Subclass 189 Visa: Eligibility, Points and NZ Stream Essentials

(AUSTRALIA) Australia’s Subclass 189 Visa is staying open in 2026, but it will become harder to win an invitation because the government is moving to a tiered occupation system tied to the Skills in Demand (SID) List. For many applicants, the deciding factor won’t be “Do I have 65 points?” but “Is my job in a high‑priority tier, and am I ready when invitations drop?”

The visa grants permanent residence with no employer, state, or family sponsor, so it appeals to people who want freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia. Reforms signalled for 2026 add occupation ceilings and quarterly invitation rounds through SkillSelect, with extra targeted rounds when a shortage is urgent. VisaVerge.com reports that high points still matter, yet tier ranking and labour shortages now drive outcomes.

How the Subclass 189 Visa works in plain terms

The Skilled Independent visa has two pathways:

• The points‑tested stream (most applicants): lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and wait for an invitation before you can apply.
• The New Zealand stream: New Zealand citizens may qualify and apply directly if they held a Subclass 444 Special Category Visa and built at least five years of residence that began before February 19, 2016.

The Department of Home Affairs sets the rules on its Subclass 189 visa page.

2026 selection model: tiers, ceilings, and quarterly invitations

Freedom of Information material has pointed to a tiered occupation system from 2026. Occupations will sit in Tiers 1 to 4, with Tier 1 and 2 linked most closely to the Skills in Demand (SID) List and national shortage planning.

Key features of the new model:

• Annual ceilings limit how many invitations go to any single occupation to prevent one field dominating a round.
• Invitations are expected to run quarterly (four rounds a year).
• Occasional extra rounds will target urgent shortages.

The legal minimum remains 65 points, but the competitive reality shifts by tier. Occupation ceilings mean you may compete more directly against people in your own profession. If a ceiling is reached early in the program year, subsequent quarterly rounds may shift to other fields.

A higher tier with slightly lower points can beat a lower tier with higher points — monitor round outcomes and adjust your plan quickly.

Predicted 2026 points ranges by occupation (policy discussion estimates)

Before you lodge an EOI: build a ‘ready to apply’ file

The 2026 system rewards applicants who are ready when rounds open. Prepare early:

• Match your job to the correct ANZSCO code.
• Get a positive skills assessment from the approved assessing authority for your occupation.
• Sit an English test early — superior English is worth up to 20 points and can push you across a tier’s informal cut‑off.
• If including a partner, decide whether they will claim points through skills and English or whether you will pay the second‑instalment English charge later.

Step-by-step: points-tested stream from EOI to visa grant

Once your documents are in place, the points‑tested journey usually follows five stages. Timeframes reflect the 2026 outlook of 15–25 months from application to decision for many cases, after you receive an invitation.

1. Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect.

– Claim points for age, English, experience, and qualifications.
– Choose an occupation that matches your skills assessment.
– SkillSelect ranks you against others in your occupation, not against the whole pool.

1. Wait for an invitation in a quarterly round.

– Tier 1–2 jobs on the SID List should see more regular invitations.
– Tier 3–4 occupations may remain in the pool for long periods, even with high points.

1. Apply in ImmiAccount within 60 days of invitation.

– Upload identity documents, skills assessment, English results, and relationship evidence.
– Pay the base fee of AUD 4,115 for the main applicant, plus add-on charges where required.

1. Complete health and character checks.

– The department will direct you to medical exams and expect police clearances for every country you have lived in.
– Many applicants also complete Form 80, a detailed personal particulars form used for security screening.

1. Respond to requests and wait for a decision.

– Case officers may ask for updated employment proof, new police checks, or extra relationship documents.
– When granted, the Subclass 189 Visa gives permanent residence and a five‑year travel facility; later travel is managed through Resident Return visas.

New Zealand stream: the direct pathway for long-term residents

New Zealand stream applicants skip the invitation stage and apply straight through ImmiAccount. Eligibility focuses on:

• Holding the Subclass 444 visa.
• Meeting the residence rule that started before February 19, 2016.
• Showing income evidence that meets the program threshold.

Processing is projected at 14–17 months. Fees may be paid in instalments, which can help families budget, but health and character checks remain mandatory.

Family members: forms, English charges, and consent for children

You can include a partner and dependent children in the same application, but each person adds document work.

• A partner who lacks functional English triggers a AUD 4,890 second‑instalment charge.
• For separated parents, the department often requires Form 1229 to show consent for a child under 18 to migrate.
• Dependent children over 18 may need extra evidence of financial dependence.
• The points‑tested stream uses Form 47A for details.
• If using a registered migration agent, lodge Form 956 or Form 956A to appoint or end representation.

Planning around selectivity: when Subclass 189 is strong, and when to pivot

Under the 2025–26 migration settings, the Skilled Independent program has smaller caps, so the strongest profiles sit in shortage areas.

• Fields aligned well with the SID List: health, construction trades, engineering, teaching, psychology, and ICT security.
• Onshore applicants with Australian work history are often favoured by the system.
• Applicants in lower‑demand fields (e.g., accounting or general administration) often need 100+ points and still face very low odds.

Consider a parallel pathway if your occupation is low demand:

• State‑nominated Subclass 190
• Regional Subclass 491

These can be safer backup options to pursue alongside your Subclass 189 strategy.

What applicants should expect from case officers during processing

Most delays come from checks and document gaps, not from the online form itself. Typical case officer actions:

• Verify your claimed points against evidence.
• Run health, identity, and security screening.
• Request updated documents (employment proof, additional police checks, etc.).

Practical tips:

• Keep passports valid and upload clear scans.
• Answer requests by the deadline in your ImmiAccount letter.
• If circumstances change (new job title, a new baby), update the application promptly so the decision reflects the correct family unit.

A realistic preparation timeline for 2026 rounds

Many successful applicants work backwards from the next quarterly invitation window and set a simple schedule:

• Month 1–2: skills assessment application and English test booking.
• Month 2–3: receive results, calculate points, and lodge the EOI.
• Month 3–12: stay “invitation ready” by updating experience and documents.
• Invitation to +60 days: lodge the visa application with all supporting files.

When the visa is granted, you can live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely, and travel in and out for five years on the initial travel facility. After that, travel is managed through Resident Return visas (usually Subclass 155 or 157), while permanent residence continues.

For people who have spent years building points, the attraction remains: no employer tie, no state commitment, and a direct line toward citizenship once residence requirements are met.