Your guide to becoming an Australian permanent resident.
Independent, weekly-updated analysis of subclass 189, 190, 491, 186, and 482→PR pathways. Built by people who have been through the process — not by anyone selling you a service.
At a glance
Which pathway fits your situation?
A compressed view of the five subclasses against the dimensions that matter most when choosing: who sponsors you, where you have to live, whether points apply, and how long it takes. Full analysis on each pathway page.
| 189 Skilled Independent | 190 State Nominated | 491 Regional | 186 Employer Sponsored | 482→PR Temp → PR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsor required | No | State / territory | State / territory or eligible relative | Employer | Employer (482 then 186 ENS) |
| Geographic constraint | None | Live in nom. state | Designated regional area | Anywhere | Anywhere → regional preferred |
| Points-tested | Yes | Yes (+5) | Yes (+15) | No (separate test) | No |
| Permanent on grant | Yes | Yes | No — provisional 5 yrs | Yes | No → 186 after 2 yrs |
| Typical processing | 8–14 months | 6–11 months | 6–10 months | 5–9 months | 3–6 months (482) + 5–9 months (186) |
| Occupation list | CSOL / MLTSSL | CSOL + state list | CSOL + state list | CSOL (ENS) | CSOL (Core Skills) |
Processing times are 75th-percentile current published figures from Home Affairs. CSOL = Core Skills Occupation List (replaced MLTSSL/STSOL Dec 2024).
Editorial principles
Why we built this — and what we won't do.
Every claim links to a primary source.
Points thresholds, occupation entries, invitation cut-offs — every figure on this site cites Home Affairs, the Federal Register of Legislation, or a state nomination announcement. If we can't link it, we don't publish it.
We do not sell migration services.
No agent referrals. No paid placements. No "book a free consultation" funnels. The only thing we ask is that you read with the same critical eye you'd bring to any other source.
Updates reflect what actually changed.
Pathway pages carry a Last reviewed date. When legislation, instruments, or state lists shift, we update the explainer and log it in the policy timeline. Stale guidance is the most common failure mode in migration content.
Recently updated
- Subclass 186 ENS: direct entry vs Temporary Residence Transition stream
- Subclass 189: complete pathway breakdown for skilled independent migration
- Subclass 190: state nomination, occupation match, and post-arrival obligations
- From subclass 482 to 186 PR: how Core Skills reforms changed the transition
- Subclass 491 regional provisional: 5-year obligation, 191 transition, and trade-offs
- Choosing between 189, 190, and 491: a decision framework
Common questions
Eight questions every PR applicant asks.
+ How many points do I really need to get an invitation?
For subclass 189 in 2026, invitation cut-offs sit between 70–90 points depending on occupation and round size. High-volume occupations (accountants, software engineers, civil engineers) clear around 85–95. Less-competitive occupations may be invited at 70. The official minimum is 65, but 65 alone is rarely competitive for 189.
+ Can I apply for PR without using a registered migration agent?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs allows applicants to lodge and manage their own visa applications via ImmiAccount. Many people do this successfully. A registered migration agent (MARN) is recommended where evidence is complex, the case has a refusal history, or you cannot dedicate the time to follow procedural requirements.
+ What English level is required?
Competent English (IELTS 6 each band, or equivalent PTE / TOEFL / OET / Cambridge) is the minimum for points-tested visas. Proficient English (IELTS 7) earns +10 points; Superior English (IELTS 8) earns +20. For 186 ENS Direct Entry, the same minimum applies. Some employer-sponsored pathways have exemptions for passport holders of UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, NZ.
+ Does Australian study automatically give me PR?
No. The Australian Study Requirement (2 academic years of study completed in Australia) earns 5 points on the Points Test, and the Temporary Graduate visa (485) gives you post-study work rights — but neither is a guarantee of PR. You still need to meet occupation, English, and points thresholds.
+ Is 491 actually a path to PR, or does it just delay things?
It is a path. After holding 491 for 3 years and earning A$53,900+ (2026 threshold) for each of those 3 years while living in a designated regional area, you can apply for subclass 191 — the permanent visa. About 85% of 491 holders who meet the income condition transition successfully. The cost is the 5-year geographic restriction.
+ Can my partner be added to the same application?
Yes for all five pathways. Spouse / de facto partners are added as secondary applicants on the same visa. They must meet health, character, and English requirements (or pay the second VAC). De facto relationships need to be registered or substantiated with 12 months of cohabitation evidence.
+ What happens if my occupation is removed from the list mid-EOI?
If you already hold a valid skills assessment in that occupation, and were invited before the list change, you remain eligible. If you have not yet been invited, the EOI is suspended until either your occupation returns or you switch to a different visa subclass. Skills assessments do not expire mid-application for visas already lodged.
+ How long do points-tested invitations stay valid?
60 days from the day you receive the invitation in ImmiAccount. You must lodge the visa application within that window. Late lodgement requires submitting a new EOI and waiting for a fresh invitation, which is not guaranteed.
These answers reflect 2026 settings. Migration rules change frequently — always cross-check with Home Affairs before relying on a specific figure for an application.
Methodology
How this site is researched.
Every pathway explainer is built from four sources: (1) the visa subclass page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, (2) the relevant section of the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994, (3) the most recent SkillSelect invitation round results, and (4) state and territory nomination program announcements on each jurisdiction's department site.
Policy timeline entries are triggered by three signals: federal register additions (new LIN / IMMI legislative instruments), Home Affairs announcement RSS, and state nomination program opening / closing notices. We do not republish or rephrase press releases without context — every entry includes the practical implication for applicants.
Where points cut-offs are quoted, they reference the most recent published invitation round on the SkillSelect invitation rounds page at time of writing. Cut-offs fluctuate; the figures here represent the most recent ceiling at publication and may have moved by the time you read this.