Subclass 189 vs 190 vs 491: which Australian skilled visa?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
All three are points-tested skilled visas that need an invitation, an occupation on the relevant list and a suitable skills assessment. The 189 needs no sponsor or nominator and is permanent; the 190 needs a state or territory nomination and is permanent; the 491 is a 5-year provisional visa for regional Australia, needing state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative.
Who this is for
Health professionals planning permanent migration to Australia without relying on a single employer.
What the official guidance says
- Subclass 189 (points-tested stream): you must have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, a suitable skills assessment, an invitation to apply, and satisfy the points test. You do not need a sponsor or nominator, and you must be under 45 to be invited. You stay permanently.
- Subclass 190: the same occupation, skills assessment, invitation and points requirements, plus nomination by a state or territory. You stay permanently.
- Subclass 491: you must be nominated by a state or territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative, and meet the same occupation, assessment, invitation and points requirements. You can stay 5 years, live, work and study in a designated regional area, and apply for permanent residence after 3 years.
- With a 189 or 190 visa you can work and study anywhere in Australia, sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence and, if eligible, become a citizen.
- Home Affairs lists a visa application charge from AUD6,135 for the 189 and from AUD6,140 for the 190 (concessions apply in limited circumstances).
- Healthcare is among the sectors given processing priority under Ministerial Direction No. 122.
What it does not mean
- Submitting an expression of interest is not applying for the visa. You must be invited first.
- Meeting the points test does not guarantee an invitation.
- A 491 visa is provisional and limits where you live and work.
What to do next
- 01Get a skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation.
- 02Work out your points with the Home Affairs points calculator.
- 03Submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect, and apply for state nomination if you are aiming for a 190 or 491.
- 04Apply within the invitation’s terms if invited.
Questions
Which is easier, 189 or 190?
They have the same core requirements; the 190 adds a state or territory nomination. Which suits you depends on your occupation and the states nominating it.
Can I apply for permanent residence on a 491?
Home Affairs says 491 holders can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time the visa is granted, if eligible.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s Australia plans include reading how expressions of interest work, comparing the skilled visa options and checking the occupation lists yourself, each linked to Home Affairs. The free AI assistant can help you understand where your profession fits, without promising an invitation.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.