MARA Registered Migration Agent
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa
Permanent residence visa for skilled workers on the MLTSSL with a qualifying SkillSelect points score of 65 or higher.
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The SkillSelect subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who have an occupation on the Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List (MLTSSL) and achieve a qualifying score in the SkillSelect Points Test.
Applicants lodge an Expression of Interest with the Australian Government and receive invitations in score order. A qualifying score of 65 may secure an invitation, though in-demand occupations often require higher scores.
The New Zealand stream provides an alternative pathway for New Zealand citizens holding Special Category subclass 444 visas who have been continuously resident in Australia for five years and meet income thresholds.
Eligibility Requirements
For Applicants
- Occupation listed on Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List (MLTSSL)
- Qualifying score in SkillSelect Points Test (minimum 65 points)
- For New Zealand stream: arrived in Australia between 27 February 2001 and 19 February 2016
- For New Zealand stream: five years continuous residence in Australia prior to application
- For New Zealand stream: taxable income at or above TSMIT ($53,900 plus SGC) for preceding four years
Application Process
1
Step 1: Check Occupation
Verify your occupation is listed on the Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List
2
Step 2: Assess Points
Calculate your score using the SkillSelect Points Test to determine if you meet the qualifying threshold
3
Step 3: Lodge Expression of Interest
Submit an EOI with the Australian Government and enter the invitation pool
4
Step 4: Await Invitation
Invitations are issued in score order; higher-scoring candidates receive invitations first
5
Step 5: Submit Visa Application
Upon receiving an invitation, proceed with formal visa application
Costs & Processing Time
Processing Time
Processing times vary. Applicants must wait to receive an invitation after lodging an Expression of Interest before submitting a full visa application.
About the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa
Permanent residence visa for skilled workers on the MLTSSL with a qualifying SkillSelect points score of 65 or higher.
Occupation must be on Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List
Qualifying score in SkillSelect Points Test required
New Zealand stream available for eligible Special Category visa holders
Explore by Your Situation
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- Is engineering on the skilled occupation list?Engineering is on the skilled occupation list, and across most engineering disci…
- Can hairdressers get PR?Hairdressers can get PR, but this is one of the more challenging trade pathways …
- Can I migrate as a social worker?Social work is a viable migration occupation and one where processing times have…
- What all these occupations have in common — and where they differEvery occupation discussed above accesses the same core architecture:
- Ready to assess your occupation pathway?Every occupation pathway has technical nuances that generic information cannot f…
- NAATI Translation & Certification: Points, Cost & How to Apply2 questions
- State Nomination for Registered Nurses: 190 and 491 Reality Check5 questions
- Which states are nominating registered nurses for subclass 190 in 2026?If your migration strategy is built around subclass 190, the state you target ma…
- How many points do I need for state nomination as a registered nurse?Points arithmetic for nurses has tightened considerably. The 189 independent str…
- Is the 491 regional visa a realistic option for nurses?For nurses who cannot reach the 80–85 point threshold needed for a competitive 1…
- What conditions do states attach to nursing nominations — and how strict are they?State nomination is not a free 5-point top-up that you can collect and then move…
- How fast do state nomination rounds for nurses fill up?This is the operational reality that no amount of careful preparation can fully …
- ANMAC Skills Assessment for Registered Nurses: Complete Guide4 questions
- What is the difference between ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration?This is the single most common misconception we see at VJ Consulting and Educati…
