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

Imagine you are a software engineer in Bengaluru. You are 31, you code well, and your salary has barely moved in two years. Your commute eats three hours a day. A college friend now lives in Adelaide. She sends photos of an empty beach on a Tuesday evening and says her rent is less than you would guess.

So you open the Australian immigration website. Within ten minutes you are lost: 189, 190, 491, 65 points, EOI, MLTSSL. Which door is actually open to someone like you?

The short answer: The Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 both give full permanent residency from the day they are granted, and both use the same points test with a 65-point minimum. The 189 needs no sponsor but is now extremely competitive, with invitations often going to around 90 points or more in popular jobs. The 190 needs a state to nominate you, adds 5 points, and asks you to commit to that state for two years. If your score is below roughly 85, the 190 (or the regional 491) is usually your realistic route. Lodge one Expression of Interest (EOI) covering all of them.

Weighing Australia against other places? See our Canada vs Australia for immigrants comparison.

189 vs 190 at a glance

The 190's commitment is a promise, not a probation. Neither visa limits your rights to Medicare, work, study or later citizenship.

First, clear up the occupation lists

In December 2024 Australia introduced the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), merging older lists into one list of around 456 occupations. But the CSOL covers the employer-sponsored visas: the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186 Direct Entry).

For the points-tested 189, 190 and 491, the older framework still applies as of 2026. The MLTSSL governs the 189. The 190 and 491 use the MLTSSL plus each state's own list, which historically draws on the STSOL and regional lists. If an article says the CSOL governs the 189, it has mixed up two systems. Check your occupation on the current Department of Home Affairs list and the state list before you pay for a skills assessment.

How the points test works

Think of the EOI pool as a waiting room, not a door. Reaching 65 points gets you into the room. The government then calls people through, highest scores first.

Age (up to 30 points)

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

Age points work like a ticket that loses value on certain birthdays. Turning 33 costs 5 points. Turning 40 costs another 10. If a birthday is close, your EOI timing can matter more than anything else. See whether you are too old to migrate.

English (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)

English is usually the fastest, cheapest way to gain 10 or 20 points. Proficient versus Superior can decide whether you wait forever or get invited. Many people prefer PTE Academic because its scoring tends to be more consistent at Superior. Our IELTS tips for immigration work for both tests.

Skilled work experience (up to 20 points)

Counted in your nominated or a closely related occupation, and only after you met the skill level. Overseas and Australian work 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 points

• 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

If you are single, or your partner is already an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you claim the full 10 points with no partner assessment.

The reality check: invitation scores in 2026

The 189 has been squeezed hard. Rounds in the 2025 to 26 program year were fewer and smaller. The real cut-off climbed to around 90 points or higher for most non-priority occupations, and higher still for crowded jobs such as accounting, ICT and some engineering fields. A score of 65, 70 or even 80 is often no longer enough.

The 190 is kinder. Nomination adds 5 points, and each state picks people against its own shortages. Many candidates are invited for nomination in the high 70s to mid 80s including the bonus. Some states sometimes go lower for urgent jobs.

So ask yourself: is my raw score below about 85? If so, the 190 (and the regional 491) is usually your realistic route, not the 189. Check the latest SkillSelect results and each state's live status before you set a target score.

Which list is your occupation on?

For the 189, your occupation must be on the MLTSSL, which covers long-term demand jobs such as:

• 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 subjects)
• Selected trades and construction supervisors

For the 190, you can be nominated for an occupation on the MLTSSL or the state's own list. A job that is almost impossible under the 189 may be actively wanted by one state. That is the 190's main advantage.

See also in-demand skills abroad and skilled trades to Australia and Canada.

Skills assessment: the step everyone underestimates

Before you lodge an EOI, you need a positive skills assessment from the body for your occupation. It is separate from the visa, and often the slowest part.

Common assessing bodies:

• 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

Get it right:

• Match your duties, not your title. Reference letters must describe daily duties that fit the ANZSCO code. A "Systems Analyst" whose letters describe help-desk work will struggle.
• Expect experience to be cut. ACS, for example, usually discounts the first two to four years of ICT experience. With a non-computing degree you can lose four years. Plan on assessed years.
• Certify correctly. Most bodies want certified qualifications, transcripts, reference letters on letterhead, and proof of paid work (payslips, tax records, bank statements).
• Allow time. Often four weeks to several months. Nurses and teachers may face extra registration steps.

The 189: Skilled Independent

No sponsor, no location rule, no job offer. You and your family can live anywhere in Australia from day one.

• Pros: settle anywhere; no reliance on a state or employer; unconditional permanent residency.
• Cons: very high cut-offs in 2026 (often 90+ for popular jobs); MLTSSL only; long, uncertain waits with fewer, smaller rounds.

