Australia Skilled Migration Visa 189 vs 190: Which One Should You Apply For?

Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) program remains one of the most sought-after permanent residency routes in the world, drawing applicants from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, the UK and dozens of other countries every year. Two visas sit at the heart of it: the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) and the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa). Both grant full permanent residency and both use the same points test, but they diverge on sponsorship, occupation eligibility, where you can live, and — crucially in 2026 — how realistic your chances of an invitation actually are.

This guide walks through both visas as they stand in 2026, including the harder truths that older comparison articles gloss over: the 189 has become extremely competitive, and for most applicants the 190 (or its regional cousin, the 491) is the more realistic path. If you are weighing Australia against other destinations, our Canada vs Australia for immigrants comparison is a useful companion read.

Quick Comparison: 189 vs 190

Both visas are permanent from the day they are granted — the 190's "obligation" is a commitment you sign up to, not a probation. Neither reduces your rights to Medicare, work, study or an eventual pathway to citizenship.

A Note on the Occupation Lists in 2026

There is a common source of confusion worth clearing up first. In December 2024 Australia introduced the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which consolidated older lists into a single list of around 456 occupations. However, the CSOL applies to the employer-sponsored visas — the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186 Direct Entry).

For the points-tested GSM visas covered here — the 189, 190 and 491 — the older framework still applies as of 2026: the MLTSSL governs the 189, while the 190 and 491 draw on the MLTSSL plus each state's own nominated occupation lists (which historically pull from the STSOL and regional lists). If you read an article claiming the CSOL now governs the 189, treat the rest of it with caution — it has confused two separate systems. Always confirm your occupation against the current Department of Home Affairs list and the specific state list before you invest in a skills assessment.

How the Points Test Works

Both visas use the same GSM points test. The floor is 65 points, but reaching 65 only makes you eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) — it does not mean you will be invited. In 2026 the practical scores are far higher, which we cover below. Here is how points are awarded.

Age (up to 30 points)

• 25–32 years: 30 points
• 18–24 or 33–39 years: 25 points
• 40–44 years: 15 points
• 45 and over: 0 points (you cannot meet the age criterion, so this route effectively closes)

Age is the single most decisive factor and the one you cannot influence. A 33rd birthday quietly costs you 5 points; a 40th costs another 10. If you are close to a threshold, the timing of your EOI can matter more than any other decision — this is a recurring theme in our piece on whether you are too old to migrate.

English Language Ability (up to 20 points)

• Superior English (IELTS 8 in each band, or equivalent PTE): 20 points
• Proficient English (IELTS 7 in each band, or equivalent): 10 points
• Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band): 0 points (the minimum you must meet)

For most applicants, English is the fastest, cheapest way to move 10 or 20 points. Going from Proficient to Superior can be the difference between sitting in the EOI pool indefinitely and being invited. PTE Academic is widely preferred over IELTS because its scoring tends to be more consistent for the "Superior" band; our IELTS tips for immigration guide applies to both tests.

Skilled Employment Experience (up to 20 points)

Counted separately for overseas and Australian work in your nominated (or closely related) occupation. Only experience gained after you met the skill level for the occupation counts, and the two categories are capped at 20 points combined.

• Overseas experience: 3 of the past 10 years = 5 pts; 5 years = 10 pts; 8+ years = 15 pts
• Australian experience: 1 year = 5 pts; 3 years = 10 pts; 5 years = 15 pts; 8+ years = 20 pts

Education (up to 20 points)

• Doctorate (PhD) from an Australian or recognised institution: 20 points
• Bachelor's or Master's degree: 15 points
• Diploma or a trade qualification completed in Australia: 10 points

Other Factors

• Australian study requirement (a CRICOS course of at least two academic years): 5 points
• Specialist education qualification (a Master's by research or PhD in a STEM field): 10 points
• Accredited community language (NAATI credential): 5 points
• Partner skills (skilled partner meeting age, English and skills assessment): 10 points; competent-English partner: 5 points; single applicant, or partner is an Australian citizen/PR: 10 points
• Professional Year in Australia: 5 points
• Study in regional Australia: 5 points
• State/territory nomination (190 only): 5 points

Note the partner-points nuance that trips people up: if you are single, or your partner is already an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you claim the full 10 points without your partner needing any assessment.

