Skilled migration visas: 189, 190, 491 and the 191 pathway

All three are points-tested, and you can only apply once the Department of Home Affairs invites you. They differ in who backs your application and where you can live.

Yes. Your occupation must be on the skilled occupation list for your visa, and by the time you are invited you need a suitable assessment from the assessing authority listed for that occupation. Each authority sets its own procedures, timeframes and charges, so Home Affairs encourages you to arrange it well before you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI). A provisional assessment issued for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not suitable.

Our skills assessment consultation helps you:

Your EOI must meet or exceed the points threshold of 65. Points are awarded for factors such as age, English language skills, skilled employment experience and educational qualifications, and can also come from Australian study, a Professional Year, study in regional Australia, partner skills and a credentialled community language. For the 190 and 491, the nomination or sponsorship earns points too.

Reaching 65 does not mean you will be invited: invitations are limited, and the lowest score invited differs between occupations. If invited, you must prove every claim, so we check each one first.

Submitting an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect is free. It is not a visa application, and you do not upload documents with it.

You must be under 45 when you are invited. If you turn 45 after submitting your EOI but before an invitation, you will not be invited, although turning 45 after an invitation does not stop you applying. You also need at least competent English at the time of invitation, and higher English results earn more points.

On a 491, you and family members who hold the visa must live, work and study in a designated regional area. Most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane qualifies, including Geelong.

After at least three years on a 491 or 494, complying with its conditions, you may be eligible for the 191, which needs no sponsor or nominator. You will need Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment for three income years of your eligible visa, and evidence you lived, worked and studied in a designated area. Until you have held the 491 for three years, you cannot make a valid application for a Partner visa (subclass 820) or be granted certain visas, including the 186, 189 and 190.