Who should aim for it? People who truly score in the high 80s to 90s with an MLTSSL occupation. For most others, it means a long wait in the pool.

The 190: Skilled Nominated

A state nomination works like a strong referral. A state says "we want this person", which adds 5 points and opens state-only jobs. In return, you commit to living and working there for two years. The visa is still permanent from grant. The commitment is a moral and reporting promise, not a condition that can cancel your residency.

• Pros: 5 bonus points; lower real thresholds; access to jobs the 189 never invites; a state that wants your skills.
• Cons: two years in one state; rules that change often and can close without notice; nomination is discretionary; some states want you already living, studying or working there.

What each state tends to look for

Programs open, close and change during the year. Treat this as general character only.

• New South Wales (NSW): ICT, engineering, accounting and healthcare. Large allocations, tough competition.
• Victoria (VIC): Broad coverage. Often favours a real link to Victoria.
• Queensland (QLD): Healthcare workers, engineers and trades.
• South Australia (SA): Historically one of the more accessible states, with pathways for graduates and residents.
• Western Australia (WA): Mining, engineering, construction and healthcare.
• Tasmania (TAS) / ACT / NT: Smaller, sometimes accessible, but usually expect a local tie.

Fees and the true cost in 2026

The government charge for the main applicant is AUD 6,135 (189) or AUD 6,140 (190) for applications lodged from 1 July 2026. Charges rise each 1 July; check at lodgement or in our visa cost calculator. Each adult family member adds AUD 3,070, and each child under 18 about AUD 1,540.

Also budget for:

• Skills assessment: several hundred to well over a thousand AUD
• English test: roughly AUD 350 to 450 per sitting, and many people sit more than once
• State nomination fee (190): nil to a few hundred dollars
• Health checks for everyone, and police certificates from every country you lived in
• Translations and certification
• A MARA-registered migration agent, if you choose one

A family of four can reach five figures. See our true cost of migrating abroad and the Australia arrival guide for costs after landing.

Step by step

1. Confirm your occupation and its list, and the right assessing body.
2. Sit IELTS or PTE Academic. Aim as high as you can.
3. Get a positive skills assessment, mapping duties to ANZSCO.
4. Count your points honestly with the Department of Home Affairs calculator. An EOI you cannot prove leads to refusal after you have paid.
5. Lodge one EOI in SkillSelect covering the 189, 190 and 491, and pick the states you would accept.
6. Wait for an invitation. 189 rounds are ranked by points within occupation ceilings. For the 190, a state invites you to apply for nomination first.
7. Lodge the visa on time, usually within a 60-day window, with documents, health checks and police certificates for everyone.

Processing times and trends

As of 2026, processing runs roughly 5 to 12 months for the 189 and 5 to 9 months for the 190, on top of the earlier state nomination stage. Australia has kept permanent migration below the post-pandemic peak and steers places toward real shortages: healthcare, some engineering and construction trades, and some ICT and education roles. Regional routes are being pushed too. The Subclass 491 gives provisional residency with a path to permanent residency through the 191.

Which visa should you choose?

• 189: you truly score in the high 80s or 90s, your job is on the MLTSSL, and you want full freedom of location.
• 190: your score is roughly 70 to 85, your job is on a state list, and you are happy to commit to one state for two years.
• 491: you cannot reach the 190 range, or your job is only wanted regionally.

Lodge one EOI covering all three where your occupation allows. Limiting yourself gains nothing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 190 worse than the 189 because of the two-year commitment?

No. Both are permanent from grant. States rely on good faith and reporting rather than cancelling residency. For most people, the 190 is simply the reachable version of the same result.

Can I move states after getting a 190?

You are asked to genuinely try to live and work in the nominating state for two years. Moving early is discouraged and can affect future dealings, such as a partner's later nomination, but the visa is not cancelled on that basis alone.

Do the 189 and 190 lead to citizenship?

Yes. After the general residence requirement (broadly four years of lawful residence, including at least one year as a permanent resident), you can apply for citizenship, subject to the usual character and residence rules.

What if I am over 45?

You get zero age points at 45 and over, and the age limit generally rules out the 189, 190 and 491. Employer-sponsored routes or narrow exemptions may apply in some cases.

Should I use a migration agent?

It is optional. If you do, insist on a MARA-registered agent and check their registration. Complex histories, such as career changes, gaps, past refusals, or health or character issues, are where help earns its fee. Our guide to avoiding immigration scams lists the warning signs.

Your next step

Be honest about your points, your occupation and how crowded the current rounds are. In 2026, that usually points most people to the 190 or 491, with the 189 for genuinely high scorers. Our full migrate to Australia guide helps you plan what comes next.