The Reality Check: Invitation Cut-offs in 2026

This is where the headline numbers matter, and where honesty serves you better than optimism.

The 189 program has been squeezed hard. Invitation rounds in the 2025–26 program year were fewer and smaller than in previous years, and the effective cut-off for the 189 climbed to around 90 points or higher for most non-priority occupations, with the most oversubscribed occupations — accounting, ICT roles, some engineering fields — sitting higher still. A score of 65, 70 or even 80 that would have been competitive a decade ago is, for many occupations, no longer enough for a 189 invitation in any reasonable timeframe.

The 190 is more forgiving because state nomination adds 5 points and each state runs its own selection against its own occupation shortages. Many candidates are invited to apply for nomination in the high 70s to mid 80s once the nomination bonus is included, and some states periodically invite lower for occupations they urgently need. The practical takeaway: if your raw score is below roughly 85, the 190 (and the regional 491) is usually your realistic route, not the 189.

Because the picture shifts every program year, always cross-check the latest SkillSelect invitation-round results and each state's live status before you build a plan around a target score.

Understanding the Occupation Lists in Practice

Checking whether your occupation appears on the relevant list — and which list — is the step that determines everything downstream.

For Subclass 189

Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL. This covers roles Australia treats as being in sustained long-term demand, including:

• Software engineers and other ICT professionals
• Civil, mechanical, electrical and structural engineers
• Accountants and auditors
• Registered nurses and many medical practitioners
• Secondary school teachers (in shortage subject areas)
• Selected trades and construction supervisors

For Subclass 190

You can be nominated for an occupation on the MLTSSL or on your chosen state's own nominated occupation list. Because each state publishes its own list tied to local shortages, an occupation that is effectively impossible under the 189 may be actively recruited by one state. This is the main structural advantage of the 190: it opens occupations and applicant profiles that the national 189 program will never reach.

For a broader view of which fields are actually being recruited across countries, see our overview of in-demand skills abroad, and for trades specifically, skilled trades to Australia and Canada.

Skills Assessment: The Critical First Step

Before you can submit an EOI, you must obtain a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation. This is non-negotiable, it is separate from the visa application, and it is frequently the slowest and most under-estimated part of the journey.

Common assessing authorities include:

• Engineers Australia — engineering occupations (via the CDR pathway for many applicants)
• ACS (Australian Computer Society) — ICT and software occupations
• VETASSESS — a wide range of professional and technical occupations
• CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA — accounting occupations
• ANMAC — nursing and midwifery
• AITSL — teaching occupations
• TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) — trade occupations

Tips for a Successful Skills Assessment

• Match your duties to the ANZSCO description, not your job title. Reference letters must describe day-to-day duties that align with the occupation's ANZSCO code. A "Systems Analyst" whose letters describe pure help-desk work will struggle.
• Budget for experience deductions. ACS, for example, typically discounts the first two to four years of ICT experience depending on how closely your degree matches your occupation. Someone with a non-computing degree can lose four years before a single point is counted — plan your points around the assessed years, not your total years.
• Get documents certified correctly. Most authorities require certified copies of qualifications, transcripts, detailed reference letters on company letterhead, and evidence of paid employment (payslips, tax records, bank statements).
• Allow real time. Assessments commonly take from four weeks to several months depending on the authority, occupation and whether they query your evidence. Nurses and teachers may also face bridging or registration steps on top of the assessment.

The 189 Visa: Skilled Independent

The Subclass 189 is the most flexible skilled visa: no sponsor, no location obligation, no job offer required. You and your family can live and work anywhere in Australia from the day the visa is granted.

