Skilled migration explained: subclass 189 vs 190 vs 491

Current as at 3 July 2026. Fees reflect the 1 July 2026 settings (FY2026‑27); the charge in force at lodgement applies. The points test is unchanged as at this date (a reform is under consultation, targeted for 2027). Confirm current settings at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on them.

If you want permanent residence in Australia without an employer sponsoring you, the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is the main route. It runs on points: you lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, and if you are competitive you are invited to apply. Three subclasses do most of the work - the 189 (independent), the 190 (state-nominated) and the 491 (regional). They share a points test but differ sharply in who nominates you, where you can live, and whether the visa is permanent from day one.

This guide compares the three so you can see which fits your points, your occupation and your plans. It is general information, not advice on your circumstances - the right choice depends on details a consultation can pin down.

The three visas side by side

State/territory nomination often carries a separate application fee (varying roughly $0–$770 by state - indicative). Visa charges rose about 25% on 1 July 2026; confirm the figure in force at lodgement.

Subclass 189: permanent, no strings

The 189 is the purest points visa. There is no nomination and no location condition: if your score is high enough to be invited, you get a permanent visa and can live and work anywhere in Australia. The trade-off is that you carry the whole burden on your own points - there is no +5 or +15 to lean on - so invitation scores are the most competitive of the three. In practice, invitation floors for the 189 have typically sat in the mid-80s to 100 depending on the occupation and round. For popular occupations like software engineering, accounting and nursing, competitive scores have generally been in the 80–90+ range.

Subclass 190: a permanent visa with a state behind you

The 190 is also permanent, but a state or territory nominates you and adds 5 points to your score. In return, you nominate an occupation on that state’s list and are expected to settle and work in that state. For many applicants the +5 is the difference between waiting indefinitely and being invited. Invitation outcomes vary by state and occupation, but nominated applicants have commonly been competitive in roughly the 70–85 range (including the +5). Each state runs its own program, criteria and open/close dates, so strategy here is as much about which state as about your raw score.

Subclass 491: the regional pathway to PR

The 491 is different in kind: it is a provisional visa, valid for five years, that adds 15 points - the largest bonus in the system - in exchange for living and working in designated regional Australia. It is not permanent on its own; instead it is a stepping stone to the permanent subclass 191, which you can pursue after meeting the income and residence requirements over a qualifying period in the region. The 15 points make the 491 the most accessible of the three on raw score - competitive outcomes have often been in roughly the 65–80 range including the bonus - but the regional commitment is real and enforceable.

One important 2026‑27 context point: the permanent Regional category was cut sharply (to 14,110 places) in the current program, even as the state-nominated and independent categories rose. That makes planning the 491-to-191 transition, and understanding regional demand, more important than in prior years.

The points test they share

All three visas draw on the same points test (65 is the pass mark to be eligible; invitation floors sit far higher). Points come from age, English, skilled employment (with a combined cap on overseas plus Australian experience), qualifications, Australian study, a partner’s skills, a credentialled community language, and the nomination bonus itself. Because the same profile scores differently across the three visas - nothing extra on the 189, +5 on the 190, +15 on the 491 - the smart move is to model all three before you commit. Our points calculator lets you do exactly that, and our detailed explainer, The Australian Skilled Points Test Explained, walks through every factor.

How to choose

• Score in the high 80s or above for a listed occupation? The 189 may be within reach - permanent, unconditional, no state commitment.
• Strong but not top-tier, and happy to commit to a state? A 190 with its +5 often converts a near-miss into an invitation.
• Points still short, and open to regional Australia? The 491’s +15 is the most powerful lever - with the trade-off of a provisional visa and a genuine regional commitment before the permanent 191.
• Occupation not on the 189 list? A state or regional list may still include it, making the 190 or 491 your only viable route.

The same profile, three different outcomes (hypothetical)

The following is a hypothetical illustration to show how the numbers move - not a real client matter or a predicted result. Imagine a 31-year-old software developer living in Melbourne with Proficient English, a recognised bachelor degree, three years of overseas experience and one year of Australian experience. On the base factors that is: 30 (age) + 10 (English) + 15 (degree) + employment points capped by the combined rule. On a 189, that raw score may sit below the competitive floor for a high-demand occupation, so an invitation is uncertain. Add a 190 state nomination and the +5 can lift the same person over a state’s threshold. Choose a 491 in a designated regional area and the +15 changes the picture entirely - but now a genuine regional commitment applies, and permanent residence comes later via the 191. Same person, same qualifications; the visa choice, not the CV, decides the odds. This is exactly why we model all three before recommending a pathway.

Timing, occupation lists and program levels

Two moving parts sit underneath every skilled application. The first is the occupation list: your occupation must appear on the list relevant to the visa (and, for the 190 and 491, on the nominating state’s list). Lists are reviewed periodically, so an occupation’s status is a point-in-time fact worth checking before you invest in a skills assessment. The second is program planning levels: the number of places allocated to each category each financial year shapes how competitive invitations are. In 2026‑27, Skilled Independent and State/Territory Nominated allocations rose while the permanent Regional category was cut, which affects the relative competitiveness of each route. None of this changes the points on your profile - but it changes how far those points get you in a given round.

Frequently asked questions

Model your options, then act

We advise on the full skilled migration program - 189, 190 and 491 - including EOI strategy, occupation and state selection, and evidence for skills assessments and claimed points. Run your profile through the points calculator first, then book a consultation and we will help you choose the pathway that gives you a realistic shot at an invitation.