Skilled Independent (189)
Permanent residence without a sponsor — but 65 points only gets you into the pool. Know your real number and the fastest ways to raise it.
- Category
- Points-tested
- Type
- Points-tested permanent visa, invitation only
- Minimum points
- 65 (real invitation scores are usually higher)
- Government charge
- A$6,135 main applicant
- Our fee
- From A$3,300
Start here
Do this
- Claim only points you can prove with documents
- Run a state nomination plan alongside
- Retake English if 10–20 points are within reach
- Track document expiry dates while you wait
Avoid this
- Claiming points you can't evidence
- Waiting years on the 189 alone
- Letting your skills assessment or English expire
- Assuming the points test has already changed
What a wrong turn can cost: Claiming points you can't prove can lead to refusal — and a refusal on character or integrity grounds follows you.
Are you on the right track?
- Can you prove every point you're claiming?
- Do you know the recent invitation scores for your occupation?
- Do you have a 190 or 491 plan running too?
Unsure about any of these? Talk it through on a free call — you're not alone in this.
Is this you?
- You've studied and worked in Australia and want independence from an employer.
- You've lodged an expression of interest and you're still waiting.
- You're not sure which points you can actually prove.
What changed
Announced Points test redesign — housing trades to earn degree-level points. No start date yet.
2026–27 State nomination places rose, so a 190 plan alongside your 189 makes sense.
Who qualifies
- An invitation through SkillSelect.
- An occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
- A positive skills assessment, Competent English, and under 45 at invitation.
- At least 65 points.
Step by step
- Points auditEvery point checked against evidence.
- Close the gapEnglish retest, Professional Year, partner points or NAATI.
- Expression of interestWith a parallel 190 or 491 plan.
- Invitation and lodgementWithin 60 days, with evidence for every point.
Document checklist
Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Common problems
Myths and facts
How we help you with Skilled Independent
- 1UnderstandA points audit with evidence for every claim.
- 2PlanA written plan: your real target and the quickest points to gain.
- 3PrepareEnglish, Professional Year or NAATI planned and tracked.
- 4LodgeExpression of interest, state applications and lodgement within 60 days.
- 5DestinationGrant explained; first-entry and family next steps.
What you'll receive
How we keep in touch: A monthly check-in while you're in the pool, plus alerts when invitation rounds or state programs change.
Three ways to do it
An honest look at your options. Some people do this themselves, and that can work well.
| Topic | With Omar Nafiz | Doing it yourself | With another provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Every point evidenced before you claim it | Often over-claimed | Varies |
| Strategy | 189 with 190 or 491 alongside | 189 only | Varies |
| Waiting | Expiry dates tracked | Documents lapse | Rarely tracked |
| Invitation | Lodged within 60 days, decision-ready | Rushed | Varies |
| Cost | Fixed fee; charge separate | Charge only | Varies |
A situation like yours
An illustrative situation, in Omar's words. Names and details are fictional. See all situations.
An engineer who wants no sponsor
- Age 28
- English Superior
- 🎯 Skilled Independent
The situation. Elif is a 28-year-old electrical engineer with Superior English. She wants permanent residence without an employer or a state.
How I'd approach it
What I check first. Those two things give her real points. Age scores 30 for ages 25 to 32, and Superior English scores 20. That is 50 points before work, study or anything else. I then check what she can prove.
The options. Skills assessment first. Then count work and study points she can document. File an expression of interest. Run a 190 plan alongside, because state nomination places rose in 2026 to 2027.
Age and English. Age and English are the two factors she already has. The rest comes from evidence: work, study and a partner if she has one.
My caution. An invitation depends on the round and everyone else in the pool. Nothing I say is a promise. The government charge for the 189 points-tested stream is A$6,135 (as at 1 July 2026).
Illustrative situation. The names and details are fictional.
Questions people ask
How many points do I need?
It depends on your occupation and the program year. We'll give you a realistic target.
Fastest way to add points?
Often English: Proficient adds 10, Superior adds 20.
189 vs 190 vs 491?
189: no sponsor, highest points. 190: a state nominates you (+5), permanent. 491: regional, provisional (+15).
Pricing
Consultation
A full review of your situation and a written plan.
Expression of interest to grant
Points audit, expression of interest, state applications and visa lodgement.
Skills to Visa
Includes the skills assessment.
Government visa charge (Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026)
| Visa | Main applicant | Extra 18+ | Extra under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189), Points-testedThe official table shows A$1,540 for children here, while other skilled visas show A$1,535. Check the official table before you pay. | A$6,135 | A$3,070 | A$1,540 |
Checked 22 October 2026. Official pricing table · Estimate for your family
Our prices as at 22 October 2026. Packages are paid in stages, only after you sign a written service agreement. All services and fees.
Book
Talk to us about Skilled Independent
Start with a free 15-minute phone call. If you need full advice, book a A$110 consultation — it comes off your package.
Often considered alongside
Official sources
Figures checked 8 October 2026. Visa rules and charges change — we confirm everything for your situation before you pay for a package.