Corporate Migration Services
Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.
The Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is permanent residence in Australia with no strings attached. No employer to sponsor you. No state to nominate you. No work-location condition once you arrive. If you qualify and you receive an invitation, you can live and work anywhere in Australia, sponsor family members, and start the clock toward citizenship.
The 189 is the most competitive permanent skilled visa in the Australian system. In 2025-26, practically every major occupation requires 90 points or above to receive an invitation. The minimum to submit an Expression of Interest is 65 points, but 65 points will not get you an invitation in the current environment.
If your points score is below 90, the 189 is probably not the right starting point. The Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) adds five points through state nomination, and the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) adds fifteen. We will tell you honestly where you stand.
WHY THE RIGHT ADVICE MATTERS FOR A 189 APPLICATION
The 189 operates on a points-tested expression-of-interest model: you submit an EOI in SkillSelect, and the Department issues invitations quarterly to the highest-scoring applicants in each occupation. The cutoff can shift between rounds and is not published in advance.
MigrationBuro handles GSM selectively. We take on 189, 190, and 491 cases where the numbers work and the pathway is real. We run a frank points assessment at consultation, model your score against current invitation trends, and identify the gaps worth closing.
Andy Heathcote has practised immigration law since 2007. The advice you receive is based on current program data, not a standard script. MARN 0850840.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SUBCLASS 189 VISA
Step 1 Skills assessment
Skills assessment. Your occupation must appear on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). You need a positive skills assessment before you can submit an EOI. Assessment timeframes vary: TRA typically takes six to ten weeks, Engineers Australia three to six months.
Step 2 Build your points
Build your points. Use the Home Affairs points calculator to confirm your current score. Review every category: age, English, overseas and Australian work experience, qualifications, partner contribution, NAATI community language.
Step 3 Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect
Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. Once your skills assessment is valid and your points are confirmed, you submit your EOI. You can update the EOI at any time before invitation.
Step 4 Wait for an invitation round
Wait for an invitation round. The Department runs quarterly rounds in 2025-26. If invited, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application.
Step 5 Lodge the visa application in ImmiAccount within 60 days of invitation
Lodge the visa application in ImmiAccount within 60 days of invitation. Prepare evidence before the round: identity documents, health examinations, character clearances, skills assessment, employment records, English test results.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss employer sponsorship for your Brisbane business. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
How many points do I need to get a 189 visa invitation?
The legal minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points. In practice, the invitation cutoff for most occupations in 2025-26 is 90 to 100 points. We model your score against current invitation data at consultation.
What is the difference between the 189 and the 190 visa?
Both are permanent skilled visas. The 189 requires no sponsorship and has no work-location condition. The 190 requires state nomination, which adds five points and gives access to a separate invitation pool.
What is the MLTSSL?
The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List is the occupation list for the 189. It is narrower than the Core Skills Occupation List. Some occupations on the CSOL are not on the MLTSSL.
Can I include my partner and children?
Yes. Partners and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. Including a partner who holds a positive skills assessment and competent English adds ten points to your EOI score.
Is there an age limit for the 189?
You must be under 45 at the time of invitation. If you are approaching 45, the timing of invitation rounds matters.
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. With over 18 years of experience, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
