Skilled professional building a career in Perth, Western Australia

General Skilled
Migration

Skilled Visas · Perth, WA
Subclass 189, 190 & 491 · MARN 2418576

Skilled migration is a points game worth playing well

General Skilled Migration lets qualified professionals move to Australia on the strength of their skills, without an employer sponsor for some pathways. It is points-tested and competitive, so which visa you pursue, how your skills are assessed and how your points are built all matter. Choose a pathway below, or tell us your occupation and we will map it out.

It starts with your occupation and a positive skills assessment.
Contact us · 08 6555 7037
Why strategy matters

An invitation is earned, not guaranteed

Meeting the minimum does not mean an invitation. Places are limited and candidates compete on points, so the details decide the outcome.

  • ›Choosing the wrong occupation or assessing authority can stall the whole process.
  • ›A points claim you cannot fully evidence can lead to refusal, not just a lower score.
  • ›State nomination criteria differ by state and change through the year.
  • ›The right pathway depends on your score, occupation and where you are willing to live.

We cannot guarantee an invitation. We can build your case so a winnable one is not lost to an avoidable error.

Assess my points
The pathways

Three skilled visas, three different routes

Each visa suits a different profile. We confirm which one fits your occupation, your points and where you are prepared to live before you commit.

Subclass 189

Skilled Independent

Permanent · no sponsor

A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or a family member. You are selected purely on your occupation and points.

No nomination needed · you must be invited to apply.
Subclass 190

Skilled Nominated

Permanent · state nominated

A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. Nomination can add points and open occupations not available on 189.

Requires state / territory nomination · criteria vary by state.
Subclass 491

Skilled Work Regional

Provisional · pathway to PR

A points-tested provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a state, or sponsored by an eligible relative, to live and work in designated regional Australia. It can lead to permanent residence via Subclass 191.

Regional living required · leads to permanent residence when the criteria are met.
How skilled migration works
Skills assessment & English
Your occupation is assessed by the relevant assessing authority, and you evidence your English at the required level.
Expression of Interest
You submit an EOI in SkillSelect with your points claim, ready to be considered for invitation.
Nomination & invitation
For 190 and 491, a state or territory may nominate you. You then receive an invitation to apply.
Application & decision
You lodge within the invitation period with full evidence, and the Department assesses and decides.
Our process

How we manage your skilled visa, step by step

1
We assess your case

We estimate your points, check your occupation and confirm which of the 189, 190 or 491 pathways fits you.

2
Skills assessment

We guide you through the correct assessing authority and prepare the evidence it expects.

3
EOI & points strategy

We build and lodge your SkillSelect EOI, structured to claim every point you can genuinely evidence.

4
State nomination

Where relevant, we match you to a state or territory and prepare the nomination application.

5
Lodge & support

On invitation, we lodge your visa and respond to any request from the Department.

6
Decision & next steps

We see the application through to a decision and plan your next move, including PR where a provisional visa applies.

The points test

Where your points come from

Points are awarded across a number of factors. The most common include:

✓

Age, English level, and skilled employment experience in and outside Australia.

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Qualifications, Australian study, and study in a regional area.

✓

A partner's skills, or being single, and credentialled community language.

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State nomination (190) or state or family sponsorship (491).

A minimum points score applies, but meeting it does not secure an invitation. Point values and invitation levels are set by the Department and, for nomination, by each state, and they change over time. We confirm the current position for your case.

Readiness

You may be a good fit if…

✓

Your occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list.

✓

You can obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority.

✓

You meet at least Competent English and are generally under 45.

✓

You can meet the points, health and character requirements.

Meeting these points does not guarantee an invitation or a visa grant. Eligibility depends on your full circumstances and the requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs and, where relevant, the nominating state.

Frequently asked questions

General What is General Skilled Migration?
It is a group of points-tested visas (mainly Subclass 189, 190 and 491) for skilled workers who qualify on the strength of their occupation, skills and points, rather than through employer sponsorship.
General Do I need a job offer or a sponsor?
Subclass 189 needs no sponsor or nomination. Subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory, and Subclass 491 requires state nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative in a designated regional area.
Skills What is a skills assessment?
It is a formal check by a designated assessing authority that your qualifications and experience meet the standard for your nominated occupation. A positive assessment is usually required before you are invited to apply.
Points How many points do I need?
A minimum score applies, but meeting it does not secure an invitation, because candidates compete and invitation levels change. Point values and thresholds are set by the Department and, for nomination, by each state. We assess your realistic position for your occupation.
Process What is an EOI and SkillSelect?
An Expression of Interest, lodged in the Department's SkillSelect system, sets out your claimed points and occupation. It is not a visa application; it makes you eligible to be invited to apply.
General 189 vs 190 vs 491, which is right for me?
It depends on your points, your occupation and where you are willing to live. 189 offers the most freedom but is the most competitive; 190 and 491 can add points and open more occupations in return for a state or regional commitment. We map this to your profile.
General Can you guarantee I will be invited?
No one can lawfully guarantee an invitation or a visa outcome, and we never do. What we do is confirm your eligibility, build a fully evidenced points claim and pursue the pathway that gives you the strongest realistic case.
Get in touch

Tell us your occupation, and we will estimate your options

Speak to a registered agent

Australian Migration Co

MARN 2418576 · OMARA registered
Level 28, 140 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA

A registered migration agent reviews every enquiry personally. No obligation, and your details are used only to respond to you.

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Thank you, we have your details.

A registered migration agent will review your enquiry and come back to you within one business day. If your matter is urgent, call (08) 6555 7037.

Which skilled visa are you considering?

Send us your details and your occupation. We will estimate your options — no obligation.

Your details are used only to respond to this enquiry. Immigration assistance is provided by a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418576). Submitting this form does not create a client relationship or guarantee any visa outcome.

Australian Migration Co is a private migration consultancy. Immigration assistance is provided by a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418576) registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Australian Migration Co is not a government body and is not part of, or operated by, the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs. Visa applications can also be lodged directly with the Australian Government at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and some are free of charge; our services are paid. The information on this page is general in nature, does not constitute immigration advice, and does not guarantee any invitation or visa outcome. Occupation lists, points thresholds, state nomination criteria and processing times change over time and are verified against current sources before you proceed.