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If you are a highly qualified individual in Pakistan and thinking about making a permanent move to Australia, you should be aware of one of the main skilled visa categories: Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189).
Invited skilled visa type 189 is a permanent visa that is issued for the people whose skills are required in Australia. The points-tested subclass 189 skilled visa is different from some other skilled visa subclasses in that the person does not need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory. Visa holders successfully can reside and work permanently in any part of Australia.
The first question to ask and an important one is, is this pathway relevant to your occupation, qualifications, experience, English proficiency and points? At Immigration Experts Islamabad, we believe that the initial step should always be to determine if this pathway is relevant to your occupation, qualifications, experience, English proficiency and points.
The Subclass 189 Visa Process Is Relatively Straightforward
The subclass 189 visa process is pretty simple.
The Subclass 189 visa is part of Australia’s SkillSelect visa system. A successful applicant for a Subclass 189 visa doesn’t just submit the application to the skilled visa holder professional at random. Typically, the process starts with an Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted via SkillSelect.
Your EOI will contain details of your professional and personal profile, which will include your occupation, qualifications, work experience, English language proficiency and other aspects important to the points test.
Candidates are listed in SkillSelect in a ranked order and the Australian Government may send an invitation to eligible candidates.
Importantly, an EOI is not a visa application and there is no government fee for submitting an EOI.
Basic Subclass 189 Requirements
The requirements to be met for the point based stream are generally quite important.
The nominated occupation must be a skilled occupation that is listed on the Australian skilled occupation list and you must have the relevant skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
Applicants will also have to be under the age of 45 at the time of invitation to apply. You can apply if you turn 45 after invitation, but if you turn 45 before receiving an invitation you will not be invited under this stream.
The visa is based on a points test. The minimum requirement to be eligible for receiving an invitation is 65 points; however, 65 points do not automatically mean that you will receive an invitation.
Points can be influenced by factors such as:
- Age
- English language proficiency
- Educational qualifications
- Skilled employment experience
- Qualifications or skills required by partners, if applicable
- Other points factors available: 10
Significantly, 65 Points Are Not Enough for a Subclass 189 Invitation?
This is one of the most crucial differences between the applicants in Pakistan.
The minimum eligibility is 65 points. It does not imply a given invitation score.
There are a number of different invitation outcomes based on occupation and invitation round. Higher ranked EOIs can receive an invitation before lower ranked EOIs and the number of invitations and occupations may vary based on the migration settings and economic requirements of Australia.
In the Invitation round held on 10 June 2026, for instance, Australia sent out 10,000 invitations under subclass 189 visa. Minimum invited scores were different among occupations; some occupations had a minimum score of 65, others had a higher minimum score.
These are only the thresholds set for that round of the invitation and are not permanent thresholds to be applied to future invitation rounds.
I know this is why, when I get an assessment, I always ask, “Do I have 65 points?”
The more helpful questions to ask are whether your job is eligible, what your points profile looks like, and whether you should apply for subclass 189 or some other migration visa pathway.
What Is a Skills Assessment?
A skills assessment is an evaluation of your skills and work experience conducted by the Australian authorities who evaluate the skills of their nominated occupation.
To apply for Subclass 189, you must have an appropriate skills assessment which meets relevant criteria.
Assessing authorities and assessment criteria vary for different occupations. For instance, the needs of an engineer might vary from those of an IT professional, a healthcare professional, a teacher or tradesperson.
This is especially significant for Pakistani candidates as qualifications, job proof and eligibility criteria of the institutions concerned must be taken into account.
Once an EOI Has Been Submitted, What Happens?
What happens after an EOI is submitted?
After you submit your EOI, it will usually stay in the SkillsSelect database for two years.
If your situation changes, you may update your EOI prior to receipt of an invitation. For instance, you might get further skilled work experience, boost your English language skills, earn a further qualification or get an updated skills assessment.
Typically, the visa application will be due within 60 calendar days of an invitation being issued to apply for Subclass 189.
When applying, the claims you make in your EOI should be backed up by suitable evidence. Being invited to apply for a visa does not ensure that a visa will be issued.
The Benefits of the Subclass 189 Visa Are Enormous
The benefits of the subclass 189 visa are huge.
The most appealing aspect of Subclass 189 is that it is a permanent visa and not a temporary work visa.
Successful applicants will be eligible to permanently reside and work in Australia.
Another important feature is that the points-tested Subclass 189 is an independent skilled pathway. Does not need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory.
This is significant for those who have a competitive occupation and attractive points profile, and for whom Subclass 189 may be a relevant permanent visa option to consider.
Subclass 189 vs Subclass 190
These two skilled visas are often confused by applicants.
The Skilled Independent visa is subclass 189 while the Skilled Nominated visa is subclass 190.
The points-tested Subclass 189 is an independent visa and the visa is nominated for by an Australian state or territory under the Subclass 190 visa.
While both are part of the Australian skilled migration system, they have different selection criteria, skills and points.
For certain Pakistani professionals, subclass 189 might be an option. Others may be more interested in the Australian migration pathway including subclass 190 or subclass 491.
It is dependent of the particular applicant’s profile.
Is It Possible to Apply for Subclass 189 Visa From Pakistan?
Yes. Resident skilled professionals in Pakistan are eligible to engage in the SkillSelect program and can apply for the subclass 189 visa if they are invited to do so and meet the requirements.
Normal eligibility requirements are not waived outside of Australia.
It is still necessary to take into account your occupation, age, qualifications, skills assessment, English language skill, skilled work experience, points and other factors that are relevant.
How Immigration Experts Islamabad Can Help
There’s much more to Australian skilled migration than points calculation.
At Immigration Experts Islamabad, we evaluate each client’s profile for the respective Australian migration pathways.
We will take into account:
- Occupation
- Age
- Qualifications
- Skilled work experience
- English language ability
- Skills assessment requirements
- Points score
- Skilled migration pathways may be available for the learner.
We take a profile-based approach. Where relevant, this may involve making comparisons with other visa options to Australia for skilled migrants and not just assuming that one visa will be the right one for everyone.
Thinking of Going to Australia on a Skilled Visa?
As an engineer, healthcare worker, IT worker, teacher, tradesperson or another skilled worker in Pakistan, if you want to find out if you would be eligible for the subclass 189 visa pathway, you need to evaluate your entire profile.
Eligibility or in-demand professions alone does not mean an invitation or visa. Likewise, a minimum of 65 points is not enough to be selected for.
If you would like to discuss your profile, and interested in exploring the Australian skilled migration pathways that may be relevant to your situation, please contact Immigration Experts Islamabad.
Note: This article contains general information only and is not an invitation, guarantee of eligibility or a guarantee of visa approval. Please note that the requirements for Australian immigration, occupation requirement and invitation results may vary. Applicants are advised to refer to the current official requirements before applying.
