If you’re weighing up the Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 visas, here’s the short version: both are permanent, points-tested skilled visas with a 65-point minimum, but 189 needs no state or territory backing while 190 trades a nomination commitment for extra points and, often, an easier invitation. Which one suits you usually comes down to whether you can clear 189’s bar on your own or need a state’s help to get there. This guide works through the real differences: occupation lists, points, processing priority under this year’s ministerial directions, and the trade-off a state nomination actually involves.
What Is the Subclass 189 Visa?
The Subclass 189 visa (Skilled Independent) is a permanent visa for points-tested applicants who don’t need, and don’t get, sponsorship from an employer, state or territory government, or family member. It’s available only for occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the narrower of Australia’s two skilled-occupation lists. Applicants lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and, if invited, must have at least 65 points under the points test and a positive skills assessment for their nominated occupation.
What Is the Subclass 190 Visa?
The Subclass 190 visa (Skilled Nominated) is also a permanent, points-tested visa, but it requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. That nomination is worth 5 points toward the same 65-point minimum, and it opens the door to occupations on a state’s own current occupation list, which can include Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) roles that 189 can’t touch, as well as MLTSSL occupations. In exchange, most states attach a commitment, typically for at least two years, to live and work in the nominating state or territory; this sits at the nomination level rather than as a single uniform visa condition, so the exact wording and consequences of not honouring it vary by state.
189 vs 190: The Differences That Actually Matter
- Sponsorship. 189 needs none at all. 190 needs a state or territory nomination, which is itself a competitive, separate application.
- Occupation list. 189 is MLTSSL-only. 190 can draw on MLTSSL or a state’s own STSOL-linked list, which is usually broader and changes between nomination rounds.
- Points. Both need 65 minimum, but 190’s nomination contributes 5 of those points, so a 190 applicant can qualify on a lower underlying score than a 189 applicant chasing the same invitation round.
- Location commitment. 189 carries none. 190 generally comes with a state’s own commitment to live and work in that state or territory for a minimum period, usually around two years.
- Who it suits. 189 suits strong, MLTSSL-listed candidates who can compete on points alone. 190 suits candidates who need the extra 5 points, want access to a broader occupation list, or are happy to commit to a particular state.
Unlike the provisional Subclass 482 and 494 visas, which lead to permanent residence only after a further step, both 189 and 190 are themselves permanent visas from the day they’re granted. There’s no separate PR application to make afterwards, the way a 491 or 494 holder later applies for Subclass 191.
Points Test: How Many Points Do You Need?
The legislated minimum to even submit a competitive EOI is 65 points, built from age, English ability, skilled employment, qualifications, and (for 190) nomination. In practice, invitation rounds rarely invite everyone at 65. How far above it you need to sit depends entirely on how many people in your occupation are also in the pool that round. Recent 189 invitation rounds have invited some occupations at the 65-point floor while others needed 90 or more, and the gap between occupations in the same round can be large. Because 190’s 5 nomination points sit on top of the same age, English, employment and qualification scoring as 189, a candidate just short of a competitive 189 score can often close that gap through nomination rather than waiting for a stronger invitation round.
Both visas apply the same age cut-off (under 45 at the time of invitation) and both require at least Competent English (the baseline tested by IELTS or an accepted equivalent) as a condition of eligibility, with Proficient or Superior English earning additional points on top of the minimum. For the full points breakdown, see the Department of Home Affairs’ own points table, since specific point values are reviewed and can change between program years.
Which Occupations Qualify for 189 vs 190?
189 is reserved for occupations on the MLTSSL, a shorter list of roles judged to have sustained, long-term national demand. 190 can use MLTSSL occupations too, but its real advantage is access to a state or territory’s own current occupation list, which typically layers in STSOL occupations relevant to that state’s labour market and can change from one nomination round to the next. That’s why an occupation that doesn’t qualify for 189 at all might still have a 190 pathway through the right state. It’s also why checking the specific state list, not just the national MLTSSL, matters before ruling 190 out.
Many of the occupations Kingsbridge covers in detail, including our Engineers Australia skills assessment guide and our Accountant skills assessment guide, sit on the MLTSSL, which means they can support either pathway, provided the rest of the eligibility criteria are met.
Processing Priority: Where 189 and 190 Sit Under Direction 122
Since 19 September 2026, skilled visa processing has run under two new ministerial directions. Unlike the 482 and 494 comparison, where each visa sits under a different direction, 189 and 190 are both governed by the same one: Direction 122, which also covers eight other skilled subclasses (186, 187, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888). Direction 122 runs a four-tier order: top priority goes to a primary applicant in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources-sector occupations, or a law enforcement or defence-related occupation, regardless of whether they’re onshore or offshore; next come other onshore applications; then offshore applications not combined with someone else’s; then everything else.
