Skilled Independent
For invited skilled workers with no sponsor. Live and work anywhere in Australia.
Under 4565 pointsNo sponsor
Australian permanent residency
Permanent residency in Australia.
Skilled migration through subclasses 189, 190 and 491, employer sponsorship and every other route to Australian PR, explained clearly.
Request a call backHow skilled migration works
Your path to Australian PR.
Seven steps, from your skills assessment to your visa grant.
- 1Skills assessmentYour occupation assessed by the right authority.
- 2English testAt least Competent English, such as IELTS 6 in each part.
- 3Expression of InterestYour points profile in SkillSelect.
- 4State nominationNeeded for 190 and 491, with extra points.
- 5InvitationInvitations go to the highest ranked profiles.
- 6ApplicationLodged within 60 days, with evidence for every claim.
- 7Checks and grantHealth, character and biometrics, then your visa.
Swipe to see every step
The points test
Pass mark 65Age up to 30English up to 20Experience up to 20Qualifications up to 20Partner up to 10NAATI CCL +5State nomination +5 (190)Regional nomination +15 (491)
You need at least 65 points, and invitations often go to higher scores. A reformed points test was announced in September 2026. Until it starts, the current test applies.
Every route
The ways to Australian PR.
Rules as checked on official Australian Government pages in October 2026. Settings change often, so we confirm the latest rules before you apply.
Skilled Nominated
For skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government. Nomination adds 5 points.
Under 45State nomination
Skilled Work Regional
Five years living and working in a regional area, nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible relative. Adds 15 points.
RegionalLeads to PR
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
For people who have held a 491 or 494 for three years and met its conditions.
After 3 years
Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residence through an Australian employer, by direct entry or after time on a sponsored visa.
Employer sponsored
Skills in Demand
Up to four years of sponsored work, which can lead to permanent residence. It replaced the TSS visa in December 2024.
Employer sponsoredPath to PR
National Innovation visa
By invitation only, for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement.
By invitation
Partner visas
For the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, applied for from outside (309/100) or inside Australia (820/801).
Partner of an Australian
Parent visas
Capped and queued, with waiting times of many years.
Long queues
Closed to new applicants: the Business Innovation and Investment Program including subclass 188 (closed July 2024), Business Talent (subclass 132), the Global Talent visa (replaced by the National Innovation visa) and the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (replaced by Skills in Demand).
Your Australian future starts here.
Tell us about your occupation, experience and English scores, and we will call you back.