GSM · 189 · 190 · 491
General Skilled Migration
Points-tested skilled migration pathways — independent, state-nominated and regional — for workers in occupations Australia needs.
How General Skilled Migration works
- Three core skilled visas: Subclass 189 (Independent), Subclass 190 (State Nominated) and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional, Provisional).
- Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect — you are not lodging a visa application, you are signalling availability.
- Receive an invitation to apply if your profile matches a Department invitation round (189) or state / territory nomination criteria (190 / 491).
- Lodge the visa application within 60 days of invitation, with full evidence.
- Minimum 65 points to lodge an EOI — in practice, successful invitations usually require significantly higher scores depending on occupation and stream.
The points test — what counts
- Age — peaks between 25 and 32, with reduced points before and after that window.
- English — Competent (0), Proficient (10), Superior (20). English is the single highest-impact lever for most applicants.
- Skilled employment — overseas (up to 15) and Australian (up to 20), with combined cap.
- Qualifications — Doctorate (20), Bachelor / Master (15), Diploma / Trade (10).
- Australian study requirement (5) — for 2+ years of Australian study.
- Regional study (5) — for completing courses in a designated regional area.
- Credentialled community language (5) — NAATI accreditation.
- Partner skills — partner skilled and competent in English (10), competent English only (5), single applicant bonus (10).
- Professional Year (5) — accredited programs in accounting, engineering or IT.
- State / territory nomination — +5 (Subclass 190) or +15 (Subclass 491).
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent
- Permanent visa from grant — no sponsorship, no employer or state required.
- Most competitive stream — invitation rounds reflect occupation ceilings and labour market priorities.
- Whole family included; permanent residence for all secondary applicants.
- Travel facility 5 years, automatic right to work for both primary and secondary applicants.
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated
- Permanent visa from grant — requires nomination by an Australian state or territory.
- +5 points for nomination — typically pushes a borderline EOI into competitive territory.
- State / territory occupation lists, qualifications, English and residency requirements differ — strategy is essential.
- Commitment to live and work in the nominating state for an initial period (commonly 2 years), confirmed by declaration.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
- 5-year provisional visa — must live, work and study in a designated regional area for the duration.
- Two pathways to nomination: state / territory nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in regional Australia.
- +15 points for nomination / sponsorship.
- Pathway to permanent residence via Subclass 191 after meeting required regional residence and minimum-income requirements.
- Whole family included, with full work and study rights for secondary applicants.
Skills assessments
- Mandatory for almost every GSM applicant — must be positive for the nominated occupation.
- Different assessing authorities for different occupations: VETASSESS, ACS, Engineers Australia, CPA Australia, ANMAC, AITSL, TRA, AIQS, AIM, ASMIRT, AMSA, and others.
- Each authority has its own document checklist, processing time and validity period (typically 3 years).
- Suitability assessment and qualifications assessment are sometimes separate stages — plan accordingly.
Step-by-step process
- Step 1 — Honest eligibility and points review by a Registered Migration Agent.
- Step 2 — Skills assessment from the relevant authority.
- Step 3 — English testing — sometimes repeated to lift to Proficient or Superior bands.
- Step 4 — Lodge EOI in SkillSelect, with truthful and current details (claims are checked at invitation).
- Step 5 — State nomination application (for 190 / 491) — strategy across multiple eligible states.
- Step 6 — Visa application within 60 days of invitation, with comprehensive supporting evidence.
- Step 7 — Health, character and decision.
How StudyNet supports GSM cases
- Realistic points review and improvement strategy — sometimes the right answer is to wait 6 months and lift English first.
- Skills assessment pathway selection across multiple potential occupations where applicable.
- State nomination strategy across multiple eligible states / territories.
- EOI drafting, claim verification and ongoing optimisation until invitation.
- Invitation-to-visa lodgement, including family evidence, health and character.
- Subclass 191 planning from day one for Subclass 491 holders.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information and refers to the Department of Home Affairs visa categories. It does not replace personalised migration advice. Please book a consultation for case-specific guidance.