The practical takeaway is that processing speed for 189 and 190 depends on your occupation and location, not on which of the two visas you choose. A 189 applicant and a 190 applicant in the same priority occupation sit in the same tier. Check the Department of Home Affairs’ current processing times for an up-to-date estimate rather than relying on a general figure.
The State Nomination Trade-off
190’s extra points and broader occupation list come at a real cost: a separate, competitive application to the state or territory itself, on top of the federal points test. Each state runs its own occupation list, its own ranking criteria within that list, and its own commitment around living and working locally for a minimum period after grant. These settings change between rounds, sometimes without much notice. Western Australia’s own 2026–27 state nomination program, for instance, was still unconfirmed on the state government’s own channels as late as early November 2026, despite industry reports suggesting an expanded allocation. That’s a reminder that a state’s current-year settings are worth checking directly, or through a registered migration agent tracking them, before planning around figures that haven’t been officially confirmed.
Which Pathway Should You Choose?
If your occupation is on the MLTSSL and you can comfortably clear the competitive score for recent invitation rounds without extra points, 189 is the simpler path: no nomination application, no location commitment. If you’re short on points, your occupation isn’t on the MLTSSL but is on a relevant state’s list, or you’re comfortable committing to a particular state or territory, 190 is usually the more realistic route. Some candidates genuinely qualify for both and submit an EOI indicating interest in either, so whichever comes first (a strong 189 invitation or a state nomination) can be accepted.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Between 189 and 190
- Assuming 190 is just a slower, lesser version of 189. They draw on different occupation lists and carry a different trade-off (a location commitment for extra points), not a simple hierarchy.
- Checking only the national MLTSSL and concluding an occupation has no pathway at all, without checking whether it sits on a specific state’s current list for 190.
- Treating the 65-point figure as the score you need. It’s the legislated floor to submit an EOI; the score actually required for an invitation depends on competition within your occupation that round.
- Repeating unconfirmed state program figures (allocations, extra places) as settled fact, when a state’s own channel hasn’t yet confirmed them for the current program year.
- Not budgeting for the state nomination application itself as a separate, sometimes lengthy process with its own fees and timeline, distinct from the federal visa application that follows.
Key Takeaways
- Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 are both permanent, points-tested visas with a 65-point minimum. Unlike 491/494, neither needs a further PR step afterward.
- 189 needs no sponsorship and is limited to MLTSSL occupations; 190 needs a state or territory nomination (worth 5 points) and can access a broader, state-specific occupation list.
- Both apply the same under-45 age cut-off and at least Competent English as baseline eligibility criteria.
- Since 19 September 2026, both visas are processed under the same ministerial direction (122), so processing priority depends on occupation and location, not on which of the two you choose.
- 190’s trade-off for extra points and a wider occupation list is a state-level commitment, typically around two years, to live and work in the nominating state or territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to get a 189 visa or a 190 visa?
Neither is universally easier. It depends on your points score and occupation. 190 can be the more achievable route if you’re short of a competitive 189 score, since nomination adds 5 points and can open up occupations outside the MLTSSL. 189 is more straightforward if you can already clear the competitive bar without help, since it skips the separate state nomination application.
Do I need a job offer for 189 or 190?
No. Neither visa requires an employer sponsor or a job offer, which is the key difference from the employer-sponsored 482, 186 and 494 pathways. 189 needs no sponsorship at all, and 190 needs a state or territory nomination instead of an employer one.
Can I apply for both 189 and 190 at the same time?
Yes. A single EOI in SkillSelect can indicate interest in a 189 invitation, a 190 nomination, or both, provided your occupation and circumstances meet each visa’s separate eligibility requirements. Many candidates pursue both routes simultaneously and take whichever invitation or nomination comes first.
Does the 190 visa require me to live in a particular state?
Generally yes, in the form of a commitment attached to the state or territory nomination rather than a single uniform rule. Most nominating states expect you to live and work there for a minimum period, often around two years, after the visa is granted. The specific commitment and consequences for not meeting it vary by state, so check the current terms of the state you’re nominated by.
Which visa leads to permanent residence faster, 189 or 190?
Both grant permanent residence immediately on visa grant. There’s no separate PR step for either, unlike the 491 or 494 pathways. How long it takes to reach that grant depends on your occupation’s processing tier under Direction 122 and, for 190, how long the state nomination stage takes, which varies by state and changes between rounds.
Ready to find out which pathway fits your points score?
Kingsbridge Australia offers a free 15-minute pre-assessment with Dexter Lee, our Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518927), to work out whether 189 or 190 is the realistic route for your occupation and points score. Book a time below.
