GSM & Skilled Visa

GSM & Skilled Visa

Support with expressions of interest, points strategy and skills assessments for skilled migration pathways.

Skilled Independent Visa — Subclass 189

The Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who are invited to apply through the Australian Government's SkillSelect system. Home Affairs describes it as a visa that allows invited workers, and New Zealand citizens with the skills Australia needs, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. It does not require a state nomination or an employer, which is why it attracts so much interest and why competition for invitations is strong.

What the Subclass 189 Visa Is

The subclass 189 is a points tested permanent visa. Holders can live, work and study anywhere in Australia, access Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and later apply for citizenship if they meet the residence requirements. The visa is independent in the sense that you do not need a sponsor. You earn the right to apply through your points, your occupation and the invitation process.

It sits alongside other skilled pathways. The Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 needs a state or territory nomination and adds points for it. The Skilled Work Regional visa is a provisional visa with a regional condition. The subclass 189 gives the most freedom, because you are not tied to a state, but the trade off is that invitations go to the highest ranked applicants in occupations the government wants.

Who the Visa Is For

The subclass 189 suits people with strong skills, strong English and a high points score. Typical applicants include:

• Engineers, IT professionals, accountants and other professionals with recognised qualifications
• Nurses, doctors, teachers and other occupations that the government prioritises
• Tradespeople with formal assessments and relevant experience
• Skilled workers already in Australia who want to move from a temporary visa to permanent residence
• Overseas skilled workers who have been preparing for years to build their points

Home Affairs also lists New Zealand citizens in the description of the visa, and a separate New Zealand stream exists with its own requirements. This page focuses on the invited stream that most overseas applicants use.

Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka represent a large share of skilled migration interest. The requirements do not differ by nationality, so the same points test and invitation process apply wherever you live. What differs in practice is how easily applicants can document their experience, and how competitive their occupation is.

Eligibility Requirements at a Glance

The main requirements for the subclass 189 are:

• You nominate an occupation that is on the skilled occupation list that applies to this visa
• You hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation from the relevant assessing authority
• You are under 45 when you are invited to apply
• You have at least competent English
• You score at least 65 points on the points test
• You submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and are invited to apply
• You lodge a valid application within the time allowed after the invitation
• You meet health and character requirements, as do family members who apply with you

Home Affairs states that you need at least 65 points to be eligible for an invitation, but also that 65 does not guarantee one. In practice, invitations are issued to applicants ranked highly, and the cut off score varies by occupation.

Read the full Skilled Independent Visa — Subclass 189 guide ↗

Skilled Nominated Visa — Subclass 190

The Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Home Affairs describes it as a visa that lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents. Because a state government has to choose you first, it works differently from independent skilled visas, and many applicants lose time by approaching it in the wrong order.

What the Subclass 190 Visa Is

The subclass 190 is a points tested permanent visa. Holders can live, work and study anywhere in Australia, access Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and later apply for citizenship if they meet the requirements. Unlike the Skilled Independent visa, you cannot apply for it on your own initiative. A state or territory must nominate you first, and the nomination adds points to your score.

The nomination comes with an expectation. States nominate people because they want skills in their local economy, so they expect you to live and work in the nominating state for an initial period, commonly two years. The visa itself is permanent and not tied to one state by condition, but the commitment is real, and states take it seriously because it affects how they allocate places.

The visa is part of a family of skilled migration pathways. It is different from the Skilled Work Regional provisional visa, which is temporary and carries a regional condition, and from the independent and employer sponsored routes. A consultation can help you compare these before you commit to a path.

Who the Visa Is For

The subclass 190 suits people who have skills that are in demand in a particular state, a positive skills assessment and enough points. Typical applicants include:

• Engineers, IT professionals, accountants and other professionals with a recognised qualification
• Health and education workers whose occupations are prioritised by states
• Tradespeople with a formal assessment and relevant experience
• Skilled workers already in Australia on a temporary visa who want permanent residence
• Overseas applicants with strong English, work experience and qualifications aligned with a state's priorities

Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka make up a large share of skilled migration enquiries, and the competition for places is real. The rules do not favour or restrict applicants by nationality, so the same criteria apply wherever you live. What differs is how easily you can document your experience and how competitive your occupation is.

Eligibility Requirements at a Glance

The main requirements for the subclass 190 are:

• You are invited by the state or territory to apply, after being nominated
• Your nominated occupation is eligible for the state that nominates you
• You hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation from the relevant assessing authority
• You are under 45 when you are invited to apply
• You have at least competent English
• You meet the minimum points score, which is 65 including the points for state nomination
• You meet health and character requirements, and so do any family members who apply with you
• You submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and receive an invitation

Minimum points and occupation settings are set by the Department and the states, so please confirm them at the time you apply. Many applicants find that the minimum is only the starting line. In competitive occupations, states tend to invite people with scores well above the minimum.

Read the full Skilled Nominated Visa — Subclass 190 guide ↗

Skilled Work Regional Visa — Subclass 491

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is a temporary visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. Home Affairs describes it as a temporary visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional parts of the country. It lasts five years, and for many holders it leads to permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa subclass 191.

What the Subclass 491 Visa Is

The subclass 491 is a points tested provisional visa. Holders can live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. They can travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid, and family members included in the application can accompany them.

Two things set it apart from permanent skilled visas such as the subclass 189 and the subclass 190.

• It is temporary, so it does not give permanent residence on its own.
• It carries a regional requirement. You are expected to live, work and study in a designated regional area while you hold the visa, and time in the wrong location can affect your path to permanent residence.

In return, it gives applicants extra points for nomination or family sponsorship, and it can be a realistic option for people who would struggle to reach a high score for a permanent visa. Many applicants use it as a stepping stone and later apply for the subclass 191.

Who the Visa Is For

The subclass 491 suits skilled workers who are willing to build a life outside the largest cities. Typical applicants include:

• Skilled professionals whose points score is lower than the usual cut off for a permanent skilled visa
• Workers whose occupation is in demand in a particular state or regional area
• Applicants who have a relative living in a designated regional area who may be able to sponsor them
• Skilled workers already living in a regional area of Australia on a temporary visa
• Applicants who want permanent residence eventually and accept a regional pathway to reach it

Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka often look at the subclass 491 because the extra points can make a difference. The rules do not change by nationality, so the same points test and conditions apply wherever you live.

Eligibility Requirements at a Glance

The main requirements for the subclass 491 are:

• You are nominated by a state or territory government, or sponsored by an eligible relative who lives in a designated regional area
• Your occupation is on the list that applies to your nomination or sponsorship
• You hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation
• You are under 45 when you are invited to apply
• You have at least competent English
• You meet the points requirement, which includes 15 points for nomination or sponsorship
• You submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and are invited to apply
• You lodge a valid application within the time allowed after the invitation
• You meet health and character requirements, as do family members who apply with you

Check the current settings on the Home Affairs website. Some sources describe the minimum score as 65 points including the nomination bonus, but invitation scores are often much higher than the minimum, so treat the minimum as a floor and not a target.

Read the full Skilled Work Regional Visa — Subclass 491 guide ↗