Points-tested and nominated pathways for skilled workers to live and work in Australia.
Get your free Skilled Visas assessmentAustralia's skilled migration program is designed for workers whose occupation and skills are in demand. Most skilled visas are points-tested, and many require a positive skills assessment and, in some cases, nomination by a state or territory or sponsorship by an eligible relative.
The right skilled visa depends on your occupation, your points, and how flexible you are about where you live. For some applicants permanent residence is available immediately; for others, a provisional regional visa is the fastest realistic route to PR. Getting this choice right at the start saves time and money.
Explore the individual visas in this category for detailed eligibility, costs and how to apply:
Not sure which one fits? Tell us your situation and we'll match you with agents who handle exactly your pathway.
Skilled professionals and tradespeople with an occupation on the relevant list, the qualifications and work experience to pass a skills assessment, and competent English. A registered agent can estimate your points, confirm your occupation pathway and plan your EOI.
If your points are competitive and you want no strings attached, the subclass 189 is the prize. If you are a few points short, a subclass 190 (state nomination, +5 points) or subclass 491 (regional, +15 points and a PR pathway) is often faster. The smartest move is to model all three against your real points before you submit an EOI.
Answer a few quick questions about your visa goal, location and circumstances.
We connect you with up to 3 OMARA-registered agents who handle Skilled Visas and serve your state.
Compare their advice and choose who to work with. Free and no-obligation.
You are not required to use a registered migration agent, but Skilled Visas are detail-heavy and the rules change often. A small mistake — the wrong subclass, a missing document, a late response or an unevidenced claim — can mean delay or refusal, and a refusal can affect future applications. A registered migration agent confirms your eligibility before you spend money, recommends the right pathway, prepares your evidence and manages the process with the Department of Home Affairs. Through Immigration Expert you can be matched with up to three OMARA-registered agents who handle Skilled Visas every day, compare their advice and choose who to work with — free and with no obligation.
The minimum is 65 points, but competitive scores are usually higher and vary by occupation and visa. A registered agent can estimate your score across age, English, experience, qualifications and other factors.
Most skilled visas require a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your nominated occupation, obtained before you are invited to apply.
The 189 is permanent and not sponsored; the 190 is permanent and nominated by a state/territory; the 491 is a provisional regional visa that can lead to permanent residence.
It depends on the visa, your occupation, demand and how complete your application is. Well-prepared applications are generally processed faster. An agent can give a current estimate.
Tell us about your situation and we'll connect you with up to 3 OMARA-registered migration agents who specialise in Skilled Visas and serve your state. Free and no-obligation.
We connect people seeking Australian visas with OMARA-registered migration agents and Australian legal practitioners. We are a matching service and do not provide immigration or legal advice.