Skilled Independent Visa (189) for UK Citizens: Points, Eligibility & Occupation Lists

Professional in business attire completing an Australian 189 skilled independent visa application on laptop at home office desk

The subclass 189 is the visa most UK migrants have in mind when they picture "moving to Australia": no employer, no state government, no partner required. Just you, your occupation, and a points score. Here's how it actually works and where UK applicants tend to trip up.

What the 189 actually gives you

The 189 is a permanent visa from the day it's granted. You can live and work anywhere in Australia, sponsor eligible family members, access Medicare, and after four years' residence, apply for citizenship. It's the least restrictive of the skilled visas because there's no regional or nomination obligation attached.

Occupation lists: the real starting point

Your occupation must sit on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) to qualify for the 189's points-tested stream. This list changes periodically, so check the current version on the Department of Home Affairs site before assuming your job qualifies. Occupations move on and off it, and some closely related job titles (say, "management consultant" vs "management accountant") sit in entirely different assessment categories.

The points test in practice

Points come from age (maximum at 25-32), English proficiency, skilled employment experience (onshore and offshore counted differently), qualifications, and a handful of smaller bonuses like a partner's skills or an Australian study requirement. Lodging an EOI at 65 points gets you into the pool, but for competitive occupations like accounting or software engineering, invitations regularly sit at 85-95. If your first calculation lands below that, look at whether a professional year, extra English study, or gaining another year of skilled experience would move the needle.

Skills assessment first, always

Every 189 application starts with a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation: engineers go through Engineers Australia, accountants through CPA Australia or similar, tradespeople through TRA, and so on. This step alone can take several months and often requires detailed employment reference letters, so start gathering documentation from current and former UK employers early.

1
Skills assessment
Apply to the assessing authority for your occupation with detailed employment evidence. Allow several months and gather UK reference letters before you resign.
2
Expression of Interest
Lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect with your points claim. You can update it as your score improves.
3
Invitation and lodgement
If invited, you have a fixed window to lodge the full application with health, character and evidence checks.

What UK applicants get wrong

The most common mistake is assuming a UK qualification automatically satisfies the Australian assessing body's requirements. Some professions (nursing and teaching in particular) require additional registration steps even after a positive skills assessment. The second is underestimating how long reference-gathering takes once you've left a UK employer; get detailed letters (duties, hours, dates) before you resign, not after.

Key Takeaways

The 189 is permanent, unconditional, and requires no sponsor, but it's also the most competitive points-tested visa.
Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL, which changes periodically.
65 points gets you in the pool; realistic invitation scores for popular occupations run 85-95.
Get detailed employment reference letters from UK employers before you resign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my occupation isn't on the MLTSSL?

You may still qualify for the 190 or 491 under a broader occupation list, or need to consider employer sponsorship instead.

How long is a skills assessment valid for?

Most assessments are valid for two to three years, though this varies by assessing authority, so check the validity period stated on your assessment outcome.

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