- What documents do I need for the ANMAC skills assessment?Building a complete ANMAC document set is where most delays originate. The good …
- How long does the ANMAC skills assessment take for nurses?The 10–16 week window applies only when your application is submitted with every…
- Why do nurses get an RFI from ANMAC — and how do you respond?Receiving an RFI can feel alarming, but it is a normal part of the ANMAC process…
- Nurse Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & ANMAC Assessment12 questions
- Nurse Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & ANMAC AssessmentQuick Answer: South Australia and Tasmania are consistently the most accessible …
- Cross-State Comparison: Registered Nurse Migration at a Glance(as of 2026-06, source: state migration websites and ANMAC policy data. State qu…
- Which Australian state is easiest for Nurses to migrate to?South Australia is the most consistently accessible state for Registered Nurses …
- Nurses state nomination requirements and points in NSW?NSW is the hardest state for Registered Nurses to obtain nomination, and applica…
- Nurses state nomination in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland?Victoria operates a targeted invitation model: when VIC nominates nurses, it fav…
- Nurses nomination in Tasmania and other states?Tasmania is the most underrated pathway for Registered Nurses, particularly for …
- How does the ANMAC skills assessment for Nurses work?ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) is the sole skill…
- How many points does a Nurse need? Real invitation cut-offsThe honest answer is that 90 points are required to have a realistic chance at a…
- What are the English options (IELTS/OET) for nurses?English requirements for Registered Nurses are non-negotiable and have no exempt…
- Do all nursing specialisations qualify for migration?Most nursing specialisations qualify, but selecting the correct ANZSCO code is c…
- Employer Sponsorship as an Alternative: The 482 Route for NursesEmployer sponsorship via the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is, for many int…
- CTAYour next step depends on your current score and location flexibility.
- Professional Year Program Australia: Is It Worth It in 2026?5 questions
- What is professional year program?The Professional Year Program is a structured, 44-week Australian workplace trai…
- How much does professional year cost?Expect to pay between $8,000 and $15,000 in total, with most providers in major …
- Is professional year worth it?It depends primarily on three factors: your current points score, your occupatio…
- How many points does professional year give?Completing the Professional Year Program gives you 5 points under the Australian…
- Ready to work out whether Professional Year is right for your situation?The program is a meaningful investment — both financially and in time. Whether i…
- State Nomination for Secondary Teachers: Why STEM Makes All the Difference5 questions
- Which states are nominating secondary teachers for 190 nomination in 2026?For secondary school teachers (ANZSCO 241411), the 190 landscape in 2026 is one …
- Why do maths and science teachers get nominated faster than other secondary teachers?The speed advantage STEM secondary teachers enjoy is not a minor administrative …
- What points score do secondary teachers need for 190 state nomination?The points arithmetic for secondary teacher 190 nomination has two layers that a…
- Can non-STEM secondary teachers realistically get 190 nomination?The honest answer here is that 190 nomination is possible for non-STEM secondary…
- Is the 491 regional visa a better option for secondary teachers who can't get 190?
- AITSL Skills Assessment for Secondary Teachers: The Process and What Can Go Wrong5 questions
- What is the difference between AITSL skills assessment and state teacher registration?Many secondary school teachers preparing for skilled migration assume that getti…
- What documents do secondary teachers need for the AITSL skills assessment?The document checklist for an AITSL skills assessment under ANZSCO 241411 is mor…
- Do STEM teachers get any advantage in the AITSL assessment process?This is a critical distinction that causes confusion among maths, physics, chemi…
- How long does the AITSL skills assessment take for secondary teachers?The official AITSL processing benchmark is 8 to 12 weeks from lodgement of a com…
- Why do secondary teacher AITSL applications get delayed or refused?
