Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) Visa 2025: An actual PR visa of Australia

Know the Eligibility, Process, Processing Time, Documents Requirements, Overall Cost & important questions.

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The Skilled Independent Visa is a points-tested stream that invites skilled professionals to live and work in Australia permanently. This visa is for workers who are not sponsored by any territory or employer or a family member living in the country.

The visa makes you eligible to:

Live & work anywhere in Australia
Become an Australian citizen
Enrol in the public healthcare scheme
Sponsor skilled family members for PR

Benefits of Australia’s Skilled Independent Visa Program

Australia is a developed and beautiful country with a welcoming environment for everyone coming to the country.

Here are the benefits you can reap while holding the Subclass 189 visa:

You can work and study in Australia,
You and your dependents can enrol in Medicare,
You can enter and exit Australia multiple times,
You can sponsor a family member to get PR,
You can apply for citizenship, if applicable, and

You can reside in Australia permanently.

Processing Time for Subclass 189 Visa

The processing time depends on your score, occupation and number of applicants applying under your occupation code.

However, you will have sixty days to apply for the visa after receiving the ITA. After applying, the Department of immigration will start processing the application. The average duration for processing the visa is eight months for 75% of applications.

Points Requirement for Skilled Independent Visa

The application for this visa is by invite only.

To receive the invitation, you must:

File the Expression of Interest(EOI) document
Have experience in an occupation listed in Australia’s Skilled Occupations List
Be less than 45 years of age
Have sufficient English language skills
Satisfy the character and medical conditions and
Meet the minimum cut-off score of 65 under the points stream.

As per the information filled in the EOI, your profile will be awarded points on the criteria as follows:

1. Age

This visa program is only for applicants under 45 years and over 18 years when receiving the Invitation to Apply.

Points by Age Group

Age	Points
18-25 years	25
25-33 years	30
33-40 years	25
40-45 years	15

2. English Skills

You must have sufficient English language skills measured by your score in the OET, PTE, TOEFL or IELTS test.

English Proficiency Points

English Proficiency	Points
Competent	0
Proficient	10
Superior	20

3. Education

The points under education are awarded based on your highest qualification in comparison to the relevant Australian qualification.

Qualification Points

Qualification	Points
Doctorate	20
Bachelor/Master’s Degree	15
Diploma	10
Award or Qualification for Skilled Occupation	10

4. Experience

Your experience can also fetch you points if it is relevant to the occupations list.

Skilled Employment Overseas

Experience Points

Experience	Points
Less Than 3 Years	0
3-4 Years	5
5-7 Years	10
At Least 8 Years	15

5. Partner Skills

The Australian government can consider your spouse’s/partner’s skills for rewarding you an additional 5 points if your partner:

Is under 45 years of age,
Has competent English language skills,
Is assessed and found to have skills related to their nominated occupation under SOL,
Is accompanying you to the country and
Is not a permanent residence holder or citizen of Australia.

Application Process for Subclass 189 Visa

There are 4 steps in the application for the visa. Let us explore them in detail:

Step 1: To validate the occupation you wish to work in, it must be officially assessed by an authorised body as per the occupation. The assessing authority can take over three months to decide on the outcome.
Step 2: After receiving a positive outcome from the assessment authority, you must submit the Expression of Interest to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the visa.
Step 3: When you receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must pay the visa fee, submit your documents and go through police & medical checks.
Step 4: After receiving the letter, you must have your first entry into Australia by the date given to activate your visa.

Documents Required for Subclass 189 Visa

Documents play a vital role in receiving the Subclass 189 visa.

Here is a checklist of documents required to apply for the visa:

Subclass 189 visa application form
Two coloured passport-sized photographs
Proof of identification
English skills test scores
Educational qualification documents
Skill assessment report
Document to prove the skills
Reference letter from employer(s)
Character certificate from the police
Medical check certificate
Australian study requirement proof & documents to show proof of study (if applicable)
Partner’s English proficiency proof
Proof of relationship status
Any other documents as requested during the process

Things to Do Before Applying for a Skilled Independent Visa

Before you apply for the Subclass 189 visa, you must:

Ensure you meet the cut-off score for eligibility (65 points),
Check your occupation with Skilled Occupations List,
Get your skills assessed with the relevant authorities and
Check that you meet the other eligibility criteria.

