Applicants must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and receive an invitation before applying.
Three different streams:
- Points-tested stream: For the Skilled Independent (Points-tested) stream you need to submit an expression of interest.
- New Zealand stream: The New Zealand stream of the Skilled Independent visa subclass 189 is now closed to new primary applications.
- Hong Kong stream: Subclass 189 also includes a Hong Kong stream for eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who meet the relevant visa, residence and eligibility requirements. This stream should be considered separately from the points-tested stream.
Sc 189 update - Processing Priorities
If you have already lodged a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa application, these dates indicate which applications the Department of Home Affairs is currently prioritising for processing.
Applications that were lodged in or before:
- June 2026 – Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources sectors, or in Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
- June 2026 – Visa applications where the primary applicant was in Australia at the time they lodged their application.
- November 2025 – Visa applications where the primary applicant was outside of Australia at the time they lodged their application and whose application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
- November 2025 – All other visa applications from applicants who were outside Australia when they applied.
Sc 189 - Latest SkillSelect invitation round
Information last checked: 12 Oct 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that the proposed Skilled Independent visa (Sc 189) invitation round for 30 September 2026 did not occur. The round has been postponed and is now will be held on 15 October 2026.
Eligibility
- have a relevant occupation on the 189 occupation list (MLTSSL)
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply
- meet the points test pass mark of 65 points
- Be aged between 18 and 44 inclusive
- have Competent English
- be invited to apply.
- Meet health and character requirements
The process
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect with details of your nominated occupation, skills and qualifications. SkillSelect will estimate a points score and rank you against other intending migrants. More information about EOIs, including invitation rounds and occupation ceilings, is available.
If you are ranked high enough and there are places available for your nominated occupation, you will be invited to apply for the visa.
If you are invited, you have 60 calendar days to apply for the visa.
Occupation
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
You must have a skills assessment that shows you have the skills and qualifications to work in that occupation.
Points score
You must be able to meet the points score on your invitation letter. This score will be 65 points or more.
The score on your invitation letter is based on the information in your EOI.
You must be able to meet the points score eligibility at the time you are invited to apply for the visa.
Check how many points you might get – Use the points table to calculate your test score.
Everyone who wants to be invited to apply for the visa must submit an EOI. When you submit your EOI you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply for the visa (your EOI will stay in the pool for up to 2 years). There is no cost to submit an EOI.
Points information (Check if you can claim points for):
Assessing authorities
Use the assessing authority listed against your nominated occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
What you can do with a 189 visa
This is a permanent visa. It lets you:
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- travel to and from Australia for five years
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Can I Apply in Australia or Overseas?
You can be in or outside Australia when you submit your EOI. You can either be in Australia or overseas when you apply for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa. To be able to lodge from within Australia, you would need to hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa. Once you apply from within Australia, you will receive a bridging visa allowing you to remain in Australia during processing of your visa application. If your current visa is refused or cancelled you might not be eligible to apply for the 189 visa while you were in Australia.
How long the visa lasts
This is a permanent visa – it lasts indefinitely.
The visa starts on the date it is granted.
Family
You can include your partner and your or your partner’s child or step-child in your application.
Family members who are granted the visa have the same rights and can do the same things as you.
Your obligations
You and your family members must comply with Australian laws and your visa conditions.
You can find your visa conditions in VEVO.
Travel
You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want for five years after the visa is granted.
How VisaEnvoy Can Help with Your 189 Visa Application
Based in Melbourne, VisaEnvoy’s registered migration agents provide comprehensive online migration services to clients across Australia and overseas, including those who have never visited Australia.
We guide you through the Subclass 189 visa process, from your initial eligibility assessment to the final decision on your Australian permanent residency application.
Our services include:
- Eligibility and Skills Assessment: Assessing your qualifications and work experience, checking whether your nominated occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list, and assisting with your skills assessment application.