Pros:

• No location restriction — settle in any city or region
• No dependency on a state or employer
• Full, unconditional permanent residency from grant

Cons:

• Very high effective cut-offs in 2026 (frequently 90+ for popular occupations)
• Restricted to MLTSSL occupations only
• Long, uncertain waits for an invitation, with fewer and smaller rounds than in the past

Who Should Realistically Target the 189?

Candidates who genuinely score in the high 80s to 90s, hold an MLTSSL occupation, and want to keep every settlement option open. For most other profiles, treating the 189 as the primary plan in 2026 leads to a long wait in the EOI pool — a frustration we explore in the context of why applicants stall.

The 190 Visa: Skilled Nominated

The Subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory government. In exchange you gain 5 points and access to state-specific occupations, and you commit to living and working in that state for two years. Importantly, the visa itself is permanent from grant; the two-year commitment is a moral and reporting undertaking rather than a condition that can revoke your residency.

Pros:

• 5 bonus points that often lift borderline candidates into invitation range
• Lower effective thresholds than the 189 for many occupations
• Access to occupations a state needs but the 189 program never invites
• Direct engagement with a state that actually wants your skills

Cons:

• A two-year commitment to the nominating state
• Each state sets its own eligibility rules, which change frequently and can close without notice
• Nomination is discretionary — meeting the published criteria does not guarantee an invitation
• Some states require existing residence, study, or a job offer within the state

Popular States for 190 Nominations

State programs open, close, cap and re-prioritise throughout the year, so treat the below as the general character of each rather than a fixed rule.

• New South Wales (NSW) — Deep demand across ICT, engineering, accounting and healthcare, with large allocations but strong competition.
• Victoria (VIC) — Broad occupation coverage; often favours candidates with a genuine connection to Victoria (work, study or residence).
• Queensland (QLD) — Consistent demand for healthcare workers, engineers and trades.
• South Australia (SA) — Historically one of the more accessible states, with a wide list and pathways for graduates and applicants living in-state.
• Western Australia (WA) — Strong appetite for mining, engineering, construction and healthcare, reflecting the resources economy.
• Tasmania (TAS) / ACT / NT — Smaller programs that can offer accessible pathways, but usually expect an existing tie such as local study, residence or employment.

Fees and the True Cost in 2026

The government visa application charge for the primary applicant on a 189 or 190 starts at roughly AUD 4,640 (charges are reviewed each 1 July, so confirm the current figure at lodgement). Family members are charged on top: an adult secondary applicant (for example, a partner) is roughly AUD 2,320, and each dependent child roughly AUD 1,160.

That headline charge is only part of the picture. A realistic budget also needs to cover:

• Skills assessment: several hundred to well over a thousand AUD depending on the authority
• English test: roughly AUD 350–450 per sitting, and many people sit more than once to reach Superior
• State nomination fee (190): varies by state, sometimes nil, sometimes a few hundred dollars
• Health examinations for every applicant, and police clearances from every country you have lived in
• Document translation and certification
• Migration agent fees, if you use a registered agent (MARA-registered), which are entirely optional

Add it up and a single applicant should plan for well beyond the base charge; a family of four can run into five figures once every component is included. Our true cost of migrating abroad breakdown puts these numbers in context, and settlement costs continue after you land — see the Australia arrival guide.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1 — Confirm your occupation and its list. Identify your ANZSCO occupation, check whether it is on the MLTSSL (for the 189) or a relevant state list (for the 190), and identify the correct assessing authority.

Step 2 — Sit your English test. Take IELTS or PTE Academic and aim as high as you realistically can; the difference between Proficient and Superior is often decisive.

Step 3 — Obtain a positive skills assessment. Prepare evidence that maps your duties to the ANZSCO description, and account for any experience deductions.

Step 4 — Calculate your points honestly. Use the Department of Home Affairs points calculator. Count assessed work years, not total years, and be conservative — an inflated EOI that cannot be substantiated leads to refusal after you have paid.