- Skills Assessment Costs: ACS, VETASSESS, Engineers Australia & More10 questions
- How much does ACS skills assessment cost?ACS fees increased by 3.3% on 1 November 2025, making it one of the more expensi…
- How much does VETASSESS cost?VETASSESS fees vary by stream — professional occupations assessed under the Grou…
- How much does Engineers Australia assessment cost?Engineers Australia charges $700–$825 for most migration skills assessments, wit…
- Is skills assessment required for 189?Yes, a positive skills assessment is mandatory for the Subclass 189 Skilled Inde…
- How long does ACS assessment take?The standard ACS processing time is 8–12 weeks from the date your application is…
- How long does VETASSESS take?VETASSESS standard processing takes 10–16 weeks for professional occupation asse…
- Which skills assessment body do I need?The assessing body is determined by your nominated occupation, not by your prefe…
- Can I get a refund if my assessment fails?No — a negative or "unsuitable" outcome does not entitle you to a refund from an…
- Do I need skills assessment for 482 visa?It depends on your occupation — but for many applicants, yes. The Subclass 482 S…
- Ready to Start Your Skills Assessment?Skills assessment is the foundation of your Australian skilled migration pathway…
- Skills Assessment for Australian Immigration: Which Authority Do You Need?7 questions
- Is skills assessment required for 189?Yes — a positive skills assessment is a hard requirement for the Subclass 189 Sk…
- Which skills assessment body do I need?The answer is determined solely by your ANZSCO occupation code — each occupation…
- Who needs skills assessment for 482?The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa has a more nuanced requirement than the 1…
- How to find my assessing authority?The most reliable method is the Department of Home Affairs' Skilled Occupation L…
- Can I use one assessment for multiple visas?Yes — a single positive skills assessment can be used across multiple visa subcl…
- How long is skills assessment valid?Most assessments are valid for 3 years from the date of the outcome letter, but …
- Work with a MARA-Registered AgentSkills assessment is the first — and often most consequential — step in your Aus…
- State Nomination for Social Workers: Which Pathways Are Realistic in 20265 questions
- Which states are nominating social workers for 190 or 491 in 2026?Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) sits on the MLTSSL, which means it is eligible for…
- Do mental health social workers get priority in state nomination?It is important to separate two things: the ANZSCO code and the policy priority.…
- What points score do social workers need for state nomination?The points reality for social workers is well understood: the 189 independent sk…
- Is regional social work the fastest path to PR for social workers?The structural logic is straightforward. Social workers who position themselves …
- What conditions do NT and SA attach to social worker nominations?NT and SA are the two jurisdictions with the most consistent documented demand f…
- AASW Skills Assessment for Social Workers: Qualification Requirements and Process5 questions
- What qualifications do social workers need for the AASW skills assessment?The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the assessment body for A…
- Can psychology or counselling degrees substitute for social work in the AASW assessment?This is one of the most persistently misunderstood points among prospective appl…
- How does the AASW evaluate overseas social work degrees?When your degree was awarded by an overseas institution, AASW does not simply ac…
- How long does the AASW skills assessment take for internationally qualified social workers?The 8–12 week processing window applies when your application is complete at the…
- What are the most common reasons social worker AASW applications are rejected?Understanding rejection patterns before you lodge is the most practical thing yo…
- Social Worker Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & AASW Assessment12 questions
- Social Worker Migration to Australia: State Lists, Points & AASW AssessmentQuick Answer: South Australia and Tasmania currently offer social workers the cl…
- Cross-State Comparison: Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511)Sources: State Policy Facts input (2026-06). States marked "check official …
- Which Australian state is easiest for Social workers to migrate to?South Australia and the Northern Territory are the two clearest options for soci…
- Social workers state nomination requirements and points in NSW?NSW is the hardest state for social workers to secure nomination — the state'…
- Social workers state nomination in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland?Victoria is selective and unpredictable for social workers. The Victorian Skille…
- Social workers nomination in Tasmania and other states?Tasmania is workable but demanding in a specific way. The state requires social …
- How does the AASW skills assessment for Social workers work?The AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) is the only assessing author…
- How many points does a Social worker need? Real invitation cut-offsSocial workers need to be realistic: the Subclass 189 (no-nomination) pathway re…
- Why does social work require IELTS 7.0 in each band?IELTS 7.0 in every band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) is the AASW'…
- What is the 980-hour field education requirement for AASW?The 980-hour field placement is the most misunderstood element of the AASW asses…
- Is a Master of Social Work (MSW) a shortcut to migration?An MSW can be a genuine accelerator — but only under specific conditions, and th…
- Ready to map your social work migration pathway?Social worker migration to Australia is achievable — but it requires getting thr…
- Skilled Migration for Software Engineers: Real Invitation Scores and What They Mean in 20265 questions
- What invitation score do software engineers need for subclass 189 in 2026?The numbers are brutal, and they are real. One applicant shared exactly what it …
- Why do onshore software engineers have a structural advantage in SkillSelect?This is not speculation — it is arithmetic. Consider the points profile of a typ…
- Which states are nominating software engineers for 190 in 2026?The subclass 190 state nomination adds 5 points to your base score, bringing a 7…
- Can offshore software engineers realistically compete for 189 or 190?The honest answer is: it is hard, but not impossible, and the strategy looks ver…
- Is the 491 regional visa worth it for software engineers who want to stay in Sydney or Melbourne?