What to Do After Getting the Visa invitation?

When you receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Department of Home Affairs, your application is about 90% through the process.

At this stage, you have to:

Undergo health checks,
Provide biometrics, if requested,
Provide additional documents, if needed,
Add members of your family and

Update your information (if any).

Medical Requirements for Skilled Independent Visa

Australian citizens enjoy some of the world’s health standards. To maintain these standards, all PR applicants must meet the minimum medical requirements for a visa.

Here are the Australia PR medical tests required for the applicant, their partner and dependents.

Age and Tests Required

Age	Tests Required
Under 2 Years	Medical Examination
2-11 Years	Medical Examination, TB Screening Test
11-15 Years	Medical Examination, Chest X-Ray
15 or More Years	Medical Examination, Chest X-Ray, HIV Test

Reasons You are Not Invited For Subclass 189 Visa

Australia is a popular choice for people wanting to move to another country. Moving to the country with a PR visa has many benefits.

However, not all applicants are accepted for the PR program.

Here are the reasons why some PR applications are rejected:

Failing to meet application conditions
Violating condition of previous visas
Providing incomplete or false information
Failing to meet health requirements
Lacking sufficient funds
Failing to meet character requirements
Scoring low on English test
Failing to clear verification

Partner/ Family Requirements for Subclass 189 Visa

Your partner’s skills can be an added advantage to your visa points score.

You can claim the additional 5 points under ‘Partner Skills’ if your partner is:

Included in the same visa application as the applicant
Not an Australian citizen or PR holder
Assessed by an authority for an occupation under SOL
Competent in English
Experienced in a skilled

Other Important FAQs

Why Opt for the Skilled Independent Visa?

The Skilled Independent visa is designed to select a predefined set of qualified foreign nationals required in Australia’s different states.

It allows them to live and work in the country without being sponsored by a relative or nominated by a province or employer.

Is Subclass 189 A Permanent Visa?

Yes. The Skilled Independent Visa is a stream for permanent residency for all professional workers with the skills required by Australia’s labour market.

Are 85 points enough for the Skilled Independent visa?

Yes. The minimum cut-off score set by SkillSelect for the Subclass 189 visa is 65 points. However, do remember that the higher your points score, the higher your chances are of getting the Skilled Independent visa.

Are 75 points enough for the Subclass 189 visa?

Yes. As mentioned above, the minimum cut-off score for the Skilled Independent visa is 65 points. However, scoring above 80 points can ensure that you get invited sooner.

How long is a Skilled Independent visa valid?

The Subclass 189 visa is a permanent visa. With this, you can live in Australia indefinitely. It enables you and your family members to live, study, work and travel in the country and access its healthcare programs.

What is an Expression of Interest?

The Expression of Interest (EOI) is an applicant’s intimation to the Australian government about their willingness to live in the country as a permanent resident. Any candidate willing to apply for the Subclass 189 visa must file an EOI through SkillSelect. There are no fees required for creating and submitting an EOI.

What are the Subclass 189 visa requirements for chefs?

Professional chefs and cooks are very high in demand in Canada.

To apply for the visa as a chef, you must:

Have an educational or trade qualification equal to Australian standards.
Have at least 3 years experience post qualification.
Have worked in the same field for at least one year.

What are the Subclass 189 visa requirements for nurses?

Nurses are very much in demand in Australia. The most common occupation under SOL used by nurses when applying for the Subclass 189 visa is ‘Registered Nurse NEC’.

To migrate to Australia as a nurse under the Subclass 189 visa, you must:

Meet the English language requirement.
Have a current registration certificate in India.
Have proof of experience in the field for over a year.

What are the Subclass 189 visa requirements for doctors?

Australia has, for a long time, been a popular destination for doctors looking to migrate overseas.

To apply for the Subclass 189 visa as a doctor, you must:

Have registered as a general or specialist physician with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority (AHPRA).
Be under 45 years of age.
Meet the required cut-off score in the points stream.