Step 5 — Submit your EOI in SkillSelect. You can lodge a single EOI covering the 189, 190 and 491, and you can indicate the states you are willing to be nominated by.

Step 6 — Wait for an invitation. For the 189, invitations issue in periodic rounds ranked by points and constrained by occupation ceilings. For the 190, the relevant state reviews your EOI and, if selected, invites you to apply for nomination first.

Step 7 — Lodge the visa within the deadline. Once invited (typically a 60-day window), submit the full application with supporting documents, health examinations and police certificates for every applicant.

Processing Times and Program Trends

As of 2026, indicative processing times run to roughly 5–12 months for the 189 and 5–9 months for the 190, though the 190 timeline sits on top of the earlier state-nomination stage. Times vary widely by occupation, completeness of your documents, and health or character complexities.

The wider trend matters for your strategy. Australia has kept its permanent migration planning levels tighter than the peak post-pandemic intake, and skilled places are increasingly steered toward genuine shortages — healthcare, selected engineering and construction trades, and some ICT and education roles. The regional-focused pathways (the 190's regional sibling, the Subclass 491, which grants provisional residency with a route to permanent residency via the 191) are also being pushed harder to spread migration beyond the largest cities. If your occupation is in a priority shortage area, your prospects are meaningfully better than the raw cut-offs alone suggest.

Which Visa Should You Choose?

Choose 189 if:

• You genuinely score in the high 80s or 90s
• Your occupation is on the MLTSSL
• You want complete geographic freedom and are prepared to wait for the right round

Choose 190 if:

• Your score is in the roughly 70–85 range and needs the extra 5 points to compete
• Your occupation is on a state list but not competitive under the 189
• You are comfortable committing to one state for two years

Consider the 491 as well if:

• You cannot reach 190 range, or your occupation is only sought regionally — the 491 offers a real, if provisional, path to permanent residency

Lodge one EOI covering all three wherever your occupation allows it. There is no advantage to limiting yourself to a single subclass, and the states can only nominate you if you have opted in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 190 "worse" than the 189 because of the two-year commitment? No. Both are permanent visas from the moment they are granted. The 190's commitment is an undertaking to live and work in the nominating state, and states rely on good faith and reporting rather than revoking residency. For most applicants the 190 is simply the achievable version of the same outcome.

Can I move states after getting a 190? You are asked to make a genuine effort to live and work in your nominating state for two years, and states expect you to honour that. Moving early can affect future dealings (for example, a partner's later nomination) and is discouraged, even though the visa itself is not cancelled on that basis alone.

Do the 189 and 190 lead to citizenship? Yes. Both are permanent residence visas, and after meeting the general residence requirement (broadly four years of lawful residence including at least one year as a permanent resident) you can apply for Australian citizenship, subject to the usual character and residence conditions.

What if I am over 45? The points test awards zero points for age at 45 and over, and the age limit generally rules out the standard 189/190/491 pathways. Employer-sponsored routes or specific exemptions may apply in narrow cases, but the mainstream GSM program effectively closes at 45.

Should I use a migration agent? It is optional. If you use one, insist on a MARA-registered agent and verify their registration. Many straightforward applicants self-lodge successfully; complex histories (career changes, gaps, prior refusals, health or character issues) are where professional help earns its fee. Be alert to unregistered "consultants" — our guide to avoiding immigration scams covers the warning signs.

Start Your Australia Migration Journey

Choosing between the 189 and 190 comes down to an honest reading of your points, your occupation, and how competitive the current rounds are for your profile. In 2026 that usually means the 190 (or the 491) is the pragmatic route for most applicants, with the 189 reserved for genuinely high scorers. NextMigrate can help you assess your eligibility, pick the right subclass and state, navigate the skills assessment, and build an EOI that holds up under scrutiny. Explore our full migrate to Australia guide to plan your next step.