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Australia · Points-tested skilled visa

Australia Points-Tested Skilled Visa from Pakistan

Australia's points-tested skilled visas are the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491). You need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment and at least competent English, then you lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and wait for an invitation. The 189 and 190 are permanent; the 491 is provisional and can lead to permanent residence.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026

At a glance

Decided by
Department of Home Affairs
Visas covered
Subclass 189 (independent), 190 (state or territory nominated) and 491 (regional, provisional)
How selection works
An Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, ranked by the points test; you apply only once invited
Age
You must be under 45 when you are invited to apply
English
At least competent English at the time of invitation
Permanent?
The 189 and 190 are permanent; the 491 can lead to the subclass 191 permanent visa

Who this is for

  • Professionals and tradespeople whose occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list
  • Applicants who can get a suitable skills assessment from the authority for their occupation, such as Engineers Australia, the Australian Computer Society or VETASSESS
  • People willing to live and work in a particular state, or in regional Australia, in return for nomination
  • Graduates who studied in Australia and want to stay permanently

When another route fits better

  • You have an Australian employer ready to sponsor you: an employer-sponsored visa such as the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) may be the faster route.
  • You want to study in Australia first: apply for a Student visa (subclass 500).
  • Your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident: a partner visa is the route, not a skilled visa.

Documents to prepare

Everyone

  • Valid passport and CNIC
  • Skills assessment for your nominated occupation
  • English test results, for example IELTS or PTE Academic, at competent level or above
  • Evidence for every points claim: degrees, transcripts and employment references showing duties, hours and pay
  • Police certificates from Pakistan and other countries where you have lived, as Home Affairs specifies
  • Birth certificate or NADRA birth record, and Form 80 if you are asked for it

Family members

  • NADRA marriage registration certificate and nikah nama for your partner
  • Birth certificates or NADRA Child Registration Certificates for children
  • Evidence of functional English for adult family members, or plan to pay the second instalment charge
  • Form 1229 consent if a child under 18 is migrating without one of their parents

Nominated and regional visas

  • State or territory nomination, or for the 491, nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative in a designated regional area

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check your occupation

    Find your occupation on the list for the visa you want and note which assessing authority covers it.

  2. 2

    Get your skills assessed

    Apply to the assessing authority with your degree, transcripts and experience letters. Follow its instructions on certified copies and translations of Pakistani documents.

  3. 3

    Take an English test

    Sit an accepted test and aim higher than competent if you can, because better English scores add points.

  4. 4

    Submit an Expression of Interest

    Lodge your EOI in SkillSelect, choose the visas you want to be considered for, and claim only points you can prove with documents.

  5. 5

    Seek nomination if you need it

    For the 190 or 491, apply to a state or territory under its own criteria. For the 491 you may instead be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.

  6. 6

    Receive an invitation and apply

    If invited, lodge your visa application in ImmiAccount within the time stated in the invitation, upload your evidence and pay the visa charge.

  7. 7

    Health, character and decision

    Complete health exams with a panel physician, provide police certificates and biometrics if asked, then wait for a decision.

Costs to plan for

  • The visa application charge for the main applicant and each family member
  • A second instalment charge for adult family members without functional English
  • The skills assessment fee
  • English test fees and any retakes
  • Health exams, police certificates and biometrics
  • State or territory nomination fees, where one is charged

Why applications get refused

  • Points claimed in the EOI that cannot be proved, such as experience the skills assessment did not count
  • A score that drops after invitation, for example because an English result expired
  • Employment references without duties, hours and pay, or that cannot be verified
  • False or altered documents, which can lead to refusal and a bar on future visas
  • Not meeting the health or character requirements
  • Previous visa refusals or cancellations that were not declared

Tips before you apply

  • Make your skills assessment, EOI and references tell the same story. Dates, job titles and duties should match exactly.
  • Never over-claim in your EOI. If you are invited on points you cannot prove, the visa can be refused.
  • Track when your English results expire and when your next birthday falls, because both can change your points.
  • Check each state's nomination pages regularly. Criteria, occupation lists and whether they accept applicants living overseas change during the year.

Questions people ask

The 189 lets you live anywhere in Australia, but invitations are competitive. The 190 needs a state or territory nomination and a commitment to live there, and the nomination adds points.

Home Affairs sets a minimum points score, and invitations often go to people well above it. Check the current points table and recent invitation rounds on the Home Affairs website.

Yes. You can lodge an EOI and apply for these visas while living outside Australia.

After living and working in a designated regional area and meeting the income conditions, 491 holders can apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subclass 191.

Yes. A partner with competent English or a suitable skills assessment can add points in some cases. Check the points table for the current rules.

Official sources

Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.