Skilled Independent Visa 189: Document Checklist 2026

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) has three streams: the Points Tested stream (for invited workers with no sponsor or nominator), the Hong Kong stream (for eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders), and the New Zealand stream, which permanently closed to new applications on 1 July 2023. This guide covers the Points Tested stream, which is the pathway most applicants use. It's entirely points-based: you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) based on your points score, then lodge the full visa application within the invitation window. You also need to be under 45 years old at the time you're invited. Every document you include needs to directly support a points claim or a mandatory requirement — there's very little in a 189 application that isn't tied back to either the points test or your skills assessment.

As of 1 July 2026, the visa costs AUD 6,135.00 for the main applicant, plus a charge for each family member included. If any applicant aged 18 or over has less than functional English, a second instalment charge of AUD 4,885.00 per person applies — you only pay it if the Department asks for it, when they're ready to grant the visa. A lower cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. These figures don't include health checks, police certificates, or biometrics — use the Visa Pricing Estimator for a total specific to your situation.

SkillSelect and invitation

Your application starts with an EOI submitted through SkillSelect, ranked against other candidates in your occupation by points score. Once invited, you have 60 calendar days to lodge a complete application — this deadline is firm and isn't extended, so gather your documents while waiting for an invitation rather than after receiving one.

• Your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) reference
• Your Invitation to Apply (ITA) — issued once you're selected from the pool

Skills assessment

Before submitting your EOI, you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. The assessing authority varies by occupation — engineers use Engineers Australia, accountants use CPA or CAANZ, nurses use ANMAC — and the assessment itself typically requires supporting evidence that you'll also need in the visa application.

• Positive skills assessment letter from the relevant authority
• Academic qualifications supporting the assessment
• Academic transcripts
• Employment reference letters used in the skills assessment
• Payslips or bank statements supporting claimed employment
• Your assessment generally needs to have been obtained within the 3 years before your invitation date
• If your skills were assessed based on a qualification from Australian study, that qualification needs to be from a course registered on CRICOS

English language evidence

Most applicants need to demonstrate at least Competent English, but for the 189 specifically you'll usually be aiming for Proficient or Superior English to be competitive on points — Proficient (equivalent to IELTS 7.0 in each band) earns 10 points, Superior (equivalent to IELTS 8.0) earns 20 points.

• IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge English test results at Proficient or Superior level
• Test results must be current at the time of invitation — check the validity window before relying on an older test
• Some nationalities or education pathways may qualify for an English exemption — verify eligibility before assuming this applies to you

Points test evidence

Every claim you made in your EOI needs to be documented in the visa application, not just asserted again. Common points categories include:

• Skilled employment — payslips, employment contracts, tax returns, or reference letters covering every year you're claiming points for
• Australian study — evidence of at least two academic years of study in Australia, if claimed
• Partner skills — your partner's own skills assessment and English test results, if claiming partner skill points
• Community language — a NAATI CCL (Credentialled Community Language) result letter, if claiming community language points
• Professional Year — a completion certificate, if claimed

Identity documents

• Passport bio-data page
• Birth certificate
• Change of name document, if applicable

Health and character

• Health examination through an approved panel physician — results are transmitted directly to the Department, don't upload them yourself
• Police clearance certificate(s) from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more (cumulatively) since turning 16
• Form 80 — Personal Particulars for character assessment

Common mistakes to avoid

• Claiming points in the EOI that aren't backed by matching documents at lodgement — this is one of the most common reasons for a points reassessment down the applicant's actual score
• Letting an English test or skills assessment expire before invitation — both have validity windows
• Missing employment documents for years claimed under skilled employment points
• Assuming a partner automatically contributes points without their own skills assessment and English test
• Missing the lodgement window after invitation — it's typically 60 days and isn't extended for missing documents

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need for an invitation?

There's no fixed threshold — the points needed vary by occupation and change with each invitation round based on demand. Check current SkillSelect invitation round results for your occupation to calibrate expectations rather than relying on a single historical figure.

What's the difference between the 189 and the 190?

The 189 doesn't require state or territory nomination and carries no obligation to live in a particular state. The Skilled Nominated Visa 190 requires nomination from a state or territory government (worth 5 points) and typically comes with a commitment to live there for a period after grant. See our separate guide to the 190 if you're considering state nomination.