Australia · Talent schemes
Australia Skilled Independent 189
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) - Points-tested stream
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skilled Independent 189 is a talent schemes route for Australia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- AUD 6,135 ≈ $4,270 · +3 more
Cost, time and long term
Government feesAUD 6,135 ≈ $4,270 · +3 more
- AUD 6,135 (≈ $4,270)Base application charge, main applicant.
- AUD 5,030 (≈ $3,500)Base application charge for applicants holding a Pacific-regional passport.
- AUD 3,070 (≈ $2,140)Additional applicant charge, family member 18+.
- AUD 4,885 (≈ $3,400)Second instalment for an applicant aged 18+ assessed as not having functional English, unless exempt.
Permanent residenceTime here counts
This is itself a permanent visa.
CitizenshipAfter 4 years of residence
Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years lawfully in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' total absence in the 4 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted, as long as you are not in immigration clearance.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only up to age 44
What you'll need
Who can apply8
- The applicant is invited via SkillSelect and is under 45 when invited.
- The relevant assessing authority assesses the occupation skills as suitable, with an assessment not older than 3 years.
- The applicant has at least competent English at invitation.
- Points for age: 25 at 18-24, 30 at 25-32, 25 at 33-39, 15 at 40-44.
- Points for English: 0, 10 or 20.
- Points for skilled work: up to 15 for overseas and up to 20 for Australian skilled work.
- Points for qualifications: up to 20.
- The score must meet the pass mark stated in the invitation.
What you must show4
- The base application charge is AUD 6,135 (≈ $4,270) for the main applicant.
- The base charge is AUD 5,030 (≈ $3,500) for applicants holding a Pacific-regional passport.
- The additional applicant charge is AUD 3,070 (≈ $2,140) for a family member 18 and over.
- A second instalment of AUD 4,885 (≈ $3,400) is payable for an applicant aged 18+ assessed as not having functional English, unless exempt.
When you become tax resident
How Australia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
Residence is determined by the resides, domicile, 183-day and Commonwealth superannuation tests.
- Foreign-source income
Temporary residents
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
- Special regime
Temporary resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for Australia Tax records checked
Full official text
Permanent points-tested visa for invited skilled workers; no employer or state sponsor required. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of AUD 6,135 (≈ $4,270) · Base application charge, main applicant. 1 3
- A fee of AUD 5,030 (≈ $3,500) · Base application charge for applicants holding a Pacific-regional passport. 3
- A fee of AUD 3,070 (≈ $2,140) · Additional applicant charge, family member 18+. 3
- A fee of AUD 4,885 (≈ $3,400) · Second instalment for an applicant aged 18+ assessed as not having functional English, unless exempt. 3
Requirements
- The applicant is invited via SkillSelect and is under 45 when invited. 1
- The relevant assessing authority assesses the occupation skills as suitable, with an assessment not older than 3 years. 4
- The applicant has at least competent English at invitation. 4
- Points for age: 25 at 18-24, 30 at 25-32, 25 at 33-39, 15 at 40-44. 2 4
- Points for English: 0, 10 or 20. 2 4
- Points for skilled work: up to 15 for overseas and up to 20 for Australian skilled work. 2 4
- Points for qualifications: up to 20. 2 4
- The score must meet the pass mark stated in the invitation. 2 4
- The base application charge is AUD 6,135 (≈ $4,270) for the main applicant. 1 3
- The base charge is AUD 5,030 (≈ $3,500) for applicants holding a Pacific-regional passport. 3
- The additional applicant charge is AUD 3,070 (≈ $2,140) for a family member 18 and over. 3
- A second instalment of AUD 4,885 (≈ $3,400) is payable for an applicant aged 18+ assessed as not having functional English, unless exempt. 3
Stay
- Permanent visa; 5-year travel facility from grant.
Nationality
No nationality restriction in the points-tested stream; separate New Zealand and Hong Kong streams exist.
Work
Unrestricted work and study in Australia.
Family
Partner and children can be included.
Official sources
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Skilled Independent 189 and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent 189 | – | – | Yes |
| National Innovation 858 | – | – | Yes |
| Skilled Nominated 190 | – | – | – |
| Skilled Regional 491 | – | 5 yr | – |
| J-Find Japan | – | 2 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Skilled Independent 189?
A fee of AUD 6,135 (≈ $4,270). Base application charge, main applicant. A fee of AUD 5,030 (≈ $3,500). Base application charge for applicants holding a Pacific-regional passport. A fee of AUD 3,070 (≈ $2,140). Additional applicant charge, family member 18+. A fee of AUD 4,885 (≈ $3,400). Second instalment for an applicant aged 18+ assessed as not having functional English, unless exempt.
How long can I stay on the Skilled Independent 189?
Permanent visa; 5-year travel facility from grant.
Can I work on the Skilled Independent 189?
Yes. Unrestricted work and study in Australia.
Can I bring my family on the Skilled Independent 189?
Partner and children can be included.
Does the Skilled Independent 189 lead to permanent residence in Australia?
Time on the Skilled Independent 189 counts toward permanent residence in Australia. Time on the Skilled Independent 189 counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 4 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Skilled Independent 189 holders in Australia?
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income: Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income (exempt)
- Who: Hold a temporary visa
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income (exempt); Australian-source income and capital gains on taxable Australian property remain taxable.
Who it applies to
- Hold a temporary visa.
- Neither the individual nor their spouse (if any) is an Australian resident under the Social Security Act 1991 (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category visa holder).
Exclusions
- Income from employment or services performed overseas while a temporary resident can still be taxed in Australia, depending on facts and any tax treaty.
- Not available to someone who has at any time after 6 April 2006 been an Australian resident without a temporary visa and with an Australian-resident spouse.
Tax residence
A temporary resident can be an Australian resident or a foreign resident for tax purposes; the four statutory residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, Commonwealth superannuation) decide residence separately.
Visas
Requires a temporary visa; no particular subclass carries the exemption itself.
Other taxes
Foreign tax paid on income declared may qualify for a foreign-source income tax offset; foreign-source income and deductions are converted to AUD.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Australia
Special talent visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) · Department of Home Affairs, Australia · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.