Australia’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) are both permanent visas, and applicants do not have to first complete the provisional regional pathway offered by subclass 491.
That point is important because social-media posts sometimes present subclass 491 as a compulsory first step towards permanent residence for skilled migrants. Official Home Affairs guidance shows that this is not the case: subclasses 189 and 190 are separate permanent visa routes in their own right. Immigration and citizenship Website
However, permanent residence is not automatic. Applicants must meet the relevant eligibility rules, submit an Expression of Interest, receive an invitation and then lodge a visa application for assessment. Reaching the minimum points threshold does not guarantee selection. Immigration and citizenship Website
Two Permanent Points Tested Routes
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) allows invited skilled workers to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
Home Affairs says the visa does not require an employer sponsor, state government nomination or family sponsor. Applicants must nevertheless satisfy the points test, have a suitable skills assessment and be invited through SkillSelect. Immigration and citizenship Website
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is also a permanent visa, but it requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. That nomination adds five points towards the applicant’s points score. Immigration and citizenship Website
For both visas, applicants must generally be under 45 when invited to apply and must meet other requirements relating to skills, English language ability, health and character. Immigration and citizenship Website
65 Points Is a Minimum, Not a Guarantee
Applicants for both points-tested routes must generally reach at least 65 points to be eligible for an invitation.
But Home Affairs makes clear that 65 points does not guarantee that an applicant will actually be invited. Expressions of Interest are ranked, and invitations depend on factors including available places and the applicant’s nominated occupation. Immigration and citizenship Website
Once invited, an applicant has 60 calendar days to submit the visa application. Immigration and citizenship Website
That means the process is competitive rather than automatic: meeting the minimum threshold allows an applicant to be considered, but does not itself produce permanent residence.
State Nomination Adds Another Selection Process
Subclass 190 applicants must also satisfy the requirements of the state or territory from which they seek nomination.
For example, Victoria’s subclass 190 programme requires applicants to meet both federal visa rules and Victoria’s own nomination requirements. Victoria also asks nominees to commit to living and working in the state for at least two years. Live in Melbourne
Requirements can differ between states and territories, so applicants should check the rules of the specific government from which they are seeking nomination rather than assume one state’s conditions apply nationwide.
The 491 Route Is Provisional, Not Permanent
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is different.
Home Affairs describes it as a five-year provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. Immigration and citizenship Website
It can provide a pathway to permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subclass 191, after the visa holder has held the 491 visa for at least three years and meets the applicable requirements. Immigration and citizenship Website
That pathway is separate from subclasses 189 and 190.
Holding a subclass 491 visa is therefore not a compulsory prerequisite for applying for the 189 or 190 permanent visas.
189 and 190 Are Not Australia’s Only Skilled Permanent Visas
It would also be inaccurate to describe subclasses 189 and 190 as Australia’s only permanent skilled-migration options.
The Department of Home Affairs also lists the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) as a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. Immigration and citizenship Website
The appropriate pathway therefore depends on the applicant’s occupation, qualifications, points, employment circumstances and whether state or employer sponsorship is available.
What African Professionals Should Check First
For African professionals considering skilled migration to Australia, a job title alone does not establish visa eligibility.
An applicant should first check whether their occupation is eligible, which assessing authority applies, whether they can obtain a suitable skills assessment and whether they can realistically meet the points and invitation requirements.
For subclass 190, they should also review the nomination rules of the relevant state or territory.
Those checks should come before paying substantial fees for assessments, migration advice or visa applications.
