Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a points-tested permanent residency visa. You do not need a sponsor, but you must be invited by the Australian government to apply. The process is managed through a combination of external skills assessments and the Australian Department of Home Affairs online portals.

Step 1: Skills Assessment and English Testing

Before you can express interest in moving, you must prove you have the right skills and language abilities.

• Nominate an Occupation: Your job must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
• Get a Skills Assessment: Contact the relevant assessing authority for your profession to obtain a Skills Assessment (a formal document confirming your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards). This must be valid at the time you are invited to apply.
• Take an English Test: You must achieve at least Competent English (e.g., a score of 6 in all components of IELTS or 50 in PTE). To be competitive in the points test, you should aim for Proficient or Superior levels.

Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Once you have your assessment and test results, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

• This is not a visa application; it is a profile that calculates your points.
• You must score at least 65 points, though in 2026, most successful applicants score between 90 and 100+ points.
• There is no fee to submit an EOI.

Step 3: Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

The Department of Home Affairs now issues invitations on a structured quarterly schedule. Invitations are issued based on "remaining places" after other visa categories are filled. If your points score is high enough and your occupation is in demand, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) via email.

Step 4: Lodge Your Visa Application

You have exactly 60 days from the date of your invitation to lodge your formal visa application.

• Log in to ImmiAccount to start your application.
• Pay the application fee to "lodge" the application.
• Upload all supporting evidence, including your identity documents, Skills Assessment, English test results, and employment references.

Step 5: Health and Character Checks

After lodging, you will be prompted to:

• Undergo Medical Exams: Visit an approved panel physician for a health check.
• Provide Police Clearances: You must provide a Penal Clearance Certificate (police check) for every country where you have lived for 12 months or more over the last 10 years.

Step 6: Visa Grant

A case officer will review your documents. If approved, you will receive a visa grant notification. As this is a permanent resident visa, you will have the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely and enroll in Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare scheme).

Item	Cost (AUD)
Primary Applicant	$4,765
Additional Applicant (18+ years old)	$2,385
Additional Applicant (Under 18 years old)	$1,195
Second Installment (for applicants 18+ with low English)	$4,885

Total Estimate: For a single applicant, expect to pay approximately $4,765 in government fees. Does not include: Costs for the Skills Assessment ($500–$3,000), English language tests ($300–$400), health examinations, police certificates, or translation of non-English documents.

Processing times vary based on the priority of your occupation. Healthcare, teaching, and social work sectors are currently prioritized for faster processing.

• Fast-track/Priority cases: 3 to 4 months.
• Standard cases: 5 to 7 months.
• Complex or non-priority cases: 10 to 12 months.

Document Validity: Your Skills Assessment and English test results must be valid on the day you receive your invitation. Most English tests are valid for 3 years, while Skills Assessments typically last 2 to 3 years depending on the authority.