Skilled Independent Visa Lawyers

The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points, but this will not be enough in most occupations. Competitive occupations like accounting, ICT and software engineering have historically required 90 to 110 points. Mid-range occupations in healthcare and engineering typically see invitations at 80 to 95 points. Trades in critical shortage may receive invitations at 65 to 75 points in some rounds.

Cut-off scores fluctuate between rounds based on the number of applicants and the Government's migration priorities. We track these trends and can give you a realistic view of your occupation's current competitive score range.

Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included in your visa application. They receive the same permanent residency as you, with the same rights to live, work and study anywhere in Australia. There is no requirement for family members to have skills assessments or meet the points test themselves.

Additional government fees apply for each family member. Your partner's English proficiency and skills assessment can also contribute bonus points to your score (up to 10 points if they have a skills assessment plus Competent English, or 5 points for Competent English alone).

From the 2025-26 program year, invitation rounds for the Subclass 189 are issued on a quarterly basis, typically in August, November, February and May. This is a change from previous years when rounds were held more frequently or irregularly.

The most recent invitation round was on 21 August 2025 (6,887 invitations) and the November 2024 round issued 15,000 invitations. Round sizes vary significantly depending on remaining program allocation and priority occupations. Your EOI must be submitted before a round to be included in it.

As of late 2025, processing times for the Subclass 189 are typically 8 to 12 months from the date you lodge your full visa application. Processing times can be shorter for straightforward applications in priority occupations and longer where additional checks are required.

You should not book one-way travel or make irreversible decisions until your visa is actually granted. Completing health checks and police clearances promptly after lodgement, and responding quickly to any Department requests, will give you the best chance of timely processing.

There are a few strategies to improve your score: improving your English test result (moving from Competent to Proficient English adds 10 points; Superior adds 20 points), gaining more skilled work experience (Australian work experience is worth more than overseas), completing a Professional Year in Australia (5 points), or achieving an NAATI accredited community language credential (5 points).

Alternatively, the Subclass 190 (state nomination) or Subclass 491 (regional) pathways may be more achievable. Both offer additional points and access to occupations on the broader skilled occupation lists. We can help you assess all options and pick the right strategy.

No. You can apply for the Subclass 189 from anywhere in the world. The entire EOI and invitation process is conducted online through SkillSelect, and the visa application is lodged online via ImmiAccount. Skills assessments and English tests are arranged separately, also without needing to be in Australia.

If you are granted the visa while overseas, you will need to enter Australia to activate it (an initial entry requirement typically within 12 months of grant). Once you have made that first entry, your visa is active and you can come and go freely for five years.

SkillSelect is the Department of Home Affairs' online system for managing skilled migration applications. You create a profile and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is a declaration of your intent to apply for a skilled visa and the details used to calculate your points score.

An EOI is not a visa application. It is a pre-application expression that allows the Department to compare applicants and issue invitations to the most competitive. You are only invited to formally apply if your score is high enough in a quarterly round. Once you receive an Invitation to Apply, you have 60 days to lodge your actual visa application.

You cannot change the nominated occupation on an existing EOI. If you want to nominate a different occupation, you need to withdraw the existing EOI and submit a new one with the new occupation. This means losing your submission date for ranking purposes among applicants with the same score.

You can hold multiple EOIs at the same time if you have skills assessments for different occupations, which is a legitimate strategy to increase your chances across different invitation pools. Each EOI must be accurate and supported by a valid skills assessment.

EOIs remain active in SkillSelect for two years from the date of submission, after which they expire. If you are not invited within two years, you can update and resubmit your EOI. You should regularly review and update your EOI to reflect any changes in your circumstances (such as gaining additional work experience or improving your English score) as this can increase your points and improve your chances.

If your circumstances change significantly, withdrawing and resubmitting with an updated score may be appropriate, even though this affects your submission date ranking.

The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) is the list of occupations eligible for the Subclass 189. It is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs and updated periodically to reflect Australia's labour market needs. Occupations on the MLTSSL are in areas of persistent structural shortage, primarily in healthcare, engineering, education, trades and technology.

You can check the current MLTSSL on the Department of Home Affairs website. Your occupation is identified by its ANZSCO code (Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations). Because the list changes, we always verify current list status before advising you to begin a skills assessment, as the assessment process is time-consuming and costly.

