⚠️ Not immigration advice. Australian immigration rules change frequently; verify current rules on homeaffairs.gov.au + consult a MARA-registered migration agent or Australian immigration lawyer.

Australia's skilled migration is a points-based system offering permanent residence to skilled professionals — India consistently ranks as one of the top source countries for skilled migration admissions. This 2026 guide walks through the three main skilled visa subclasses (189, 190, 491), the points system, occupation lists, English testing, EOI + invitation process, and expected timelines.

Three Main Skilled Migration Subclasses

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa (PR)

  • Points-based, no employer or state sponsorship required
  • Direct path to Australian permanent residence
  • Must have occupation on Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) OR Regional Occupation List (ROL)
  • Minimum 65 points (recent invitation cutoffs typically 80+ for competitive occupations)

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa (PR)

  • Points-based, state/territory nomination required
  • Direct path to Australian permanent residence
  • State nomination adds 5 points to your total
  • Must commit to living + working in the nominating state for 2 years
  • Each state has its own nominated occupation list

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

  • Points-based, state OR family nomination required
  • Provisional visa (5 years); transitions to PR (subclass 191) after 3 years living + working in regional Australia
  • State nomination adds 15 points OR family sponsorship adds 10 points
  • Must live + work in designated regional area (most of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane inner areas)

Points System Breakdown (Max 130+ Points)

Core Points Categories

  • Age (max 30 points) — 25-32 years: 30 pts, 33-39 years: 25 pts, 40-44 years: 15 pts, 45+ years: 0 pts
  • English language (max 20 points) — Superior (IELTS 8+): 20 pts, Proficient (IELTS 7+): 10 pts
  • Overseas skilled work experience (max 15 points) — 3+ years: 5 pts, 5+ years: 10 pts, 8+ years: 15 pts
  • Australian skilled work experience (max 20 points)
  • Educational qualification (max 20 points) — Doctorate: 20 pts, Bachelor/Masters: 15 pts, Diploma: 10 pts
  • Australian study (max 5 points) — 2+ years of Australian study
  • Specialist education qualification (max 10 points) — Masters or Doctorate in STEM from Australian university
  • Regional study (max 5 points)
  • Community language (max 5 points) — accredited translation of Community Language of Australia

Partner Skills (max 10 points, if applicable)

  • Partner has competent English + suitable skills assessment: 10 pts
  • Partner has competent English only: 5 pts
  • Single applicant (no partner): 10 pts (bonus)
  • Partner is Australian citizen/PR: 10 pts

Nomination + Sponsorship Points

  • State/territory nomination (Subclass 190): +5 pts
  • State/territory nomination OR family sponsorship (Subclass 491): +15 pts / +10 pts

Occupation Lists

MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List)

  • ~250+ occupations eligible for Subclass 189
  • Includes: software engineers, IT project managers, data analysts, mechanical engineers, accountants, various healthcare

STSOL (Short-term Skilled Occupation List)

  • ~200+ occupations eligible for Subclass 190 (state-nominated)
  • Includes: many IT, business, healthcare specialities not on MLTSSL

ROL (Regional Occupation List)

  • Regional-focused occupations eligible for Subclass 491
  • Various trades, healthcare, education, IT

Verify your specific occupation code on the current occupation lists at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

English Language Testing

  • IELTS Academic or General — most common
  • PTE Academic — accepted alternative
  • TOEFL iBT — accepted
  • CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) — accepted
  • OET (Occupational English Test) — for healthcare

Score Thresholds

  • Competent — IELTS 6/6/6/6 (0 additional points)
  • Proficient — IELTS 7/7/7/7 (10 additional points)
  • Superior — IELTS 8/8/8/8 (20 additional points)

Skills Assessment

Positive skills assessment from a designated assessing authority is mandatory:

  • Engineers Australia (EA) — engineers
  • Australian Computer Society (ACS) — IT professionals
  • Institute of Public Accountants / CPA Australia / ICAA — accountants
  • Australian Medical Council / AHPRA — healthcare
  • Cost: approximately AUD $500-1,500 depending on authority

