Australia Skilled Independent Visa (189) – A Deep Dive

Written by Alex Langholm, Migration Lawyer & BorderPilot Contributor

“The 189 isn’t just a visa; it’s an invitation to join Australia’s economic story—without a corporate leash, state nomination, or complicated investment scheme. The catch? You have to nail the points game.”
— Alex Langholm

Moving to Australia on a permanent, points-tested visa can feel like assembling IKEA furniture without the little Allen key. My job as a migration lawyer is to hand you that metaphorical key (plus a few extra screws) so you avoid the wobbles. In this guide I’ll break down:

• Who qualifies for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).
• The exact documents you’ll need—and the ones you probably forgot.
• Current costs, realistic processing times, and how COVID-era backlogs still echo.
• A step-by-step game plan, highlighting the roadblocks that catch 7 out of 10 first-time applicants.

If your dream is to swap traffic-jam fog for Bondi sunrise, keep reading. By the end, you’ll know whether the 189 is your highway to permanent residency or whether you should explore other options (maybe Portugal’s Golden Visa or Germany’s start-up routes—more on those later).

1. Visa 189 in a Nutshell

Subclass 189 is:

• Permanent from day one (you land with a 5-year travel facility, then roll into citizenship eligibility after 4 years of residence).
• Points-tested—no employer or state sponsorship needed.
• For occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

Sounds simple, right? The complexity hides in four words: “invited by the Minister.” You first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). Only if your points stack higher than the competition will the system spit out an invitation.

2. Core Eligibility Criteria

Below is the checklist I use in client onboarding. If you can’t tick every box, pause the process until you can—border security doesn’t do “almost.”

2.1 Age

• Must be under 45 at the time you receive an invitation.
• Turning 45 between EOI submission and invitation = game over.

Roadblock Alert: Birthday creeping up? Lodge EOI early and consider state-sponsored Subclass 190 as a fallback.

2.2 Occupation on MLTSSL

• Over 200 occupations—engineers, ICT professionals, health workers, trades.
• Each occupation links to a specific skills-assessment authority (e.g., Engineers Australia).

2.3 Positive Skills Assessment

• Mandatory before the EOI counts.
• Validity: Usually 3 years (varies by authority).
• Must reflect the occupation code you choose in the EOI.

2.4 English Proficiency

• Minimum Competent English:
• IELTS 6 in each band
• PTE 50, or equivalent
• Higher scores translate to more points (up to 20 for Superior English).

2.5 Points Test—65 Is the Floor, Not the Goal

Competitive reality: Invitations in the 2023–24 program year often required 90+ points for ICT roles, 80–85 for engineering, and 75+ for health occupations.

2.6 Health & Character

• Health examinations for all family members, whether migrating or not.
• Police certificates from every country you’ve lived in for 12 months+ during the last decade.

3. Required Documents (Before vs After Invitation)

I break paperwork into two buckets: Pre-EOI Essentials and Post-invitation Extras. Get 90 % ready before hitting Submit; you’ll only get 60 days to lodge the visa after invitation.

3.1 Pre-EOI Essentials

• Passport bio pages for all applicants.
• Skills assessment result letter.
• English test report (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL/OET/Cambridge).
• University transcripts & degree certificates.
• Employment references conforming to Home Affairs format (tasks, hours, salary, letterhead).
• Partner’s skills/English proof (if claiming partner points).

3.2 Post-Invitation Extras

• National police checks (AFP & overseas).
• Form 80 (the notorious 19-page character questionnaire).
• Health examination booking confirmation (eMedical).
• Birth certificates & relationship evidence (marriage cert, joint bills, photos) for family members.
• Form 1221 (if requested).
• Signed Australian values statement.

Pro tip: Upload documents in color PDF ≤5 MB per file. Poor scans are the #1 trigger for s56 “request for more information” delays.

4. Costs & Processing Times

4.1 Government Fees (July 2024)

• Main applicant: AUD 4,640
• Each additional 18+ applicant: AUD 2,320
• Each under-18 applicant: AUD 1,160
• Second instalment (if any adult has less than Functional English): AUD 4,885—payable after visa approval but before grant.
• Skills assessment fees: AUD 300–1,050 depending on authority.
• English test: Around AUD 410.
• Health exams: AUD 350–500 per person.

4.2 Processing Times

Home Affairs publishes rolling medians; here’s what we actually see in practice:

Add it up and your realistic door-to-door timeline is 9 to 24 months. Yes, some priority occupations move faster, but set expectations accordingly.

Why the range?
Monthly invitation quotas vary.
Backlogs from border closures still ripple.
* Security checks for certain passports lengthen timelines.

5. Application Steps & Hidden Roadblocks

Below is the playbook I share with fee-paying clients. I’ll flag the landmines so you don’t step on them.

