Your points-tested pathway to Australian PR, mapped end to end.
Subclass 189, 190 and 491 explained by Uniallies Immigration & Education Services — skilled occupation lists, the SkillSelect points test, EOI strategy and visa fees, updated for the current program year.
SkillSelect Snapshot
Australia's General Skilled Migration program, explained
To migrate to Australia as a skilled professional, you need a positive skills assessment, a competitive SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI), and an occupation that appears on the correct skilled occupation list. Australia's skilled migration points test ranks every EOI on age, English proficiency, education, and work experience, then invites the highest-scoring applicants first — which is why understanding your real, competitive points score matters more than simply clearing the 65-point pool mark.
Points-tested, not first-come
Invitations go to the highest points scores within each occupation ceiling, not the order EOIs were lodged — though equal scores are broken by whoever reached that score first (date of effect).
Three visa pathways
Subclass 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated) and 491 (regional) all lead to permanent residency, and you can lodge EOIs for more than one at the same time.
Occupation ceilings apply
Each occupation has an annual ceiling under the new tiered selection model — critical-shortage occupations receive a larger multiplier and clear invitations faster.
Subclass 189 vs 190 vs 491: which skilled visa fits you?
Tap a pathway to see its requirements, points bonus, and occupation-list rules side by side.
Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189)
The most flexible General Skilled Migration visa: permanent residency from grant, with no state nomination or regional obligation, and the freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia.
- Requires an occupation on the MLTSSL only.
- Highly competitive — no bonus points, so most invited applicants score well above the 65-point pool mark.
- Now managed through a tiered occupation-ceiling model that prioritises critical-shortage occupations such as nursing, medicine and teaching.
Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190)
A permanent visa requiring nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Each state and territory sets its own nomination criteria and occupation demand list, independent of the national 189 rounds.
- Occupation must be on the MLTSSL or STSOL, depending on the nominating state's list.
- Adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score on top of your base points.
- Often clears at meaningfully lower points than subclass 189 for the same occupation, because of state-specific demand.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)
A five-year provisional visa for applicants willing to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia, via state/territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative. After three years it can lead to permanent residency through Subclass 191.
- Occupation may be on the MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL, depending on the state or family-sponsorship pathway.
- Adds 15 points to your SkillSelect score — the largest bonus available in the GSM program.
- Often the fastest realistic route to PR for Tier 3/4 occupations that struggle to clear 189 or 190 thresholds.
MLTSSL, STSOL & ROL — which list unlocks which visa
Your nominated occupation, not your qualification alone, determines which of the three skilled visas you can apply for. Cross-check your occupation against the relevant list before lodging an EOI.
MLTSSL
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. Unlocks all three pathways: Subclass 189, 190 and 491 (state and family-sponsored).
View the MLTSSL →STSOL
Short-term Skilled Occupation List. Unlocks Subclass 190 and 491 only, subject to the nominating state's own occupation demand list.
View the STSOL →ROL
Regional Occupation List. Unlocks Subclass 491 only, for state-nominated or family-sponsored regional applicants.
View the ROL →Note: a fourth list, the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), was introduced as part of the Skills in Demand visa reform and primarily governs employer-sponsored pathways (Subclass 482/186) rather than the 189/190/491 General Skilled Migration visas covered on this page.
From skills assessment to visa grant
Self-assessment & occupation check
Confirm your occupation sits on the correct skilled occupation list for your intended subclass before spending on assessments.
Skills assessment
Obtain a positive outcome from the relevant assessing authority (e.g. ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, AHPRA, TRA).
English proficiency test
Sit IELTS, PTE Academic or an equivalent test — Superior English typically delivers the single biggest points jump for the effort involved.
Lodge your SkillSelect EOI
Submit one or more EOIs (189, 190, 491) via SkillSelect. There's no penalty for holding multiple live EOIs at once.
Receive an invitation or nomination
Update your EOI the moment your points change — under the date-of-effect tie-break rule, equal scores are ranked by whoever reached that score first.
Lodge your visa application
You have exactly 60 days from your invitation date to apply online through ImmiAccount — this deadline cannot be extended.
General Skilled Migration visa fees
Visa Application Charges are reviewed by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) each year — always confirm the current figure before lodging. Latest visa application fee confirmed on July 2026:
| Applicant type | Subclass 189 | Subclass 190/491 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary applicant | AU $6,135 | AU $6,140 |
| Additional applicant 18 years or over age | AU $3,070 | AU $3,070 |
| Additional applicant below than 18 years age | AU $1,540 | AU $1,535 |
Note: For additional applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is AUD4,885. For any other applicant, the second instalment is nil.
check the official Department of Home Affairs fee schedule for the current program year before budgeting.
Latest legislative & program updates
Skilled migration settings change every program year. Here's what's new heading into 2026–27.
2026–27 Migration Program opens at 185,000 places
The new program year began 1 July 2026 with the national planning level unchanged at 185,000 permanent places; state 190/491 allocations and occupation lists are republished progressively through July–September.
Tiered occupation-ceiling model for Subclass 189
Subclass 189 places are now allocated using a tiered multiplier by occupation criticality — Tier 1 (e.g. medical specialists) receives the highest multiplier and the fastest invitation flow.
Updated English-test points rules
Revised English language points settings apply to tests sat on or after 7 August 2025 — check your test date against the current points test before relying on an older result.
Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act
New protections strengthen safeguards for migrant workers, relevant to applicants transitioning from employer-sponsored to skilled independent or nominated pathways.
Skilled migration FAQs
The legal pool mark is 65 points for all three visas, but competitive invitation rounds regularly clear between 85 and 105+ points depending on your occupation and pathway, so treat 65 as a floor, not a target.
Yes. You can hold separate live EOIs across all three subclasses simultaneously at no extra cost, which maximises your chances of receiving an invitation or nomination from any pathway.
Update your EOI immediately. Where two EOIs hold equal points, the applicant who reached that score first is ranked ahead under the date-of-effect rule — so delaying an update can cost you your place in the queue.
Timelines vary by occupation, pathway and points score. After receiving an invitation you have a fixed 60-day window to lodge your visa application, but the wait for that invitation itself can range from a few months to well over a year depending on your occupation's ceiling and demand.
Get a free, honest assessment of your points score
Uniallies Immigration & Education Services reviews real applicant profiles against current 2026–27 occupation ceilings and state nomination criteria before you spend on assessments or tests.