- 482 Employer Sponsorship for Software Engineers: Which Companies Sponsor and How4 questions
- Which types of tech companies sponsor software engineers on 482 visas in Australia?Australia's tech sector has one of the highest rates of 482 sponsorship activity…
- What salary do software engineers earn on a 482 visa in Australia?The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is the minimum a 482 sp…
- Can startups sponsor software engineers on a 482 visa?There is no minimum employee count or revenue threshold written into the 482 rul…
- How do software engineers get permanent residence from a 482 visa?This is where the 482 visa really distinguishes itself for software engineers: u…
- Student to PR Pathway: Best Courses & Visa Transitions in Australia14 questions
- What can I study to get PR in Australia?The occupations with the strongest PR outcomes are those that appear consistentl…
- What is the easiest course to get PR?There is no single "easiest" course — every pathway involves genuine registratio…
- Can I get PR after studying in Australia?Yes — studying in Australia is one of the most common starting points for PR, bu…
- How long does student to PR take?The realistic timeline from arriving on a student visa to holding a PR visa is 5…
- Is nursing a good course for PR?Nursing is one of the strongest PR pathways on paper — Registered Nurses appear …
- Is IT a good course for PR?IT is among the best-performing fields for PR, particularly for applicants who c…
- Can I get PR with a diploma?Yes — a diploma can support a PR application, but it carries limitations compare…
- Do I need work experience after studying?In most cases, yes — Australian work experience is practically essential for a c…
- What is the 485 visa and how does it help?The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is a post-study work visa that allows r…
- Can I apply for 189 while on student visa?Yes — you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect while still o…
- Is professional year worth it?For IT, accounting, and engineering graduates, Professional Year is worth comple…
- What courses give extra points?Points come from multiple sources beyond just your qualification. Courses and pr…
- Can I switch from student visa to work visa?Yes — switching from a Subclass 500 Student visa to a work visa is possible and …
- Ready to Map Your Student-to-PR Pathway?The pathway from student visa to PR is navigable — but the decisions you make ab…
- VETASSESS Skills Assessment: Who Needs It & How to Apply6 questions
- What is VETASSESS?VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services) is a governmen…
- Is VETASSESS required for all visas?No — but for the occupations it covers, a VETASSESS assessment is required for m…
- How long does VETASSESS take?Standard VETASSESS processing takes 10–14 weeks from the date your complete appl…
- How much does VETASSESS cost?The standard VETASSESS fee starts at $850 for a General Skilled Migration assess…
- What occupations need VETASSESS?VETASSESS covers more than 360 occupations across professional, managerial, and …
- Ready to Start Your VETASSESS Application?A VETASSESS skills assessment is not a box-ticking exercise — the evidence you s…
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum points score required?
A qualifying score of 65 points may secure an invitation, though in-demand occupations typically require significantly higher scores.
Is there a New Zealand pathway?
Yes, New Zealand citizens holding Special Category subclass 444 visas may apply through the dedicated New Zealand stream if they meet residency and income requirements.
How are invitations issued?
Candidates receive invitations to apply for a visa in score order, with the highest-scoring applicants receiving invitations first.
Ready to start your Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa application?
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