General Skilled Migration is one of the most common ways to get permanent residency in Australia. It’s a points-tested program aimed at skilled workers whose qualifications and experience are in demand here. This page explains how the points test works, the main subclasses (189, 190 and 491), what it costs, and how the process runs from your Expression of Interest to grant.
What Is the General Skilled Migration Visa?
General Skilled Migration, or GSM, is a points-based system run by the Department of Home Affairs. Rather than being sponsored by an employer, you’re selected on the strength of your skills, and you earn points for things like your age, your English, your skilled work experience, your qualifications, any Australian study, and whether you have a state or territory nomination.
Our registered skilled migration agents in Melbourne have worked across all the General Skilled Migration subclasses. We look closely at your profile and tell you how to make your application stronger. From your first Expression of Interest to the day your visa is granted, we handle the whole process.
General Skilled Migration Eligibility
A few core requirements apply to all the skilled subclasses. Getting these right, and being honest about your points, is what saves you from waiting in a queue you were never going to be invited from.
The Points Test
What You Earn Points For
You earn points across several factors: your age, your English level, your skilled work experience in and outside Australia, your qualifications, Australian study, a partner’s skills, a Professional Year, and a state or territory nomination. Small changes can matter a lot. Moving from Competent to Superior English, for example, is worth 10 points.
The Score You Actually Need
The minimum points threshold is 65, but in practice the score you need to actually get invited is usually a fair bit higher because of competition. In 2026 the median invited independent 189 applicant sat around 90 points. This is why a 190 nomination (five points) or a 491 nomination (15 points) can be the difference between waiting indefinitely and getting an invitation.
Age and English Requirements
You generally need to be under 45 at the time you’re invited to apply, and you need at least Competent English, which is around IELTS 6.0 in each band or the equivalent. Higher English scores earn you more points, so they’re often worth the effort. A review of the points test is under discussion, so the settings can change, and we’ll tell you where things stand when we assess your profile.
How SkillSelect and the EOI Work
Skilled Visa Subclasses
There are three main General Skilled Migration subclasses. Which one fits depends on your points, your occupation, and whether you can get a state or family nomination.
If you’ve recently finished studying, your 485 visa time can help build the points and experience these visas need. If you’re weighing a regional employer option, the subclass 494 is also worth a look.
Skilled Visa Cost
Skilled visas became more expensive on 1 July 2026. The base application charge for the primary applicant on a 189, 190 or 491 is now around AUD 6,140, up from about AUD 4,640 before. There are additional charges for a partner and for dependent children, and the charge is non-refundable if the application is refused.
On top of the visa charge, budget for your skills assessment, English test, health examinations, police clearances and any state nomination fee. Fees are indexed each 1 July, so check the current figure on the official Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge, and you can see how we charge for our own work on our fees page.
Skilled Visa Processing Times
Processing times vary a lot by subclass and by how complete your application is. The independent 189 depends heavily on the invitation rounds, so the wait to be invited can be long before processing even starts. State-nominated 190 and regional 491 applications also depend on the state’s own nomination timelines. Once lodged, skilled visa applications generally take somewhere between several months and around a year and a half, with well-documented, decision-ready applications sitting at the shorter end. We’ll give you a realistic picture for your subclass and occupation when we assess your case.
How Our Skilled Migration Service Works
Skilled migration has several stages, and getting any one of them wrong can set you back a long way. We start by going through your profile to work out your current points score and spot anywhere it could be improved before you lodge your EOI.
We guide you through the skills assessment, including which assessing authority handles your occupation and what evidence you need, and we go over your work history and qualifications so the assessment application is as strong as it can be. After your EOI is in, we keep an eye on the invitation rounds and let you know where you stand.
Once you’re invited, we run the full visa application for you, from gathering documents and meeting any state nomination requirements to responding to anything the Department asks for. Book a free assessment and we’ll work out which skilled pathway fits your situation best.
Skilled Migration FAQs
The minimum is 65 points, but that’s just the pass mark to submit an Expression of Interest. In practice the score you need to be invited is usually much higher, and in 2026 the median invited independent 189 applicant was around 90 points. A state or family nomination adds points that can make a big difference.
The 189 is fully independent and permanent, and needs the highest points. The 190 needs a state or territory nomination and gives you five extra points, and it’s permanent. The 491 is a provisional regional visa that gives you 15 extra points and leads to permanent residency through the 191 after three years in the region.
From 1 July 2026 the base charge for the primary applicant on a 189, 190 or 491 is around AUD 6,140, with extra charges for family members. On top of that you’ll pay for your skills assessment, English test and health and police checks. Fees are non-refundable, so it’s worth getting the application right.
No. General Skilled Migration is not employer-sponsored. You’re selected on your points and your occupation being in demand, not on having a job offer. If you do have an employer willing to sponsor you, that’s a separate pathway, such as the employer-sponsored or Skills in Demand visas.
Your EOI stays in SkillSelect for two years. If you’re not invited in that time, it lapses and you’d need to lodge a fresh one. The waiting time is worth using to lift your points, for example by improving your English or gaining more skilled work experience.
Yes. After holding the 491 and living and working in a designated regional area for at least three years, and providing ATO Notices of Assessment showing your income for three years, you can apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa. Once granted, the 191 lets you live anywhere in Australia.
Yes. Your nominated occupation has to be on a relevant skilled occupation list, and you need a positive skills assessment for it. The independent 189 uses the MLTSSL, while states can nominate from broader lists for the 190 and 491, so it’s worth checking all three pathways.
