Australia’s General Skilled Migration programme provides points-tested immigration pathways for qualified professionals whose occupations and skills can contribute to the Australian economy.
The main General Skilled Migration visas are:
The Subclass 189 and 190 visas provide Australian permanent residence from the date of grant. The Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa that can provide a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa.
Applicants do not need direct employer sponsorship for these three pathways. However, the Subclass 190 requires state or territory nomination. The Subclass 491 requires either state or territory nomination or sponsorship from an eligible family member living in a designated regional area.
Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and receive an invitation before applying for a GSM visa. Meeting the minimum points requirement does not guarantee an invitation.
To qualify for an Australia General Skilled Migration visa, an applicant will generally need to:
A score of 65 makes an applicant eligible to enter the points-tested process. However, actual invitation scores can be higher because invitations depend on occupation demand, points ranking, nomination criteria and available programme places.
General Skilled Migration, commonly called GSM, is Australia’s points-tested migration system for skilled professionals.
Unlike employer-sponsored pathways, GSM applicants are assessed primarily on factors such as:
Applicants must nominate an occupation that is eligible for their chosen visa. Different occupation lists apply to different visa subclasses.
Australia currently uses the ANZSCO 2013 classification for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 skilled visa programmes. The Core Skills Occupation List applies mainly to selected employer-sponsored pathways and should not automatically be treated as the GSM occupation list.
Australia has set the 2026–27 permanent Migration Programme at 185,000 places.
The Skilled stream contains 132,240 places. Its major category allocations include:
| Skilled category | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 35,500 |
| Skilled Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 |
| Total Skilled Programme | 132,200 | 132,240 |
The higher Skilled Independent and State/Territory Nominated planning levels may support more outcomes in these categories. However, planning levels do not represent guaranteed invitations or visa grants for individual applicants.
As of July 17, 2026, the Department of Home Affairs states that the next Skilled Independent Subclass 189 invitation round is expected to take place by September 30, 2026.
Invitation timing, eligible occupations and minimum scores can change. Applicants should keep their SkillSelect profiles accurate and updated.
Australia changed its approved English-language test framework on August 7, 2025.
Depending on the date of the test and the visa requirements, accepted secure test-centre examinations may include:
Completely online or at-home English tests are generally not accepted for Australian visa purposes. Applicants must check the scores and validity rules that apply to their test date.
Australian visa charges changed on July 1, 2026.
The primary applicant charges for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas are now approximately AUD 6,135–6,140, depending on the subclass. Additional charges apply for accompanying family members.
Applicants may also need to budget for:
Visa charges can change. The official Visa Pricing Estimator should be checked immediately before lodging an application.
| Feature | Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
| Visa type | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional |
| Validity | Permanent residence | Permanent residence | Five years |
| Employer sponsorship | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| State nomination | Not required | Required | Required unless family-sponsored |
| Eligible family sponsorship | No | No | Available in applicable cases |
| Additional nomination points | None | 5 points | 15 points |
| Regional residence requirement | No | Depends on nomination commitment | Yes |
| SkillSelect EOI | Required | Required | Required |
| Invitation required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PR pathway | Direct PR | Direct PR | Subclass 191 pathway |
| Work location | Anywhere in Australia | Nomination commitments apply | Designated regional Australia |
The Skilled Independent Visa is a permanent residence visa for invited skilled professionals.
It does not require:
A successful Subclass 189 visa holder can generally:
An applicant must generally:
The Subclass 189 is highly competitive because applicants are ranked through SkillSelect. A score of 65 is only the legal threshold and not a guaranteed invitation score.
The Subclass 189 may suit applicants who:
The Skilled Nominated Visa is a permanent residence visa requiring nomination from an Australian state or territory government.
State nomination gives the applicant five additional points.
Each state and territory sets its own criteria. Requirements may include:
Meeting federal visa requirements does not automatically mean an applicant will qualify for state nomination.
The visa can allow successful applicants to:
A state nomination is based on the applicant’s intention to live and contribute to the nominating jurisdiction.
The precise commitment varies by state. Applicants should not apply for nomination from a state where they have no genuine intention to settle.
State nomination does not guarantee approval of the federal visa application. The Department of Home Affairs makes the final visa decision.
The Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa for skilled professionals willing to live, work and study in designated regional Australia.
An applicant must be:
The nomination or qualifying family sponsorship provides 15 additional points.
Visa holders must comply with their regional visa conditions. Although the visa is provisional, it can provide a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa.
For skilled migration purposes, most Australian locations outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are classified as designated regional areas.
