What is the difference between Subclass 189 and 190?

Subclass 189 is a federal visa with no state nomination required — you can live and work anywhere in Australia. Subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory government, which adds 5 points to your score but may come with conditions like living in that state for 2 years.

How often are invitation rounds held?

The Department of Home Affairs runs invitation rounds approximately monthly for Subclass 189. State nomination rounds (190/491) vary by state — some run monthly, others on demand. Round dates and results are published on the DHA and respective state government websites.

What does the trend indicator mean?

The trend arrow shows whether the minimum points score for recent invitation rounds has been increasing (red arrow up) or decreasing (green arrow down). An upward trend means higher competition — you may need more points to receive an invitation.

Can I apply for multiple visa subclasses at the same time?

Yes, you can submit multiple Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for different subclasses. However, you can only hold one visa at a time. If you receive an invitation for one subclass, accepting it does not automatically withdraw other EOIs.

Visa pathway guide

Visa Subclass Tracker

Compare Australian skilled visa subclasses, eligibility signals, processing expectations, costs, and pathway fit in one readable view.

Visa subclasses

Currently open

Pathway categories

Subclass 189

Skilled Independent

OPEN

Points-tested visa for skilled workers not sponsored by an employer or family member.

Eligibility

Occupation on MLTSSL/CSOL list
Positive skill assessment
Under 45 years of age
Competent English (IELTS 6 each)
Minimum 65 points

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

4-12 months

Application Cost

$4,640

Min. Points

Recent Rounds

Dec 2025 — 85 points

Nov 2025 — 90 points

Oct 2025 — 85 points

Subclass 190

Skilled Nominated

WA: OPEN

State-nominated visa for skilled workers to live and work in a specific state/territory.

Eligibility

Occupation on MLTSSL, STSOL or CSOL
State/territory nomination
Under 45 years of age
Competent English
Minimum 65 points (inc. 5 state points)

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

6-15 months

Application Cost

$4,640

Min. Points

Recent Rounds

Feb 2026 — 75 points

Jan 2026 — 80 points

Dec 2025 — 75 points

Subclass 491

Skilled Regional

NSW: PENDING

Provisional visa for skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia. Leads to subclass 191 PR after 3 years.

Eligibility

Occupation on relevant list
State/territory or family nomination
Under 45 years of age
Competent English
Minimum 65 points (inc. 15 regional points)

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

8-18 months

Application Cost

$4,240

Min. Points

Recent Rounds

Jan 2026 — 65 points

Dec 2025 — 70 points

Nov 2025 — 65 points

Subclass 482

Skills in Demand (SID)

ACTIVE

Replaced the former TSS (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa. Three streams: Core Skills (CSOL, $73,150+), Specialist Skills (no list, $135,000+), and Labour Agreement. See SID Tracker for details.

Eligibility

Employer sponsorship (approved sponsor)
Occupation on CSOL (Core Skills stream) or salary $135,000+ (Specialist Skills)
Relevant work experience (2+ years)
English language requirement (varies by stream)
Labour market testing by employer

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

1-4 months

Application Cost

$1,455 - $3,035

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass 186

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

ACTIVE

Permanent visa via employer nomination. Two main streams: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) for 482/SID holders who have worked 2-3 years for their sponsor, and Direct Entry (DE) for those directly nominated.

Eligibility

Employer nomination (approved sponsor)
TRT: held 482/SID for 2-3 years with same sponsor
DE: positive skill assessment + 3 years experience
Under 45 years of age
Competent English (IELTS 6 each)

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

6-12 months

Application Cost

$4,640

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass NIV

National Innovation Visa (NIV)

NEW

Replaces the Global Talent (858) visa. For individuals with exceptional talent or outstanding achievements in target sectors including technology, health, education, and critical minerals.

Eligibility

Exceptional talent or outstanding achievement in target sector
Endorsement from approved nominating organisation
Salary at or above the Fair Work high income threshold ($175,000+)
No points test required
No age limit (but age may factor into endorsement)

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

3-6 months (priority processing)

Application Cost

$4,640 (indicative)

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass 820/801

Partner Visa (Onshore)

OPEN

Two-stage onshore visa for partners (spouse or de facto) of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible NZ citizens. Stage 1 (820) is temporary; Stage 2 (801) is permanent after ~2 years.

Eligibility

Genuine and ongoing relationship (married or de facto 12+ months)
Sponsor is Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen
Applicant in Australia at time of application
Meet health and character requirements
Evidence of shared finances, household, social recognition

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

20-31 months (820 temp grant), then 801 assessment

Application Cost

$9,095 (combined)

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass 309/100

Partner Visa (Offshore)

OPEN

Two-stage offshore visa for partners applying from outside Australia. Stage 1 (309) provisional; Stage 2 (100) permanent.

Eligibility

Genuine and ongoing relationship (married or de facto 12+ months)
Sponsor is Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen
Applicant outside Australia at time of application and grant
Meet health and character requirements
Balance of Family test not applicable

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

13-22 months

Application Cost

$9,095 (combined)

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass 143

Contributory Parent Visa

OPEN

Permanent visa for parents of settled Australian citizens or permanent residents. Higher cost but significantly faster processing than the standard Parent (103) visa.

Eligibility

Child is settled Australian citizen/PR
Pass Balance of Family test (at least half of children live in Australia)
Meet health and character requirements
Have an Assurance of Support (AoS)
Second instalment payment required before grant

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

12-24 months

Application Cost

$4,990 + $43,600 (second instalment)

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

Subclass 101/802

Child Visa

OPEN

For dependent children of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible NZ citizens. Subclass 101 (offshore) or 802 (onshore).

Eligibility

Dependent child under 18 (or 18-25 if full-time student)
Parent is Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen
Meet health and character requirements
No Balance of Family test required

Processing & Cost

Processing Time

8-14 months

Application Cost

$3,390

Recent Rounds

Ongoing — no invitation rounds

How it works

Browse visa subclasses

Filter by category — points-tested, employer-sponsored, regional, talent, or family — to find visas relevant to your situation.

Check status and trends

Each visa card shows current status, minimum points (where applicable), processing times, and whether requirements are trending up or down.

Plan your pathway

Compare eligibility requirements and costs across subclasses to identify which visa pathway best fits your profile.

Key things to know

The minimum points score for Subclass 189 is 65, but competitive rounds typically require 80–90+ points depending on your occupation.
Subclass 190 (state nomination) adds 5 points to your score and each state has different occupation lists and requirements.
Subclass 491 (regional) adds 15 points but requires living and working in a designated regional area for 3 years before permanent residency.
Processing times vary significantly by visa subclass and individual circumstances — community-reported data often differs from official DHA estimates.
Visa application fees are adjusted on 1 July each year. Always verify the current fee on the Department of Home Affairs website before applying.