# How to Move to Australia in 2026: Subclass 189 vs 190 vs 482 — And Why Most Applicants Pick the Wrong One
Most people who want to move to Australia start by Googling "Australia skilled visa." They find 189, 190, 491, 482, 186, 858 — six visa subclasses that all sound like they do the same thing. They pick the one that seems easiest, spend months preparing, and then find out they never qualified in the first place. Or worse — they submit an EOI at 70 points and wait 12–24 months in the pool without ever getting invited.
That's not bad luck. That's the system working exactly as designed.
Australia's immigration system is built on points, occupation lists, state nominations, and skill assessments — all of which change independently, at different times, with different rules. The minimum points score is 65, but nobody gets invited at 65. The real competitive threshold is 80–90+. And even if your points are high enough, you might be applying under the wrong subclass for your situation.
This guide doesn't list visa options. It helps you choose between them — before you waste time and money on the wrong one.
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Three Paths. Only One Fits You.
→ Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): You have no ties to Australia — no job offer, no state sponsorship, no employer. You qualify on points alone. You need an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), a positive skills assessment, and a competitive points score. If you're competitive, this is the fastest path to permanent residency without anyone sponsoring you.
→ Subclass 190 (State Nominated): Your points aren't high enough for 189 on their own, or your occupation is only on a state list, not the federal list. A state nomination adds 5 points and gives you priority processing — but you must commit to living in that state for 2 years. Not every state wants every occupation. The state picks you, not the other way around.
→ Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage): You have a job offer from an Australian employer who's willing to sponsor you. This is a temporary visa (2–4 years), not permanent residence — but the medium-term stream leads to subclass 186 (employer nomination) and eventually PR. If you can't hit the points threshold for 189/190, this is your way in.
Not sure which one fits your profile? That's the whole point. The system is designed so that the "best" path depends on your age, occupation, English score, work experience, and whether a state currently wants your skill set. There is no default.
[Find out which Australian visa you actually qualify for — before you waste months →](/get-started)
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The Points Reality
Everyone talks about the 65-point minimum. Here's what they don't tell you.
The minimum is 65. The competitive threshold is 80–90+. Recent invitation rounds for popular occupations (software engineers, accountants, civil engineers) have cleared at 85–95 points. If you submit an EOI at 70 points, you could wait years and never get invited.
Here's how points actually break down:
| Factor | Max Points | What Most People Score |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25–32) | 30 | 30 (if you're in range) |
| English (Superior — IELTS 8+) | 20 | 10–20 (this is the swing factor) |
| Overseas work experience (8+ years) | 15 | 5–10 |
| Australian work experience | 20 | 0 (if you've never worked there) |
| Education (Bachelor's or higher) | 20 | 15 (Bachelor's) – 20 (PhD) |
| Australian study qualification | 5 | 0 (if you studied overseas) |
| Specialist education | 5 | 0 (most people) |
| NAATI / Professional Year / Community Language | 5 each | 0 (most first-time applicants) |
| State nomination (190) | 5 | 5 (if you get one) |
| Partner skills | 5–10 | 0–10 |
| Regional study/living | 5 | 0 |
The difference between 75 and 85 is usually English. Going from IELTS 7.0 (Proficient — 10 points) to IELTS 8.0 (Superior — 20 points) is worth 10 points. That alone can move you from "waiting indefinitely" to "invited next round."
Most applicants don't know this. They optimize the wrong things — taking extra courses, doing professional year programs, applying from regional areas — when the single highest-ROI action is retaking their English test.
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What Most People Get Wrong
1. Applying under 189 when 190 is the better path.
If your points are 75–85, you're in no-man's land for 189. You might wait 12+ months and never get invited. But a 190 state nomination adds 5 points AND gives you priority processing. The trade-off is a 2-year commitment to a specific state — but if the alternative is not getting in at all, that's not a trade-off.
2. Choosing the wrong skills assessment body.
Every occupation has a specific assessing authority (Engineers Australia, ACS for IT, VETASSESS for business, CPA/CA for accounting). Each has different processing times, different evidence requirements, and different interpretations of what counts as "relevant experience." Applying to the wrong one or submitting incomplete evidence means 3–6 months wasted.
3. Not understanding that occupation ceilings exist.
Australia caps the number of invitations per occupation per year. When the ceiling is reached, no more invitations are issued regardless of your points score. If you're in a high-demand occupation (accounting, IT, civil engineering), timing matters as much as points.
