Updated for 2026 policy

🇦🇺 Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Points-tested Australian PR with no sponsor required

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is Australia's flagship general-skilled permanent residency visa. It requires no state nomination or employer sponsorship — only a positive skills assessment, English language proof and enough points to be invited from the SkillSelect pool.

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4.9 ★ on Google & JustDial · 12,000+ families since 2016

Australia — Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Filed from

Pune · Since 2016

Timeline

8-16 months from engagement to PR grant.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+ for single fi…

Success rate

94% approvals

Families filed

12,000+ since 2016

Chapter 01

How the 189 points system works

The 189 uses a 130-point framework covering age (up to 30), English (up to 20), skilled employment overseas and in Australia (up to 25), education (up to 20), specialist education (5), Australian study (5), professional year (5), community language NAATI (5), partner skills (up to 10) and state nomination (n/a for 189).

Age scoring peaks at 25-32 (30 points), drops to 25 at 33-39, 15 at 40-44 and zero at 45+. English is where most Indian applicants gain — Superior English (PTE 79 / IELTS 8.0 across four) is worth 20 points, Proficient (65/7.0) is 10.

Most successful 189 filings today score 90+ points because pro-rata occupations (software engineers, accountants, electrical engineers) have long invitation queues.

Chapter 02

Skills assessment — the pre-cursor to everything

Every 189 applicant needs a positive skills assessment in a MLTSSL occupation from the relevant assessing authority: ACS for ICT, Engineers Australia for engineers, VETASSESS for accountants, teachers via AITSL, nurses via ANMAC. The assessment defines your qualifying experience for points and is the single biggest risk area for a rejected application.

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Answer a few questions and get an indicative score, a factor-by-factor breakdown and your gap against current 2026 cut-offs.

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Eligibility scorecard

Do you qualify for Subclass 189?

Every box below counts. Meet 70% or more and you're a strong candidate — book a free assessment and we'll map the exact CRS / points / score.

Occupation on the current Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
At least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or PTE 50 across four skills)
Age under 45 at time of invitation
65 minimum points (real cut-offs typically 90+ for pro-rata occupations)
Meet health and character requirements

Total timeline

8-16 months from engagement to PR grant.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+ for single filing. Government fees: AUD 4,640 for main + AUD 2,320 spouse + AUD 1,160 per child.

Mark Consultant advantage

Written scope · Fixed fee · Licensed advisors · 94% approval rate

The process

How we file your Subclass 189

A transparent, milestone-based process. You always know what stage your file is at.

01
Step 1 of 6
Skills assessment
File with ACS / EA / VETASSESS / AITSL / ANMAC based on your occupation.
02
Step 2 of 6
English test
PTE Academic or IELTS Academic targeted at Superior English score for maximum points.
03
Step 3 of 6
EOI in SkillSelect
Lodge Expression of Interest with all claimed points evidence-backed.
04
Step 4 of 6
Invitation to apply
Wait for monthly invitation rounds; we monitor cut-offs and re-optimise your EOI.
05
Step 5 of 6
Visa application
60 days to lodge full application with medical, PCC and skills evidence.
06
Step 6 of 6
Grant & landing
Initial entry within 12 months of grant; PR is granted immediately.

Document checklist

Everything you'll need to file

Every document is pre-verified for accuracy, chronology and destination-country standards before submission.

17 documents · fully managed

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay
Recent passport-sized photographs meeting country-specific dimensions
Educational certificates and consolidated mark-sheets (SSC, HSC, degree, PG)
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA / WES / IQAS) where required
Detailed CV with month-precise employment history
Experience letters on company letterhead with roles, responsibilities and salary
Latest three years of income tax returns and Form 16
Bank statements for last six months (personal and business)
English language proficiency proof (IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo as accepted)
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from all countries of 6+ months residence since age 18
Upfront medical examination from panel physicians when required
Marriage certificate and spouse's supporting documents if adding dependents
Birth certificates of dependent children
Proof of funds — fixed deposits, mutual funds, property valuation, sponsor affidavits
Skills assessment outcome letter
PTE / IELTS score
All work reference letters with month-precise dates

Mark Consultant filed our Subclass 189 end-to-end. Written scope, fixed fee, honest timeline — no follow-up chasing. We landed in Australia exactly when they said we would.

Verified client family

Australia · Filed through Pune office

More Australia pathways

Explore related Australia visa categories

Subclass 190

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

State-nominated permanent residency with a 5-point boost

Subclass 491

Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491)

Regional 5-year provisional PR with pathway to 191

SID / 482

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

3-stream employer-sponsored work visa with PR pathway

Student 500

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Study at Australian universities and colleges

Documents Required

Documents Required for Australia

Complete document checklist for Australia PR, work and study visas

FAQs

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) — Common questions

Can I include my spouse in a 189 application?

Yes — spouse and dependent children can be included. Skilled spouse can add 10 partner-skill points if assessed.

Is IELTS or PTE better for subclass 189?

Most Indian applicants score higher on PTE Academic because of its automated scoring — we recommend PTE for the Superior English 20 points.

Why is Mark Consultant considered the best visa and immigration consultant?

Since 2016 we have filed 12,000+ approved visas from Pune with a 4.9-star client rating on Google and JustDial. We are known as the best visa and immigration consultants because we sign written scope-and-fee agreements, refuse to over-promise outcomes and assign a single accountable case manager to every file. Our team is trained on ICCRC-aligned processes and stays current with monthly IRCC, Home Affairs, UKVI, USCIS, INZ and BAMF policy changes.

Are you the best visa consultants in Pune and India?

Client-rated yes — Mark Consultant is repeatedly ranked among the best visa consultants in Pune and the best visa consultants in India for permanent residency, skilled work and student visas. Our reputation is built on transparent pricing, refusal to file weak cases and post-landing settlement help.

Can you guarantee a visa approval?

No ethical consultant can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the immigration authority. What we guarantee is an accurate eligibility assessment, honest advice on the strongest visa route for your profile, forensically prepared documents and a filing that maximises your approval odds.

What documents do you review for a free assessment?

For a free 30-minute assessment we review your latest CV, passport bio page, highest education mark-sheets and any English test scores you already have. If you don't have IELTS/PTE yet, we still run an indicative eligibility calculation and share a step plan by email.

Book a free assessment

File your Subclass 189 with Pune's best immigration consultants

Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.

Call +91 91194 49942 Book free assessment →

Why 12,000+ clients trust us

✓ 9+ years in Pune — since 2016
✓ 4.9★ average rating, verified reviews
✓ Written fee agreements, no surprises
✓ ICCRC-aligned filing processes
✓ Post-landing support in destination country

Free visa assessment

Get a free eligibility check for your visa

Share a few details — a licensed advisor will call you within 24 hours with an honest read on your profile.

✓ Response within 24 hours by a licensed advisor
✓ Written scope and fixed fee — no hidden charges
✓ 9+ years, 12,000+ successful cases across India

Prefer to talk?

+91 91194 49942 info@markconsultant.in