Source update
Subclass 189
Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa: processing update
Home Affairs updated the processing priority notice. Priority sector and onshore applications lodged up to June 2026 are now being processed.
Skilled migration
Subclass 189
Skilled Independent visa
A permanent visa for invited skilled workers who pass the points test, with separate streams for eligible New Zealand citizens and Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders.
Overview
With this visa you can
- Work and study anywhere in Australia
- Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- Become an Australian citizen, if eligible
Streams
Requirements
The official page lists these main requirements. Each stream adds its own.
- Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- Be invited to apply
- Satisfy the points test
Official pages that explain them
Documents & forms
The official page lists the documents to provide with an application. Open the documents list on Home Affairs.
Forms often used with this visa
- Form 80: Personal Particulars for Assessment Including Character Assessment — Personal particulars and character — routinely requested for skilled permanent applicants.
- Form 1221: Additional Personal Particulars Information — Additional personal particulars, if requested.
- Form 956: Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person — If you appoint a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.
- Form 956a: Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient — To appoint an authorised recipient for correspondence.
- Form 1022: Notification of Changes in Circumstances — To notify a change in circumstances after lodgement.
- Form 1023: Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) — To correct an incorrect answer after lodgement.
The official page lists the documents each application requires.
Preparation checklist: a printable list of common steps and documents, each linked to its official source.
Occupation lists
- Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List — 212 occupations
The official page says which list each stream uses. Being on a list does not mean an applicant is eligible.
Published processing times and charges
Official processing times
Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% | Reporting period ended | Source published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 49 months | 54 months | 58 months | 61 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Points-Tested | 54 days | 61 days | 8 months | 8 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗
Processing times for this visa, by stream, with the reporting period.
Visa application charge
| Application | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 or over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
Points tested streamOfficial conditions and notesNote For applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is AUD4,885. For any other applicant, the second instalment is nil. get_app Go to visa page | $6,135 | $3,070 | $1,540 |
Hong Kong streamOfficial conditions and notesNote For applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is AUD4,885. For any other applicant, the second instalment is nil. get_app Go to visa page | $6,135 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs price list on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry. Other costs, such as health checks or a second instalment, may apply, and government charges are separate from any professional fee. Current official pricing ↗
Updates & sources
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This summary was written from the official page on 20 October 2026.
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This page is general information written from the official page. It does not assess anyone’s eligibility, is not migration advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent. The official page is always the current source. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Latest news for this visa
Source update
Subclass 189
Permanent and regional skilled visas processed under Ministerial Direction No. 122
The Department advises that applications for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visas are now prioritised under Ministerial Direction No. 122. Priority goes to the construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources sectors and to Australia's law enforcement and defence interests, then to applicants who were in Australia at lodgement, ahead of applicants outside Australia. The Department notes that published allocation dates and processing timeframes may fluctuate during the transition.
Official guides
Subclass 189
Skilled Independent visa — official guides
Official information and reference links for the Skilled Independent visa. This is a reference collection, not an announcement of a visa-rule change.
Registered practitioners
Find a practitioner for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
No registered practitioner is listed for this visa yet
Registered migration agents and lawyers appear here once they have chosen to be listed for this visa. For requirements and how to apply, the official page is the place to start.