This can include major cities and locations such as:
Applicants must check the official postcode list because regional classifications can change.
Eligible Subclass 491 holders may apply for the Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa—Subclass 191.
Applicants generally need to:
There is currently no minimum taxable-income threshold for the regional provisional stream. However, applicants must provide the required notices of assessment for the relevant income years.
This corrects the common claim that applicants must earn a fixed minimum salary to qualify for the Subclass 191 visa.
Applicants must generally be under 45 when invited.
| Age at invitation | Points |
| 18–24 | 25 |
| 25–32 | 30 |
| 33–39 | 25 |
| 40–44 | 15 |
| 45 or older | Not eligible for points-tested GSM invitation |
The highest age score is available to applicants aged 25 to 32.
Applicants usually need at least competent English.
| English level | Points |
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
For tests taken on or after August 7, 2025, applicants must use the updated score tables published by the Department of Home Affairs.
For IELTS, the commonly used benchmarks remain:
Equivalent scores for PTE, OET, TOEFL and other approved examinations depend on the test date and current official rules.
| Relevant overseas experience | Points |
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3–4 years | 5 |
| 5–7 years | 10 |
| At least 8 years | 15 |
Only employment considered skilled and relevant under the applicable assessment and immigration rules can be claimed.
| Relevant Australian experience | Points |
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1–2 years | 5 |
| 3–4 years | 10 |
| 5–7 years | 15 |
| At least 8 years | 20 |
The combined maximum for overseas and Australian skilled employment is generally 20 points.
| Qualification | Points |
| Recognised doctorate | 20 |
| Recognised bachelor’s degree or higher | 15 |
| Australian diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| Qualification recognised by the assessing authority | 10 |
Applicants should not assume that every overseas qualification automatically attracts points. The qualification and its Australian comparability may need verification.
Applicants who meet the Australian study requirement may receive five points.
The study must generally involve:
Applicants may receive 10 points for an eligible Australian master’s degree by research or doctorate in a specified science, technology, engineering, mathematics or information and communications technology field.
Five points may be available for completing an approved Professional Year in:
The programme must generally have been completed during the 48 months before the invitation.
Applicants may receive five points for holding an eligible credential in a recognised community language through the approved assessing organisation.
An additional five points may be available where an applicant meets the Australian study requirement and completes eligible study while living in a designated regional area.
| Partner circumstances | Points |
| Applicant is single | 10 |
| Partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Partner has eligible skills assessment, competent English and is under 45 | 10 |
| Partner has competent English only | 5 |
| Partner does not meet applicable requirements | 0 |
A skilled partner generally needs an eligible occupation, suitable skills assessment, competent English and to be under 45 at the relevant time.
| Nomination | Points |
| Subclass 190 state or territory nomination | 5 |
| Subclass 491 nomination or eligible family sponsorship | 15 |
The official Home Affairs points tables should always be checked before claiming points because inaccurate points claims can lead to visa refusal.
A positive skills assessment is normally required before submitting an Expression of Interest.
The assessing authority depends on the nominated occupation.
Examples include:
The assessment examines whether the applicant’s qualifications and experience meet the Australian requirements for the nominated occupation.
Where a skills assessment does not state its own validity period, it is generally valid for three years from the date of issue for migration purposes.
A positive assessment does not automatically mean all employment will be accepted for points. The assessing authority may determine a date from which the applicant is considered skilled.
Review:
The nominated occupation should accurately match the applicant’s duties, qualifications and employment history.
Choosing an occupation based only on the job title can result in an unsuitable assessment.
Apply to the authorised assessing body and submit the required qualification and employment evidence.
Competent English may satisfy the minimum requirement. However, proficient or superior English can provide an additional 10 or 20 points.
Only claim points that can be supported with valid evidence at the time required by immigration law.
Create and submit an EOI through SkillSelect.
The EOI is not a visa application. Applicants do not upload supporting documents when initially submitting the EOI, but every claim must later be proven.
An EOI normally remains active for two years. It can be updated before an invitation is issued.
Subclass 190 and state-nominated Subclass 491 applicants must satisfy the nominating jurisdiction’s process.
Some states require:
Applicants invited through SkillSelect generally have 60 days from the invitation date to submit the visa application.
Submit the application through ImmiAccount with supporting documents.
These may include:
Home Affairs may:
Applicants must notify the Department if their circumstances change.
There is no guaranteed processing time for Subclass 189, 190 or 491 applications.
In May 2026, the median processing time for the overall permanent skilled visa category was approximately nine months. Individual applications may be shorter or significantly longer.