Step 1: Confirm Occupation & Points

1. Search the MLTSSL.
2. Cross-reference with your actual job duties (ANZSCO tasks list).
3. Use BorderPilot’s Points Calculator (it mirrors the Home Affairs algorithm).

Roadblock: Over-claiming work experience. Only full-time, post-qualification experience counts. Part-time? Convert hours to full-time equivalents.

Step 2: Obtain Skills Assessment

• Contact the nominated authority early (some take 12 weeks).
• Provide certified transcripts, employment letters, and a CV.
• Request an “Employment Letter for Migration” from HR—generic references don’t work.

Roadblock: Mismatched dates or job titles: Engineers Australia will shave off entire years if duties aren’t engineering-centric.

Step 3: English Test

• Book as soon as possible—urban centres fill up.
• Aim for Proficient (IELTS 7) or Superior (IELTS 8) to stay competitive.

Insider tip: If test nerves haunt you, PTE’s computer-based format feels more predictable than IELTS’ speaking section.

Step 4: Lodge Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Create an ImmiAccount; enter EOI via SkillSelect.
• Double-check passport number—typos here mean a void invitation later.
• The EOI sits in the pool for 2 years. Update it whenever you gain points (e.g., birthday, new English score).

Roadblock: Age points drop at 33, 40, 45. A delayed invitation could lower your score mid-pool.

Step 5: Wait for Invitation

Unlike Greece’s fast-track Golden Visa, invitations here depend on monthly quotas. Keep refreshing your inbox on the 11th of each month (historic pattern).

• If you hit 90+ points, expect 1–3 rounds.
• 70–75 points? You might wait a year.

Step 6: Lodge Visa Application (within 60 Days)

• Pay the base charge upfront.
• Upload all documents; incomplete apps get pushed to the “complex” queue.
• Include Form 80 even if not requested—saves 4–6 weeks later.

Roadblock: Credit card failure. Home Affairs accepts Visa/Mastercard/AMEX; some banks block high AUD transactions. Clear the spending limit first.

Step 7: Health & Character Checks

• Use the HAP ID generated in ImmiAccount.
• Medicals expire after 12 months—if the file drags, you might need new ones.

Roadblock: Minor medical findings (e.g., treated TB) trigger a referral to the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth, adding 3-6 months.

Step 8: Additional Information Requests (s56 / s57)

Approximately 30 % of 189 applicants receive a Natural Justice or Information request.

Common triggers:
Unverifiable employment.
Police certificate out of date.
* Name mismatch (e.g., maiden vs married).

Respond within 28 days to avoid refusal.

Step 9: Visa Grant!

You’ll receive a visa grant notice via email outlining:

• Visa grant number & start date.
• Initial entry date (usually 12 months from medicals).
• Five-year travel facility expiry.

Celebrate with a Tim Tam, then open BorderPilot to schedule your arrival tasks—bank account, TFN, Medicare signup, rental search—before wheels down.

6. Post-Grant Obligations & Pathway to Citizenship

• Resident Return Visa (RRV): After 5 years, renew if you haven’t spent two years in Australia.
• Citizenship:
• 4 years lawful stay, last 12 months as a permanent resident.
• Less than 12 months absence in total; less than 90 days in year before application.

7. When the 189 Isn’t the Right Fit

Even with stellar credentials, you might hit blockers:

• Occupation only on STSOL → look at state-nominated 190.
• Age 45+ → employer-sponsored 186 (Direct Entry) or Germany’s start-up visa alternative.
• Points stuck at 65–70 → regional 491 might salvage the dream.

Don’t shoehorn yourself; visa refusals stain your migration history.

8. FAQ Lightning Round

Q: Can I include my partner and kids later?
Yes, but adding them post-grant means new application fees and medicals. Cheaper to front-load.

Q: Do I need to stay in a particular state?
No. Unlike the 190, the 189 offers full mobility from arrival.

Q: Will a provisional 491 hurt my 189 chances?
Holding a 491 locks you out of most permanent visas for 3 years—choose wisely.

Q: Can I overlap a 482 work visa while waiting?
Absolutely. Many clients hold a temporary visa during the wait; just maintain lawful status.

9. Final Thoughts

The Skilled Independent Visa is often dubbed the “gold standard” because it gives you maximum freedom with minimal strings attached—but that freedom is earned through meticulous paperwork and a high points bar. Treat the process like a marathon dressed up as a chess match: endurance plus strategy.

BorderPilot’s data pulls live invitation cut-offs, occupation ceiling updates, and processing times so you can tweak your strategy in real time. Why fly blind?

Ready to see whether the 189 stacks up for you—or if another pathway is faster or cheaper? Create your free relocation plan with BorderPilot today and let our analytics crunch the numbers before you book that IELTS slot.

See you in the sun.