The three routes at a glance
| Question | 189 · Skilled Independent | 190 · Skilled Nominated | 491 · Skilled Work Regional |
|---|---|---|---|
| First visa | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional; valid for five years |
| Nomination or sponsor | No state or territory nomination | State or territory government nomination | State or territory government nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible relative |
| Where you live and work | Check the visa grant and its conditions; no 491 regional condition | Check the nominating state or territory's current criteria and commitments | Live, work and study in a designated regional area under the visa conditions |
| Later permanent route | Already a permanent visa | Already a permanent visa | Separate subclass 191 application if eligible after at least three years |
All three need an expression of interest (EOI) before an invitation. Occupation lists and evidence rules can differ. Read the 189, 190 and 491 rules for your circumstances.
Check the occupation, assessment and points claims
- Occupation: find your occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for each subclass you are considering. The lists are not identical.
- Skills assessment: identify the listed assessing authority, the assessment you need and its current validity and timing rules. A job title alone is not a suitable assessment.
- English and points: use the official points calculator. SkillSelect gives an indicative score based on the claims entered. Keep evidence for age, English, qualifications, skilled work and any other points you claim.
- Nomination or sponsorship: for 190, check the state or territory's own current selection criteria. For 491, check either its state nomination route or the eligible-relative route and the applicable designated regional areas.
Home Affairs states that 65 points is a minimum threshold, not an invitation guarantee. A higher score or a nomination also does not grant a visa. Check your age and other criteria at the time the subclass requires, including any invitation-time rule.
An EOI comes before an invitation and visa application
Submit a complete, truthful EOI in SkillSelect and keep it current if your circumstances change before an invitation. An EOI is an interest record, not a visa application or permission to remain in Australia. The official EOI process lets you save a draft while you collect information; check the current instructions before submitting it.
If invited, Home Affairs gives you 60 days from the invitation date to lodge the online visa application in ImmiAccount with documents supporting your claims. Read the particular invitation and subclass page before applying; a claimed points score must be backed by evidence. Follow the step-by-step SkillSelect EOI guide →
The federal SkillSelect invitation rounds include 189 and family-sponsored 491. State and territory agencies consider EOIs for 190 and state-nominated 491 under their own nomination processes. Do not treat a published 189 round as the schedule for a state nomination.
Check the regional area and the separate 191 route
“Regional” uses Home Affairs' designated area and postcode definitions; it is not limited to remote towns. The 491 visa is provisional for five years, with regional living, work and study conditions. Check the exact area that applies to your nomination or sponsorship route and read your grant conditions.
Permanent residence does not arrive automatically after three years. The 191 Regional Provisional stream is a separate application: the applicant must have held an eligible visa for at least three years, complied with its conditions and provide Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment for three income years out of five. Home Affairs says there is no minimum income requirement for this stream. Check all current eligibility and evidence rules when the time comes.
What can trip up this comparison?
Does a state nomination mean the visa is approved?
No. Nomination is one step; an invitation and a successful visa application are separate steps.
Should I copy another applicant's points total?
No. Check your own occupation, assessing authority, English result and documents. Your EOI claims must match evidence you can provide.
Can I apply for all three using the same assumptions?
Use the subclass-specific occupation, nomination and location rules. A route that fits 189 may not fit a particular state's 190 criteria or a 491 regional option.
Record your own route checks
List your occupation, assessment, points evidence, nomination options and invitation steps. Save it on your device; no email is required.