A skills assessment is an evaluation conducted by a government-approved assessing authority that determines whether your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. The relevant authority depends on your occupation. Engineers are assessed by Engineers Australia, accountants by CPA Australia or CAANZ, ICT professionals by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), and so on.

Processing times range from a few weeks for standard applications to several months for complex cases. Some authorities offer priority processing for an additional fee. A positive skills assessment is a mandatory requirement before you can submit an EOI. If your skills assessment application is refused, you cannot proceed with a 189 application in that occupation.

If you do not lodge your visa application within 60 days of receiving your Invitation to Apply, the ITA lapses. You will need to resubmit your EOI and wait for a new invitation in a future quarterly round. There is no extension to the 60-day lodgement window.

This is why thorough preparation before the EOI stage is so important. Having your documents, health checks booked and police clearances in order before you receive an ITA means you can lodge quickly and confidently within the 60-day window. Our team helps you prepare a document checklist in advance so you are ready to move immediately on invitation.

Yes. If your partner has a nominated skilled occupation on the MLTSSL and a positive skills assessment for that occupation, and they also have Competent English, they contribute 10 bonus points to your score. If they have Competent English but no skills assessment, they contribute 5 points. These points are worth pursuing if your score is borderline, as the difference between 10 points can be the difference between being invited or not.

Note that these points are claimed in your EOI based on your partner's circumstances at the time of invitation. Your partner does not need to be the primary applicant to contribute points; they can be a secondary applicant included in your application.

This depends on your circumstances. If you are applying from outside Australia, you do not automatically receive work rights while waiting for your 189 to be decided; you would need a separate visa (such as a working holiday, graduate or employer-sponsored visa) to work in Australia during this period.

If you are already in Australia on a visa with work rights (such as a 485 graduate visa or a 482 employer-sponsored visa) and you lodge a 189 application, you may be granted a Bridging Visa A that maintains your work rights while your 189 is being processed. Your specific situation determines what work rights you hold during processing, and we advise you on this at assessment stage.

Yes, a Subclass 189 application can be refused. Common reasons include failing the character or health requirements, not meeting the skills assessment outcome claimed in the EOI, providing inconsistent or insufficient evidence of work experience, or being found not to have met the points criteria at time of invitation.

If your application is refused, you have the right to seek review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (previously the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, AAT). The tribunal can affirm, vary or set aside the Department's decision. Review applications must be lodged within strict time limits from the date of notification of refusal. We can advise you on your review prospects and represent you in tribunal proceedings if needed.

The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa that requires state or territory nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. It adds 15 bonus points, making it accessible to applicants who would not otherwise be competitive for a 189. However, it is provisional: you must live and work in a designated regional area for three years before being eligible to apply for the permanent Subclass 191 visa.

The 189 grants immediate permanent residency with no regional conditions. If your score is high enough to receive a 189 invitation, it is generally the better option. If not, the 491 pathway can be a viable route to permanent residency in Australia, especially for those willing to live regionally for three years.

To be eligible for Australian citizenship by conferral, you generally need to have been lawfully present in Australia for four years immediately before your citizenship application, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident. Time spent in Australia on temporary visas counts toward the four-year period, but only the 12 months as a PR is mandatory as a minimum.

Citizenship gives you an Australian passport, the right to vote, and the ability to access government services and benefits as a full citizen. Processing times for citizenship applications vary. You must also demonstrate knowledge of Australia (by passing a citizenship test) and demonstrate your intention to continue living in, or maintaining a close and continuing association with, Australia.

A Professional Year is a structured, 12-month program in Australia designed to help international graduates transition from university study to professional employment. It combines formal training with a workplace internship and is available for graduates in accounting, IT, and engineering who studied in Australia.

Completing a Professional Year that began on or after 1 July 2011 earns you 5 bonus points in the points test. These points stack with your other score, so a Professional Year can be the difference between being invited and not. The programs are offered by several registered providers and are generally run in major cities. If you are an international graduate in an eligible field, completing a Professional Year before submitting your EOI can significantly strengthen your application.

The Department of Home Affairs accepts the following English language tests for the Subclass 189: IELTS Academic or General Training, Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency, and OET (Occupational English Test, for health professionals only).

From 7 August 2025, updated requirements apply to English language tests, including the addition of new test providers. The minimum requirement is Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band or equivalent). Achieving Proficient English (IELTS 7 in each band) earns you an additional 10 points, and Superior English (IELTS 8 in each band) earns 20 additional points. Always confirm current test requirements before booking your test.