Processing time can be affected by:
The Department updates its processing-time guide monthly.
Applicants may need:
Document requirements vary by applicant and occupation.
Eligible family members can usually be included in an Australia GSM application.
These may include:
Family members must satisfy applicable health and character requirements.
Partners and dependent children aged 18 or older may also need to demonstrate functional English or pay an additional visa charge where applicable.
Applicants must prove every point claimed at the relevant time.
Common issues include:
The nominated occupation should align with the applicant’s actual duties, not merely their job title.
Reference letters alone may not be enough. Home Affairs may expect supporting evidence such as payslips, bank statements, tax records and contracts.
The skills assessment must remain valid under the applicable visa rules.
Subclass 190 and 491 nomination criteria are separate from federal visa requirements.
Partner points and family inclusion must be supported by genuine and consistent relationship evidence.
An invitation normally allows 60 days to submit the visa application.
False documents or inaccurate statements can result in refusal, cancellation and future immigration consequences.
The best visa is not always the one offering the most points. Applicants should consider occupation eligibility, nomination access, invitation competitiveness, family circumstances and long-term settlement plans.
Applicants may explore more than one immigration strategy where eligible.
For example, a candidate may:
However, each route has separate requirements.
Employer sponsorship should not be treated as a guaranteed backup. Likewise, submitting an EOI does not provide a bridging visa or permission to remain in Australia.
Australia’s skilled migration process involves more than calculating 65 points.
Applicants must correctly coordinate:
The Global Axis Immigration Services assists eligible professionals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE with structured Australia migration planning.
Our services may include:
Visa invitations, nominations and approvals are never guaranteed. Decisions are made by Australian government authorities and relevant assessing bodies.
Speak with The Global Axis Immigration Services, immigration consultants in Dubai, to compare the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 pathways based on your occupation, qualifications, work experience and points score.
Check your Australia PR eligibility today.
General Skilled Migration is Australia’s points-tested migration programme for skilled professionals. Its primary visas are the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent, Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visas.
The minimum points threshold for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas is 65. Reaching 65 does not guarantee an invitation. Actual invitation requirements depend on occupation demand, points ranking, nomination criteria and programme availability.
A score of 75 may be competitive for some occupations and insufficient for others. There is no universal invitation score. Applicants should review previous rounds, state criteria and the number of competing EOIs.
A job offer is not generally required for the Subclass 189. It is also not a universal federal requirement for the Subclass 190 or 491. However, individual states may require employment, a job offer or evidence of employability.
Yes. The Subclass 189 does not require state nomination, family sponsorship or employer sponsorship.
Yes. The Subclass 190 is a permanent visa. Applicants must first obtain nomination from an Australian state or territory and then receive an invitation to apply.
No. The Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa. Eligible holders may later apply for permanent residence through the Subclass 191 pathway.
There is currently no fixed minimum taxable-income threshold for the regional provisional stream. Applicants must still provide the required Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment and satisfy all other visa conditions.
A SkillSelect EOI normally remains active for two years. Applicants can update it before receiving an invitation.
Applicants generally have 60 days from the invitation date to lodge the visa application online.
Applicants may create more than one EOI where appropriate. However, every EOI must contain accurate information, and applicants should avoid duplicate or inconsistent claims.
An applicant may indicate interest in more than one suitable visa through SkillSelect. State nomination procedures and eligibility criteria will still apply separately.
Yes. A partner may provide five points for competent English or 10 points where the partner meets the applicable age, English, occupation and skills assessment requirements.
A single applicant can generally claim 10 points under the partner-skills section.
Accepted tests can include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test. Test acceptance and required scores depend on the test date and visa rules.
IELTS itself is not mandatory because other approved English examinations may be accepted. Some passport holders may demonstrate competent English through citizenship and a valid passport from an eligible English-speaking country.
Applicants must generally be under 45 when invited for the Subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa. Other employer-sponsored, family or talent pathways may have different age rules or exemptions.
From July 1, 2026, the primary application charge is approximately AUD 6,135–6,140 for the main GSM subclasses. Additional family-member charges and other expenses apply. The official pricing estimator should be checked before lodgement.
Processing times vary. The median for the overall permanent skilled category was approximately nine months in May 2026, but an individual Subclass 189, 190 or 491 application may take more or less time.
Eligible spouses, de facto partners and dependent children may generally be included. All applicants must satisfy the applicable identity, relationship, health and character requirements.
No. No consultant can guarantee state nomination, an invitation or visa approval. A consultant can assist with eligibility analysis, strategy, documents and application preparation, but the final decision rests with the relevant Australian authority.
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