Australia Skilled Visas 189, 190 and 491: 2026 Points Test and State Nomination Guide

Australia will hand out 21,090 Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visas in 2026-27, up from 16,900 the year before. State-nominated places rise to 35,500. Regional places tell the opposite story: the planning level for the 491 regional visa dropped from 33,000 to 14,110. If you're planning a points-based move, that shift matters more than any single rule change.

These three visas let you move to Australia without a job offer, which is why so many skilled workers from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Latin America aim for them. The trade-off is competition. The legal pass mark is 65 points, but in most rounds the people actually invited score well above that.

This guide explains how the points test adds up, which visa suits which profile, what the skills assessment and state nomination involve, and what the whole process costs in 2026.

In this guide

1. Skilled Visas at a Glance
2. The Three Visas Compared
3. How the Points Test Works
4. Skills Assessment: The Step That Takes Longest
5. State Nomination for the 190 and 491
6. How to Apply, Step by Step
7. Costs and Timeline
8. After the Visa: Living and Working in Australia
9. Common Mistakes and Refusal Reasons
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Before You Apply

Skilled Visas at a Glance

The Three Visas Compared

All three use the same points test and the same SkillSelect system. The difference is who backs you and where you can live.

Subclass 189: Skilled Independent

No sponsor, no state, no employer. You get permanent residence and can live anywhere in Australia. Because nobody adds points for you, it's the most competitive of the three. It is generally limited to occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.

Subclass 190: Skilled Nominated

A state or territory government nominates you, which adds 5 points. It's still a permanent visa, but you're expected to live in the nominating state for at least the first two years. Each state sets its own occupation list and criteria, and many give priority to people already living and working there.

Subclass 491: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

A state nominates you, or an eligible relative living in a regional area sponsors you, which adds 15 points. You must live and work in regional Australia, which officially means everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. So Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, the Gold Coast and Newcastle all count. After three years you can apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191.

Planning levels are from the Home Affairs Migration Program planning levels page.

How the Points Test Works

You score points for age, English, work experience, education and a few extras. The points below are those used in the official Home Affairs points calculator as of 2026.

Extra points are available for a research master's or PhD in a STEM field from an Australian institution (10), two years of Australian study (5), study in regional Australia (5), a Professional Year in accounting, IT or engineering (5), and a credentialled community language accreditation (5). Combined overseas and Australian work experience is capped at 20 points.

English levels are usually measured as IELTS 6 in each band for Competent, 7 for Proficient and 8 for Superior, with equivalent scores on other accepted tests.

A worked example

Take a 30-year-old software engineer from Lagos with a bachelor's degree, six years of experience, IELTS 7 in every band, and no partner:

• Age: 30
• Education: 15
• English (Proficient): 10
• Overseas experience: 10
• Single: 10

That's 75 points. With a 190 nomination it becomes 80, and with a 491 nomination 90. Raising English to Superior (IELTS 8 in every band) adds another 10, which is often the cheapest way to jump ahead.

Skills Assessment: The Step That Takes Longest

Before you can claim points for your occupation, an assessing authority must confirm your qualifications and experience match it. Each occupation has one assigned assessor.

Fees change often, so treat these as rough ranges. Processing runs from a few weeks to several months. Assessors often judge that some of your experience came before you were "skilled", and they deduct those years. That directly reduces your experience points, so read your outcome letter carefully.

State Nomination for the 190 and 491

Each state and territory gets an annual allocation of 190 and 491 places and decides how to use it. The general pattern:

• Onshore preference. Most states reserve most places for people already living and working in that state.
• Targeted offshore pathways. Several states run offshore streams for health workers, teachers, construction trades and some engineering roles.
• Own occupation lists. An occupation on the national list may not be on a state's list.
• Extra criteria. Many states ask for proof of employment in the state, a minimum period of residence, or a job offer, plus sometimes a fee.

Because the 491 planning level fell sharply for 2026-27, expect regional nominations to be harder to get this year than in 2024 or 2025. Check each state's migration website for its current settings.