4. Ignoring state nomination requirements.
Each state publishes its own occupation list, its own eligibility criteria, and its own processing times. NSW wants different skills than South Australia. Victoria has different financial requirements than Queensland. "Apply to all states and see what happens" is not a strategy — it's how people get rejected and waste application fees.
5. Submitting an EOI and then waiting passively.
An EOI is not an application. It's a ranking in a pool. If your score isn't competitive, it will sit there for 2 years and expire. The people who get invited are the ones who actively optimize — improving English scores, gaining additional work experience, securing state nominations, or adding partner points.
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Start Here — But Don't Go Alone
If you're serious about Australia, here's the sequence that matters:
Step 1: Check if your occupation is on the list.
Search the MLTSSL (for 189) or your target state's occupation list (for 190). If your occupation isn't listed, you don't qualify for points-based migration — full stop. Don't waste time on anything else until you've confirmed this.
Step 2: Get your skills assessment.
This takes 2–4 months depending on the assessing authority. It's the single longest lead-time item in the process. Start this first, not last.
Step 3: Take your English test.
Target IELTS 8.0 in all bands (Superior — 20 points). The difference between Proficient (10 points) and Superior (20 points) is the most valuable 10 points in the entire system.
Step 4: Calculate your real points — not your hoped-for points.
Use the official SkillSelect points calculator. Be honest about what you can prove. If you're below 85, you need a strategy to close the gap before submitting an EOI.
Everything after this — EOI submission, invitation rounds, document preparation, health checks, police clearances — depends on getting steps 1–4 right. And the order matters more than most people realize.
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The Comparison
| Feature | 189 (Independent) | 190 (State Nominated) | 482 (Employer Sponsored) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent residence | Permanent residence | Temporary (2–4 years) |
| Points required | 65 (competitive: 85+) | 65 (competitive: 80+) | No points system |
| Occupation list | MLTSSL | State-specific | Employer-specific |
| Job offer needed | No | No (but helps) | Yes |
| State commitment | No | 2 years in nominating state | No |
| Processing time | 6–12 months | 6–9 months | 1–4 months |
| Application cost | AUD $4,640 | AUD $4,640 | AUD $1,455–$3,035 |
| Skills assessment | Required | Required | Required |
| Path to citizenship | Yes (4 years as PR) | Yes (4 years as PR) | Via 186 → PR → citizenship |
| English requirement | Competent (IELTS 6.0) minimum | Competent (IELTS 6.0) minimum | Competent (IELTS 6.0) minimum |
| Partner can work | Yes (full work rights) | Yes (full work rights) | Yes (full work rights) |
| Age limit | Under 45 | Under 45 | No age limit |
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The Tax Situation
Australia is not a tax haven. You should know this before you move.
| Income Band (AUD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$18,200 | 0% |
| $18,201–$45,000 | 19% |
| $45,001–$120,000 | 32.5% |
| $120,001–$180,000 | 37% |
| $180,001+ | 45% |
Plus a 2% Medicare levy on most taxpayers. Superannuation (retirement fund) is 11.5% contributed by your employer on top of salary.
If you're comparing to Canada (max 33% federal + provincial), Australia's top rates are higher. If you're comparing to UAE (0%), it's a completely different proposition. Australia's value is the lifestyle, the PR pathway, and the English-speaking work environment — not tax optimization.
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The Decision
| Your situation | Best path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 85+ points, MLTSSL occupation | 189 | Straight to PR, no commitments |
| 75–85 points, flexible on location | 190 | State nomination closes the gap |
| Under 75 points, have a job offer | 482 → 186 | Get in first, PR later |
| Under 45, skilled trade | 491 (Regional) | 3 years regional → PR |
| Exceptional talent, any field | 858 (Global Talent) | Fast-track, no points needed |
The wrong choice doesn't just slow you down. It costs you thousands in application fees, months of preparation time, and potentially a 2-year wait in an EOI pool that never moves.
[Find out which Australian visa you actually qualify for → $29](/get-started)
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*All data sourced from the Australian Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au). Points thresholds reflect recent invitation rounds and may change. Skills assessment processing times vary by assessing authority. Some elements (e.g., invitation round cutoffs and state nomination lists) are dynamic and subject to updates. Always confirm current requirements on the official Department of Home Affairs website before applying.*