Australia looks for skilled people from around the world to help fill jobs in key areas like health care, tech, and building projects. The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) lets these workers move there for good, without needing a job offer or state help. In November 2025, the rules stay much the same, but they now use new job lists to match what the country needs most. If you’re a pro in a needed field, this could be your way in.
What is the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)?
This visa gives permanent stay to skilled workers who score enough points and fit the job needs of Australia. It works for most people from other countries and some New Zealand folks who already live there. Once you get it, you can work, live, or study in any part of the country, no strings attached.
The main goal is to bring in skills for jobs on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, or MLTSSL. You apply online through SkillSelect, and they pick who gets an invite based on your score and the job ceilings for the year.
Holders get public health care, school spots for kids, and a shot at citizenship after a few years. Check the full details on Subclass 189 to see if it fits you.
Who Can Apply? Basic Rules for Subclass 189
To get in line for this visa in November 2025, you have to check off a few main boxes. These come straight from the official rules.
- Your Age: You need to be under 45 when they send the invite.
- Your Job: Pick one from the MLTSSL, and make sure it matches the new Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, or OSCA, from 2024.
- Skill Check: Get a good review from the right group for your job type.
- English Skills: Show at least competent level, like IELTS 6 in each part. Better scores mean more points.
- Health and Background: Pass the medical test and share clean police records.
- Points Total: Hit at least 65, but most invites go to folks with 80 or higher these days.
For New Zealand applicants, the rules focus more on time already spent in Australia. The skilled jobs list shows what’s open now, with adds in tech and health from the 2025 talks.
How Points Work: Your Score Breakdown
Points decide if you make the cut for an invite. You need 65 at least, but with so many applicants, higher numbers win out, often 80 to 90 for hot fields.
Use the free tool on the site to add up yours. Here’s how it shakes out in the main spots:
| Area | What Counts | Points You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 24 years 25 to 32 years 33 to 39 years 40 to 44 years | 25 30 25 15 |
| English Level | Basic competent Good proficient, like IELTS 7 Top superior, like IELTS 8 | 0 10 20 |
| Work Experience | Outside Australia: 3 to 5 years 5 to 8 years 8 or more years In Australia: 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years 5 to 8 years 8 or more years | 5 10 15 5 10 15 20 |
| School or Training | Doctorate degree Bachelor degree Diploma or trade skill Other recognized study | 20 15 10 10 |
| Study in Australia | Two or more years for a degree here | 5 |
| Work Year Program | Finished a pro year in your field down under | 5 |
| Other Language | Credential as translator in a community tongue | 5 |
| Regional Study | Two or more years of school in a regional spot | 5 |
| Spouse Skills | Partner with skills and good English | 5 to 10 |
Pick the best from each part, and only count recent work close to your job pick. See the full points guide for exact matches.
Step-by-Step: How to Put in Your Application
Getting this visa takes a clear path. Follow these steps one by one for November 2025.
- Check Your Skills: Send papers to the group that reviews your job. It can take weeks or months, so start early.
- Prove English: Take a test like IELTS or PTE, and keep the results fresh, under three years old.
- File Your Interest: Set up on SkillSelect and send in your Expression of Interest, or EOI, with your claimed points.
- Wait for the Nod: If picked in a round, you get 60 days to send the full app. They run these rounds now and then.
- Send the Visa Form: Use ImmiAccount online, add health checks, police papers, and pay up. Bring family if they qualify.
- Track It: Most apps wrap in 7 to 9 months. Log in to see where yours stands.
Keep an eye on recent invite results – cut-offs hit 85 or so for top jobs this year.
Fees and Wait Times
Pay AUD 4,640 up front for the main applicant. Add more for kids or spouse, plus about AUD 300 to 1,000 for skill checks and AUD 300 for English tests. Health checks run around AUD 500 each.
Wait times sit at 75 percent done in 7 months and 90 percent in 9 months. These can shift, so peek at the latest times page often.
What’s New in November 2025
Talks on the Core Skills Occupations List wrapped up with OSCA changes, adding spots in IT, nursing, and engineering. Invites still chase high scores, and the 60-day rule holds firm. No big shifts to how points or steps work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the minimum points score for Subclass 189 in November 2025?
The minimum is 65 points, but invitations typically require 80 or more due to competition in skilled migration.
How often are invitation rounds held?
Rounds occur several times per year; check the official SkillSelect page for the latest schedule and outcomes.
What if my occupation is not on the MLTSSL?
You must nominate an eligible occupation from the list; alternatives include state-nominated visas like Subclass 190.