How to Apply, Step by Step

1. Pick your occupation. Choose an occupation code that matches your actual qualification and duties, and check it's on the right list for the visa you want.
2. Get a positive skills assessment. Apply to the assessing authority for your occupation.
3. Take an English test. Aim for the highest score you can realistically get.
4. Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. It's free and stays valid for two years. You can select more than one visa in the same EOI.
5. Apply for state nomination if you're targeting a 190 or 491. Some states use their own registration portals.
6. Receive an invitation. Invitations are issued in rounds, ranked by points and the date you reached them.
7. Lodge your visa application within 60 days. Pay the charge and upload all evidence. Your claims must match the EOI exactly.
8. Complete health checks and biometrics, then wait for a decision.

Documents checklist

• Passport and national ID
• Skills assessment outcome letter
• English test results
• Degree certificates and transcripts
• Reference letters, payslips and tax records for every year of claimed experience
• Police certificates from every country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
• Partner's documents if claiming partner points
• Birth and marriage certificates for family members

Costs and Timeline

Visa charges are from the Home Affairs pricing table and rose about 25% on 1 July 2026. A couple with two children applying for a 190 will pay about A$12,300 in visa charges alone.

On timing: Home Affairs said in October 2026 that it was processing 189 applications lodged around June 2026 for onshore applicants and priority sectors such as health, teaching and construction, and around November 2025 for applicants outside Australia. From skills assessment to visa grant, 12 to 24 months is a realistic total for many offshore applicants.

After the Visa: Living and Working in Australia

With a 189 or 190, you're a permanent resident from the day of grant. You can work for anyone, enrol in Medicare, and apply for citizenship after four years of residence (including one year as a PR).

With a 491, you must live, work and study in a designated regional area. To move to permanent residence through the subclass 191, you generally need to have held the visa for three years, complied with its conditions, and lodged tax returns showing your income in regional Australia for three income years.

Expect a slow start on the job front. Many new arrivals take three to six months to land a role at their level, and Australian employers often want local references. Build a budget that covers at least three months of rent and living costs.

Common Mistakes and Refusal Reasons

• Overclaiming points. If your evidence doesn't support the points you claimed in the EOI, the visa will be refused, and you can't fix it after invitation.
• Experience the assessor didn't count. Claiming eight years when the assessor only recognised five.
• English results expired or taken after the invitation date.
• Turning 45 before the invitation arrives.
• Wrong occupation code. A code that doesn't match your real duties can sink both the assessment and the visa.
• Undisclosed refusals or immigration history in any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points do I need for the 189 visa in 2026?

The legal minimum is 65, but most occupations need far more to be invited. In recent rounds, many occupations needed scores in the 80s or 90s, while some health and teaching occupations were invited closer to the minimum. Cut-offs change every round.

What is the difference between the 190 and 491 visas?

The 190 is a permanent visa with 5 nomination points, and you're expected to live in the nominating state for two years. The 491 is a five-year provisional visa with 15 points that requires you to live in regional Australia, and you apply for permanent residence through the 191 after three years.

Can I apply for the 189 visa without a job offer?

Yes. Neither the 189, 190 nor 491 requires a job offer. Some states ask for a job offer or local employment as part of their nomination criteria, though, so a job can still help.

What is the age limit for Australian skilled visas?

You must be under 45 when you're invited to apply. Points drop at 33 and again at 40, so applying earlier gives you a clear advantage.

Is the Australian points test changing?

The government announced a review in the May 2026 Budget and consulted on a new design during 2026. As of late 2026 the existing points table still applies. If new points values are introduced, they're expected to apply to invitations issued after the change date.

Which is easier: a skilled visa or an employer-sponsored visa?

It depends on your points. If you score below about 80 and work in a common occupation, an employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa may be faster. If you're young, highly qualified and score well on English, the 189 or 190 gives you more freedom.

Before You Apply

• Run your score through the official points calculator and be honest about which years of experience an assessor will count.
• Book your English test early and retake it if you're one band short of Proficient or Superior, as 10 points often decide invitations.
• Start your skills assessment now, as it's usually the slowest step.
• Read the migration websites of two or three states that list your occupation. If you're under 30 and from an eligible country, the Working Holiday visa can also help you build Australian experience points. For a comparison, see our guide to New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category.