189 Visa Australia Explained: Points, Costs & Processing Times (2026)

What the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa actually requires in 2026 — the real points score behind the 65-point minimum, occupation list rules, skills assessment timing, government fees, and how long a decision takes. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

Watch

Chapters

  1. 0:00 189 visa: no employer needed.
  2. 0:14 Real score needed:
  3. 0:25 What a 189 grant gives you
  4. 0:35 Where the points come from
  5. 0:47 More points on offer
  6. 1:00 Points needed, by occupation
  7. 1:16 Must be on the MLTSSL:
  8. 1:28 Skills assessment, then EOI
  9. 1:40 Government fees
  10. 1:52 Total realistic cost
  11. 2:09 How long a decision takes
  12. 2:21 Hard age limit:
  13. 2:33 Where applications go wrong
  14. 2:45 An EOI can be updated
  15. 2:57 Where to read more

Transcript

The subclass 189 visa needs no employer and no state nomination — just points. The stated minimum is 65, but most people need far more.

In practice, most occupations need 85 to 95 points for an invitation in 2026. Some high-demand occupations need 100 or more.

Grant it, and you get permanent residence from day one — free to live and work anywhere, not tied to any employer or state, with Medicare access.

Age 25 to 32 earns the maximum 30 points. Superior English earns 20, Proficient English 10. Eight or more years of overseas skilled work earns 15.

A PhD earns 20 points, a bachelor's or master's 15. Three to five years of Australian skilled work adds 10. A Professional Year or NAATI credential each add 5.

Realistic scores vary by occupation. Accountants typically need 95 to 100. ICT professionals need 90 to 95. Engineers need 85 to 90. Healthcare roles need 75 to 85.

Your occupation also has to sit on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List — about 212 occupations in 2026, from engineering to nursing to accounting.

Before an EOI, you need a positive skills assessment — typically 4 to 12 weeks, the longest lead-time item. Submit through SkillSelect, and the EOI stays active for 2 years.

The government fee for the primary applicant is $6,135. A partner adds $3,070, a dependent child $1,540.

Add skills assessment, English test, health checks, police clearances and an agent, and a single applicant typically spends $9,500 to $13,500. A family of four can reach $17,000 to $23,000.

Half of applications are decided within about 6 months, 90% within about 15 months. Applicants scoring 95 or more often see a decision in 3 to 6 months.

There's a hard ceiling too: the age limit is under 45 at the time of invitation. At 45 or older when the invitation is issued, the application can't proceed.

The most common issues: a skills assessment against the wrong ANZSCO code, work evidence that doesn't match it, English scores just under the claimed tier, and incomplete partner documents.

The EOI stays active for 2 years and can be updated any time — adding experience, a better English score, or extra credentials can lift a score that wasn't enough the first time.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

Short versions

Talk it through with a registered agent

Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.

Related Migratio resources