Skills Assessment
Coordinating and lodging your skills assessment.
Australia
Skilled Immigration
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa.
The Subclass 189 is a permanent, points-tested visa for skilled workers who qualify entirely on their own merits — no employer sponsor, no state nomination, and no family sponsor are required. Instead, eligible candidates are ranked and invited through periodic SkillSelect rounds. Once granted, the visa carries no conditions on where in Australia the holder may live or work.
Free Consultation
Eligibility Essentials
Who qualifies for the 189.
To qualify, your nominated occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list, and you need a positive skills assessment from the authority responsible for that occupation, along with a competitive English test result. Meeting the 65-point minimum makes you eligible to submit an EOI, but invitations generally go to the highest-scoring candidates in each occupation ceiling.
Government Charge
From ~AUD 6,140
Base charge for the primary applicant, indexed on 1 July each year. Confirm the current figure — additional applicant and second-instalment charges may apply.
Age Limit
Under 45
18 up to (but not including) 45 years at the time of invitation.
Assessment Basis
Points Test
A minimum of 65 points to be eligible; a competitive score is usually higher.
Outcome
Permanent Residence
With eligibility for Australian citizenship later.
Why Subclass 189
Why applicants choose this stream.
The Subclass 189 is the most flexible of Australia's skilled routes — it asks nothing of a sponsor and imposes no location conditions once granted. Here's what draws applicants to it:
- No employer, state, or family sponsorship needed at any stage
- Freedom to live, work, and study in any Australian state or territory
- Immediate family members can be included on the same application
- A direct pathway to permanent residence and, later, citizenship
- Access to Medicare and the public education system on grant
- No requirement to remain in a specific location after arrival
The Journey
The application process with CBI Experts.
From confirming your eligibility to lodging your visa, our advisors manage each stage of the Subclass 189 application.
01
Eligibility Review
Our advisors at Citizenship by Investment Experts start by checking your occupation against the current skilled occupation list and mapping out whether the 189 stream, or an alternative, fits your profile best.
02
Skills Assessment
We coordinate your application to the relevant skills assessing authority so you receive the formal qualification certificate needed to proceed.
03
Expression of Interest
Once assessed, you register on the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system and lodge your EOI, including your test scores and points calculation.
04
Invitation to Apply
Invitation rounds are run regularly for occupations in demand, and each round can involve several thousand invitations across the skilled program. Being invited is what unlocks the formal visa application.
05
Documentation and Lodgement
Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application. Typical supporting documents include your passport, skills assessment outcome, English test results, financial evidence, and, where relevant, documents for accompanying family members.
How we support your Subclass 189 application.
From your first consultation to final lodgement, our advisors manage the technical detail so you can focus on the move.
Family Applications
Preparing supporting applications for eligible family members.
EOI & Lodgement
Managing your EOI and full Subclass 189 visa lodgement.
Ongoing Liaison
Liaising with assessing authorities and the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf throughout the process.
In Confidence
Get in touch
Complete our inquiry form to receive tailored, expert guidance on immigration and investment migration options for you and your family.