Australia's General Skilled Migration program is for skilled professionals who want to live and work in Australia — either anywhere in the country, in a specific state, or in a regional area. Your eligibility is based on a points test covering your age, English, qualifications, and work experience.
A skilled migration visa unlocks a complete life in Australia — not just the right to work.
Settle in Australia with full work rights — anywhere (189), in a specific state (190), or in regional areas (491).
Enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme and access subsidised medical services.
Bring eligible family members to Australia, including spouse, children, and certain relatives.
Permanent visa holders can apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
189, 190, and 191 grant indefinite permanent residence with no time limit on your stay.
Access subsidised education, study at any institution, and unlock domestic tuition rates.
A balanced view of what this visa offers and where its limits lie.
There are four key visa subclasses under General Skilled Migration. Each suits a different profile.
| Subclass | Type | Sponsorship | Where You Live |
|---|---|---|---|
189Skilled Independent | Permanent | None required | Anywhere in Australia |
190Skilled Nominated | Permanent | State / territory | The nominating state |
491Skilled Work Regional | Temporary · 5 yrs | State, territory, or eligible relative | Designated regional areas |
191Permanent Regional | Permanent | N/A — transition from 491 | Regional areas (after 491) |
If you don't qualify directly for 189 or 190, the 491 → 191 regional pathway is the most reliable route to Australian permanent residency for skilled migrants.
Most General Skilled Migration applicants need to satisfy the following criteria. Some subclasses have additional requirements.
You earn points across the following factors. The minimum is 65 points, but most successful applicants score 80 or higher.
The questions we hear most often. Need more detail? Book a consultation.
65 points is the legislated minimum to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). However, popular occupations like Accountants, Software Engineers, and Civil Engineers typically need 85–95+ points to be invited. We benchmark you against current invitation rounds in your consultation.
Your occupation must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List for your visa — MLTSSL (for 189), STSOL or ROL (for 190 / 491). Lists change periodically. We check your specific ANZSCO and confirm eligibility before any commitment.
Highly variable. Invitation can take weeks to many months depending on points score and occupation demand. Once invited, application processing is typically 6–14 months. Faster for high-demand, high-score profiles.
Yes — via the Subclass 191 once you have lived in a designated regional area for 3 years and met the qualifying income threshold. The 491 → 191 pathway is well-established.
Yes. Skilled partner with English and skills assessment can add 10 points; partner with Competent English only adds 5. Partner who is an Australian citizen / PR also adds 10 points.
Skilled migration may not be your best route. Alternatives include employer sponsorship (482/186), partner visas, business / investor visas, or in some cases a closely related ANZSCO. We assess all options in the consultation.
From your first call to visa grant, you have a registered migration agent guiding every step.
We run your points score, identify the right subclass for your profile, and flag any risks before you commit. 100% refundable if you proceed with us.
We manage your skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority and lodge your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect.
Once invited, we prepare your full visa application and handle all Department correspondence through to your visa grant.
Book a consultation with our registered migration agents. 100% refundable when you proceed with us — so you can be confident in your investment.