Skilled Migration / Australia / Route
Australia · Skilled migration route
Permanent residency with no employer or state sponsor — invitation via SkillSelect.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on Australian immigration from our Dubai office.
Overview
The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is an Australia PR pathway for qualified professionals who want to live and work permanently in Australia without employer or state sponsorship.
It operates under a points-based system that values age, education, English skills, and work experience, offering a transparent and merit-based route to permanent residency and citizenship.
Why Choose Subclass 189
- No sponsorship needed — apply independently through SkillSelect
- Permanent residency from visa grant
- Points-based selection — 65 is the floor, but most professional occupations were invited at 80-100 points in 2026
- Freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia
- Family inclusion with full work and study rights
- Clear PR-to-citizenship pathway after residency period
Visa application charge
The Home Affairs visa application charge for the primary applicant is AUD 6,135 (as displayed on 29 September 2026). Additional charges apply for each family member included in the application.
Sub Class 189 skilled Immigration
This is a Permanent Residency Visa. This is points-tested stream. Under this VISA stream, you don’t need any kind of nomination. It doesn’t need you to have a job offer from any Australian employee. You need to first Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online through Skill Select. EOI is not an application. It is only an indication that you would like to be considered for skilled immigration into Australia.
to be eligible to apply under this stream you need to
- Have relevant occupation experience
- Have your skills assessed which proves that you have the skills and qualifications required for the work in that occupation.
- Have English Competency levels as is needed
- Be invited by the Australian skill select to apply
Benefits
- You can stay in Australia indefinitely.
- You can Work and study in Australia.
- You can Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health related care and expenses
- You can Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
- You can Travel to and from Australia for five years.
- You can apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
What XIPHIAS Immigration will do for you
- Profile assessment
- Submission of application and documents
- Application preparation
- Guidance about the applications and documents required
- Language proficiency tests
- Help till the point of getting your PR Visa
- Post landing counseling
- Post landing Job search assistance
Talk to an Australia immigration consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has advised families on Australian permanent residency since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents applying from the Emirates. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022.
If you want a straight answer on whether this route suits your profile, our immigration consultants in Dubai will give you one — including when the answer is no.
Sources
- Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Points-tested stream
- Home Affairs — points table (189 / 190 / 491)
- Home Affairs — skilled occupation lists
- Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation rounds
All figures verified against Home Affairs on 29 September 2026. Visa application charges are the amounts Home Affairs displayed on that date.
What you getالمزايا
Permanent residency upon grant — live and work anywhere in Australia.
No job offer, sponsor, or state nomination required.
Partner and dependent children can be included.
Transparent points-based selection through SkillSelect invitation rounds.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Visa application charge (primary applicant)
Home Affairs VAC as displayed on 29 September 2026. Additional applicant charges apply.
Government & due-diligence fees
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
Occupation must be on the eligible skilled occupation list (MLTSSL) and have a positive skills assessment.
Achieve at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band or accepted equivalents).
Submit an EOI in SkillSelect and receive an invitation.
Meet health, character, and documentation evidence standards.
Who cannot apply
Occupation not listed or missing a valid skills assessment.
Points below your occupation’s invitation cut-off. 65 is the minimum, not a competitive score.
Aged 45 or above at invitation — ineligible for GSM subclass 189.
Language requirementاللغة
Minimum level
Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each or accepted equivalents)
Accepted tests
Points systemالنقاط
Minimum score to receive an invitation: 65 points
| Category | Max pts |
|---|---|
| Age | 30 |
| English language | 20 |
| Skilled employment (overseas/Australia) | 20 |
| Qualifications | 20 |
| Other factors (Aust. study, specialist education, partner, regional, CCL) | 25 |
| Total | 115 |
Eligible occupationsالمهن
Common eligible occupations (examples)
- ✦Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313)
- ✦Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211)
- ✦Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254418)
- ✦Electrician (General) (ANZSCO 341111)
The processكيف نعمل
Skills Assessment
Get your occupation assessed by the relevant authority before applying.
English Test
Take IELTS/PTE/OET and achieve at least **Competent English**.
Expression of Interest (SkillSelect)
Submit an EOI online and wait for invitation. EOIs remain valid for 2 years.
Invitation & Visa Application
Receive invitation, lodge your visa, and pay the VAC.
Health, Character & Biometrics
Complete medical exams and submit police clearances.
Visa Decision
Once approved, your PR visa is granted — travel and activate your residency.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity & Civil
- ✦Passport valid for at least 6 months.
- ✦Birth/marriage certificates or name change evidence.
- ✦National ID or address proofs (if applicable).
Skills & Education
- ✦Positive skills assessment from a recognized assessing authority.
- ✦Academic transcripts and degree/diploma certificates.
- ✦Professional licenses (if required for your occupation).
Employment
- ✦Reference letters detailing job duties and duration.
- ✦Payslips, tax statements, or contracts.
- ✦Statutory declarations where applicable.
English & Tests
- ✦IELTS/PTE or accepted equivalent results meeting minimum score.
Health & Character
- ✦Medical exam results from approved panel physicians.
- ✦Police clearance certificates for each country resided in 12+ months.
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Risk notes
65 points is the entry threshold, not a realistic target. In the 4 June 2026 round only 15 construction trades were invited at 65; most professional occupations sat between 80 and 100.
No invitations were issued in July, August or September 2026, the first three months of the 2026-27 programme year. XIPHIAS tracks each round and confirms the latest position before you lodge an EOI.
Invitation cut-offs are set per occupation, not nationally. Your score competes only against other candidates in the same occupation.
An expression of interest stays valid for 2 years. Turning 45 between lodging your EOI and being invited makes you ineligible.
Compliance
Home Affairs published service standard for the Points-tested stream: 61 days for 50% of applications, 8 months for 90% (published 29 September 2026, data to 31 August 2026). That covers the visa decision only. The headline timeline on this page is XIPHIAS's own observed end-to-end average from our case files, which includes the wait for an invitation.
Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL, ANZSCO 2013). That list was last re-issued effective 28 March 2026.
Applications are processed in the order set by Ministerial Direction No. 122. Home Affairs warns that published timeframes may temporarily move backwards during the transition to it.
Current queue positions published by Home Affairs: November 2025 for priority sectors (construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence), June 2026 for onshore applicants, November 2025 for offshore.
You must be under 45 at the time of invitation. You may still apply if you turn 45 after being invited.
All claimed points must be backed by verifiable documentation.
A second instalment of the visa application charge may be payable for family members aged 18 or over who do not have functional English.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
65 points is the minimum to be invited. In practice it is far from enough — in the 4 June 2026 round, only 15 construction trades were invited at 65, while most professional occupations were invited between 80 and 100 points.
Start the Australia route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.