EOI (Expression of Interest) Process

  1. Get skills assessment
  2. Take English test (IELTS/PTE)
  3. Submit EOI via SkillSelect at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/skillselect
  4. Provide: personal info, occupation, points claim, work history, education
  5. EOI is valid for 2 years (renewable)
  6. Highest-scoring EOIs are invited via periodic invitation rounds

Invitation Rounds + Cutoffs

  • Department of Home Affairs conducts periodic invitation rounds (typically monthly)
  • Invitations sent to highest-scoring EOIs for each occupation
  • Recent Subclass 189 invitations for most occupations have required 90+ points; some competitive occupations (e.g., accountants) required 95+
  • Verify current cutoffs at Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect statistics

Post-Invitation Process

  1. Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  2. 60 days to submit complete visa application + fees
  3. Upload all documents (biometrics, medicals, police clearance)
  4. Attend biometrics + medical examination
  5. Wait for decision — 8-16 months typical
  6. Grant of visa → travel to Australia

Fees (2026 Approximate)

  • IELTS/PTE — ₹15,000-17,000
  • Skills assessment — AUD $500-1,500
  • Visa application fee (Primary applicant) — approximately AUD $4,640
  • Secondary applicant (18+) — approximately AUD $2,320
  • Child applicant — approximately AUD $1,160
  • Biometrics + medicals — approximately AUD $200-500 per person
  • Total for single applicant: approximately AUD $7,000-9,000
  • For family of 4: approximately AUD $12,000-15,000+

Practical Tips for Indian Applicants

  1. Maximize English score — aim for Superior (IELTS 8+ or PTE 79+) for +20 pts
  2. Consider state nomination — Subclass 190 or 491 adds 5-15 pts + state's occupation list may include your role
  3. Australian work experience — highly valuable; consider 482 (TSS) work visa route first
  4. Australian study — masters/PhD in Australia adds 5 pts + STEM specialist qualification adds 10 pts
  5. Partner's skills — partner with skilled occupation + competent English = 10 pts bonus
  6. Regional focus — Subclass 491 has lower competition + regional benefits

Post-Migration Considerations

  • Subclass 189 + 190: Immediate permanent residence — full work + study rights
  • Subclass 491: 5-year provisional; live + work in regional area; transition to 191 PR after 3 years
  • Citizenship: 4 years permanent residence + Australian residency requirement + citizenship test
  • Australia does NOT allow dual citizenship with India — Indian citizenship must be surrendered upon Australian naturalization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum points requirement for Australian Skilled Migration?

Formal minimum is 65 points, but recent invitation cutoffs for Subclass 189 have required 90+ points for most occupations. Subclass 190 needs 65+ points + state nomination. Subclass 491 needs 65+ points + state OR family sponsorship.

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Which is the highest-scoring occupation for Australia in 2026?

Traditionally: accountants, software engineers, ICT project managers, mechanical engineers, and civil engineers among the most competitive. Healthcare occupations (nurses, doctors, dentists) often have separate invitation streams. Verify occupation cutoffs on SkillSelect statistics.

How much does Australia Skilled Migration cost for a family?

Approximately AUD $12,000-15,000+ for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children), covering visa fees, biometrics, medicals, skills assessments, English tests. Plus IELTS/PTE for both adults + ECAs + potential agent fees.

Can I apply for Australia PR from India directly?

Yes. Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) is designed for applicants outside Australia with skilled foreign work experience. Complete Skills Assessment + English test + submit EOI via SkillSelect from anywhere in the world.

Can Indians get dual Australian + Indian citizenship?

No. India's constitution does not permit dual citizenship. Upon Australian naturalization, you must surrender your Indian citizenship. However, you can retain lifetime India access through Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which is essentially a permanent visa.

Disclaimer: NRI Globe provides journalism and general information only. Not immigration advice. Verify current Australian immigration rules on homeaffairs.gov.au + consult a MARA-registered migration agent or Australian immigration lawyer.