If you’ve been following Australian immigration updates recently, you’ve probably heard this sentence:“Anyone who can get a 189 is not an ordinary applicant.”
You may wonder: Why do some people go through employer sponsorship, some go through state nomination or study pathways like 491, while others get PR (permanent residency) in one step?The answer is: Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa — the cleanest, most prestigious, and most competitive PR pathway in Australia’s migration system.Today’s article will answer three questions, without hype:
- 189What is 189, and what does it give you?
- Who is eligible? What requirements must you meet?
- Is 189 still achievable now? Do YOU have a chance?
01｜What Exactly Is the 189 Visa?
🧭 In Summary
Subclass 189 = no employer, no state nomination, no regional requirement, and direct permanent residency.
It is a pure points-tested visa. The Department of Home Affairs ranks your EOI score and invites the top applicants.With 189, you get:Permanent residency。Freedom to work and live anywhere in Australia。Ability to include spouse & children。Eligibility to apply for citizenship after 5 years (subject to criteria)。
No employer sponsorship. No geographic restrictions. No obligations.That’s why people say:“189 = freedom, status, and the ultimate form of Australian migration.”
02｜Who Can Apply for 189? What Are the Requirements?189 is not for everyone. You must meet all of the following:
① Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL (Medium & Long-Term Skills Shortage List).Including but not limited to:
- Engineering (telecom, materials, mechanical, civil)
- Healthcare (nursing, physio, radiation, medical practitioners)
- IT & Tech (software, cybersecurity, DBA)
- Trades (electrician, carpenter, tiler)
- Research & STEM (physics, chemistry, biology)
- Accounting, finance, actuarial, statistics
If your occupation is not on the list → you cannot lodge an EOI.
② You must have a positive Skills AssessmentThis proves your:
- Degree
- Work Experience
- Skill competency
③Match to the nominated occupation。 You must meet the English requirement
| Category | Requirement |
| Minimum threshold | IELTS/PTE equivalent to Competent English (IELTS 6 each, PTE 50+) |
| Extra points | IELTS/PTE 7s or 8s give 10 or 20 points |
Reality check: Most successful 189 applicants score IELTS/PTE 8s.
④ Your EOI score must be in the competitive rangeThe 189 invitation round ranks applicants by points.
| Scoring Factor | Range |
| Age | 25–32 gives highest (30 points) |
| English | Up to 20 points |
| Overseas/Australian experience | Up to 20 points |
| Degree | Up to 20 points |
| STEM/PhD/regional study | Additional bonus |
Current real invitation trend: 75–100 points.
03｜Is 189 Still Achievable? Where Is the Difficulty Now?
To be blunt: 189 isn’t outdated — it has become a high-achiever pathway.In the past, many people believed:“Study in Australia → EOI 60 points → wait for invitation → PR.”That era is gone.
Because:The EOI pool is full of high-scoring applicants。Popular occupations are extremely competitive。Immigration priority now favours healthcare, trades, STEM。
In short: There are quotas — but only for people Australia urgently needs.
04｜Who Has the Best Chance at 189?
If you fall into any of these groups, your chances are significantly higher:
| Type | Key Features |
| Healthcare | Nurses, radiographers, physios, GPs — chronic national shortages |
| Engineering / IT / STEM | High-demand, high-salary, long-term shortages |
| Trades | Electricians, carpenters, tilers — strong national demand |
| Researchers / PhD | Usually very high EOI scores |
| People already working in Australia | Local experience + extra points = priority |
0505｜What If Your Points Aren’t Enough?
This article isn’t here to discourage you — It’s here to tell you that planning beats waiting.
Improve your English score
Accumulate more work experience
Apply for a 190/491 state nomination
Transition through 482 → 186 employer sponsorship
Study STEM to increase points + occupation match
Do strategic EOI optimisation
Migration is not one road. It is a map.
Below Are the Latest Real Invitation Scores(Data compiled from internal cases + public sources for trend analysis)
| Occupation | English Title | Invitation Points |
| 电工 | Electrician | 65 |
| 抹灰工 | Plasterer | 65 |
| 木匠 | Carpenter | 65 |
| 瓦工/墙地砖工 | Tiler / Wall & Floor Tiler | 70 |
| 工程经理 | Engineering Manager | 70 |
| 油漆工 | Painter | 75 |
| Nurses | Registered Nurse | 75 |
| Social Work | Social Worker | 75–85 |
| 中学老师 | Secondary School Teacher | 75–80 |
| 职业治疗师 | Occupational Therapist | 75–80 |
| 物理治疗师 | Physiotherapist | 85 |
| 建筑师 | Architect | 85 |
| 律师 | Solicitor | 85 |
| 精算师 | Actuary | 85 |
| GP / 全科医生 | General Practitioner | 85 |
| 医学类/科研类专业 | Scientist / Biotech / Radiation / Env Research | 85–95 |
| 农业科研、经济学、采矿、精算 | Specialist categories | 90 |
| 统计学家 | Statistician | 85–95 |
| 环境研究科学家 | Environmental Research Scientist | 95 |
| 多媒体设计 | Multimedia Specialist | 95 |
| 物理学家 | Physicist | 95 |
| 材料工程师 | Materials Engineer | 100 |
| 电信工程师 | Telecom Engineer | 100 |
Some occupations required an unbelievable 95–100 points to be invited.
Final Message189 is not about luck — it’s about capability. The question is not: “Will I get an invitation?”It’s:“Can I become the person Australia needs?”
If you want to know:Whether your occupation is on the list？How to calculate your EOI？Your real chances？How to increase your score？Whether you should aim for 189 or switch pathways？I can assess your situation for you.