Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 Australian Visas: What is the Difference?

Australia has drawn working professionals from all over the world for many years due to its reputation as the Land of Opportunities and its excellent standard of living. From Australia’s different visa pathways, Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 stand out in their requirements and features, making them some of the most popular visa pathways to permanent residency.

This blog will delve into these two subclasses more closely and discuss their features, benefits, requirements, and differences to assist aspirants in making a more informed decision before applying for their visa.

What is the Subclass 189 Visa?

The Subclass 189 Visa or the Skilled Independent Visa consists of three visa streams but is typically used interchangeably with the Points-Tested Stream. It comes under Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program. This visa allows skilled workers possessing the skills and occupations required in the country to move to Australia and permanently settle, work, study, and live.

The Benefits of Subclass 189

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a permanent visa that allows workers with skills needed in Australia to permanently live and work anywhere in the country.

Some important benefits of the Subclass 189 Visa include:

• The individual does not require an employer or family member to sponsor them.
• Freedom to work and study anywhere in the country.
• The ability to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
• Become an Australian citizen if eligible.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date of visa grant
• Include family members in the application*

The Requirements of Subclass 189

A few requirements of the Subclass 189 Visa must be adhered to when applying. They include:

• Have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list for Subclass 189
• Have the correct skills assessment at the time of invitation
• Be under 45 years of age
• Score a minimum of 65 points or more on SkillSelect
• Meet the English language requirements by either holding an eligible passport or providing a relevant English language test proof**
• Meet the health and character requirements
• Submit an EOI and be invited to apply
• Must not have a previous visa refused or cancelled

What is the Subclass 190 Visa?

The Subclass 190 Visa or the Skilled Nominated Visa also falls under Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program.

This Visa is for skilled workers nominated to permanently settle, work, study, and live in Australia. After submitting an EOI, applicants for this visa must be nominated by a state or territory government and subsequently invited to apply.

The Benefits of Subclass 190

The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) is a permanent visa that allows workers with skills needed in Australia to live and work anywhere in the country permanently, provided an Australian state or territory nominates them.

Here are some of the benefits  of this visa:

• Permanently reside in Australia.
• Freedom to work and study in the country.
• The ability to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
• Become an Australian citizen if eligible.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Travel to and from Australia for five years from the visa grant date.
• Include family members in the application.*

The Requirements of Subclass 190

It is important to check the requirements and eligibility before applying for the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) Visa.

• Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for Subclass 190.
• Have the correct skills assessment at the time of invitation.
• Be under 45 years of age.
• Score a minimum of 65 points or more on SkillSelect.
• Meet the English language requirements by holding an eligible passport or providing relevant test proof.**
• Meet the health and character requirements.
• Submit an EOI and be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
• Receive an invitation to apply after the nomination.

It is important to remember that an individual’s application can become invalid if the state or territory agency that initially nominated a person decides to withdraw the nomination after receiving the application.

What is the Difference between the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa and the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa?

This is one of the most common questions asked by those planning to migrate to Australia. The single most significant answer is that while Subclass 189 is a Skilled “Independent” Visa, Subclass 190 is a Skilled “Nominated” Visa. This means that to apply for the Subclass 189 Visa, an individual must simply meet the eligibility requirements and be invited to apply. They do not require any kind of sponsor. However, for the Subclass 190 Visa, apart from meeting the eligibility requirements, an individual must be “nominated” or sponsored by an Australian state or territory government agency.

Below is a small table to explain the differences between Subclass 189 and Subclass 190.

How to Apply for Subclass 189 and Subclass 190?

FBP International is the Best Australian Immigration and Settlement expert. With a highly qualified team of in-house lawyers, FBP International is a registered and trusted firm that has been assisting multiple clients from across the globe to receive their PR  visas and migrate to Australia hassle-free.

The Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa and Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa have different application procedures, as mentioned below.

Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa

Here is the list of steps when applying for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa:

   Step 1: Start the Visa Process with FBP International

   Step 2: Lodge Skill Assessment

   Step 3: Lodge EOI

   Step 4: Receive Invitation to Apply

   Step 5: Visa Lodgement

Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa

Here is the list of steps when applying for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa:

   Step 1: Start the Visa Process with FBP International

   Step 2: Lodge Skill Assessment

   Step 3: Lodge EOI

   Step 4: Lodge ROI (If required)

   Step 5: Receive Invitation to Apply

   Step 6: Lodge State Nomination

   Step 7: Receive Invitation to Apply

   Step 8: Visa Lodgement

FBP International has a 99.9% success rate with PR Visas. Start your visa process with FBP International today and experience end-to-end assistance for a seamless migration journey to Australia.

*Family members are members of the family unit. This includes the spouse or de facto partner of the main applicant, a child of the main applicant or partner (below 18 years), a dependent child of the main applicant or partner (between 18-23 years), a dependent child of the main applicant or partner who has a partial or total mental or physical disability (23 years or older).

**Eligible passports include those from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, or New Zealand.

Proof of a relevant English language test would include IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT (if taken on or before 25 July 2023), and Cambridge C1 Advanced Test.