- Points Assessment and Eligibility Review: Reviewing your points score, identifying which points you can legitimately claim, and assessing your competitiveness based on your nominated occupation and recent invitation trends. We can also advise on potential ways to improve your points score.
- Expression of Interest (EOI): Preparing and submitting your EOI through SkillSelect, ensuring your points claims are supported by appropriate evidence, and updating your EOI when your circumstances change.
- 189 Visa Application: Once you receive an invitation to apply, preparing and lodging your Subclass 189 visa application, including eligible family members and supporting documents.
- Bridging Visa Management: Assisting with relevant bridging visa applications and conditions, where applicable, to help you maintain lawful immigration status in Australia while your application is being processed.
- Ongoing Application Support: Liaising with relevant authorities, responding to requests for further information, and monitoring your application until a decision is made.
Where to Start?
Book a consultation today for a personalised assessment of your eligibility and available Subclass 189 visa pathways.
Sc 189 - Latest SkillSelect invitation round
Information last checked: 12 Oct 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that the proposed Skilled Independent visa (Sc 189) invitation round for 30 September 2026 did not occur. The round has been postponed and is now will be held on 15 October 2026.
Sc 189 update - Processing Priorities
If you have already lodged a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa application, these dates indicate which applications the Department of Home Affairs is currently prioritising for processing.
Applications that were lodged in or before:
- June 2026 – Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources sectors, or in Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
- June 2026 – Visa applications where the primary applicant was in Australia at the time they lodged their application.
- November 2025 – Visa applications where the primary applicant was outside of Australia at the time they lodged their application and whose application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
- November 2025 – All other visa applications from applicants who were outside Australia when they applied.
Stage 1: Initial Eligibility Assessment
The first step that we will take is to conduct an initial assessment of your eligibility for this visa. This involves reviewing your qualifications, work experience, English language and other circumstances, to establish whether or not you are likely to meet the relevant requirements.
As part of this initial eligibility assessment, we will consider which MLTSSL occupation(s) you are likely to be able to nominate, and whether or not you are potentially eligible for a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for that occupation.
We will then provide you with informed and comprehensive advice about your ability to meet the minimum standards that DHA requires migrants to fulfil in order to qualify for an invitation to apply for this visa.
Stage 2: Skills Assessment
Should our initial assessment indicate that you are eligible for a positive skills assessment and EOI, we will prepare your skills assessment application.
For each skilled occupation listed on the MLTSSL, DHA has specified an assessing authority that may carry out skills assessments for that occupation. Only a skills assessment conducted by the relevant assessing authority will be accepted by DHA in support of an EOI.
We will provide you with a full list of the information and documents required to support your application. When you have provided the necessary details and documents, along with the required assessment fee, we will lodge your application with the applicable skills assessing authority.
Stage 3: Expression of Interest
Once you have received a positive skills assessment from the skills assessing authority, we will prepare and lodge your EOI. Although you do not need to provide supporting documents at this stage, you MUST be able to provide evidence that the information supplied in the EOI is correct at the time that you are invited to apply for the visa.
You will subsequently receive a result and points score from DHA, which is used to rank you against other applicants who have lodged EOIs for this visa. Ranking is based partially on whether or not your occupation is a skill that Australia requires at the time your EOI is assessed. If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to lodge a visa application.
Note: DHA retains an EOI for 2 years from the date that it is lodged. During this time, your EOI can be updated if any of your circumstances change (e.g. you obtain a new qualification or skills assessment). If your ranking changes during this 2-year period, based on either your changing circumstances or Australia’s changing skill needs, you may be issued with an invitation to apply for the visa at that point in time.
Stage 4: Visa Application
Once DHA has invited you to apply for this visa, we will prepare and lodge your visa application within the specified time frame, together with all of the documents that support the information that you provided in your EOI. This includes your skills assessment, English language test results, qualifications, work references and all other required documents.
Should your visa application be approved, you will be granted a permanent visa. You may be either in Australia or overseas when your visa is granted.
