Australia › Skilled Independent
Australia Subclass 189 Visa: Skilled Independent PR for Kerala Applicants
Australia subclass 189 visa is the permanent visa for skilled workers invited to apply without an employer sponsor or state nomination. You need an assessed occupation, Competent English, age under 45 and at least 65 points, then an invitation. Most well-prepared applicants need 8 to 18 months in total.
It is a points-tested skilled independent visa, so your score, occupation and English level decide whether an invitation arrives. Mount Bell checks your 189 visa eligibility first. Then we count your 189 visa points and plan every step with realistic times. If you are planning a 189 visa from Kerala, this page gives you the rules, the score and the waiting times.
Licensed by the Ministry of External Affairs as a recruiting agent: B-1921/KER/PART/100/5/10348/2023 (verify on eMigrate) · Offices in Thrissur and Kochi, plus online consultations across Kerala · Written timelines, fees and the registered migration agent’s name before you commit
Key Facts at a Glance
These facts show why the Australia subclass 189 visa stays popular with skilled Indian applicants in 2026.
- Type
- A skilled independent visa: permanent, points-tested and no sponsor needed
- Pass mark
- 65 points, although invited scores are often higher
- Age
- Under 45 when you receive an invitation
- English
- Competent or higher
- Processing
- Subclass 189 processing time is about 6 to 12 months after lodgement
- Whole journey
- 8 to 18 months from first assessment to the visa decision
- Intake
- 132,240 Skill stream places planned for 2026-27 (BDO, May 2026)
Is the Australia Subclass 189 Visa Right for You?
The 189 visa for Indians carries no state conditions. Engineers, IT specialists and teachers form the largest groups from Kerala, and our Nursing Careers team handles nurses. Our Australia hub compares every route.
- It suits you if: your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List, you are under 45 with Competent English or better, you want to live and work in any state, and you can score well above the pass mark.
- Consider another route if: you score close to 65 in a crowded occupation, you have a job offer and want a sponsor, you will accept a chosen state or region for extra points, or you are a nurse (who follows a separate registration path).
Australia hub → · Subclass 491 → · Skills in Demand → · Nursing Careers →
189 Visa Eligibility: The Five Basics
As a skilled independent visa, it has five core 189 visa requirements, checked at invitation and again at lodgement. Health and character standards also apply to 189 visa eligibility.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Your job is on the 189 visa occupation list for the year you apply and matches an Australian occupation code |
| Skills assessment | A positive outcome from the body that assesses your occupation |
| Points | At least 65, counted from age, English, education, experience and extras |
| Age | Under 45 when invited, which is the 189 visa age limit |
| English | At least Competent, which is the 189 visa English requirement |
How the 189 Visa Points Add Up
The points test for 189 visa applicants counts six areas. Your 189 visa points come from these main values, which the government can change. Superior English points are the fastest gain for most applicants.
| Area | Points |
|---|---|
| Age | 30 at 25 to 32, 25 at 33 to 39, and 15 at 40 to 44 |
| English | Competent 0, Proficient 10, Superior 20 |
| Experience | Skilled employment points reach 20 in total, from overseas and Australian work combined |
| Education | 15 for a bachelor degree and 20 for a doctorate |
| Partner | Partner skills points: 10 if you are single or your partner has a positive assessment, and 5 for a partner with Competent English |
| Extras | 5 each for a professional year, a community language, regional study or Australian study |
Skills Assessment Before You Apply
A 189 visa skills assessment proves that your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards. Engineers Australia, ACS, Trades Recognition Australia, AITSL and VETASSESS cover most Kerala applicants. Allow 1 to 4 months, and gather certificates and experience letters first.
Expression of Interest and Invitation Rounds
For this skilled independent visa, you first submit an expression of interest for 189 through SkillSelect, the system run by the Department of Home Affairs. Lodging it costs nothing.
The 189 visa invitation rounds are held regularly and rank applicants by points, then by the date they reached that score. Tracking 189 invitation score trends for your occupation shows how realistic your target is. The chances of getting a 189 invitation depend on your occupation, your score and how early you reached it. Each 189 visa invitation gives you 60 days to lodge, and your EOI stays valid for two years.
Step-by-Step Process and Times
The subclass 189 processing time is only one part of the journey. A typical plan for a well-prepared applicant looks like this.
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free assessment, occupation check and points estimate | Week 1 |
| 2 | English test and skills assessment | Months 1 to 3 |
| 3 | EOI lodged | Months 3 to 4 |
| 4 | Wait for an invitation | Months 4 to 9 |
| 5 | Police certificates, medicals and lodgement | 2 to 4 weeks, within the 60-day limit |
| 6 | Visa decision: subclass 189 processing time | 6 to 12 months |
| Total | Longer if an English retest is needed | 8 to 18 months |
What the 189 Visa Costs
Budget early for the Australia subclass 189 visa, because the 189 visa fee is only one of four costs.
| Cost | Detail |
|---|---|
| Government charges | The 189 visa fee for the main applicant was about AUD 4,765 in 2025-26, with extra charges for each family member, and it rises every 1 July |
| Assessments and tests | The skills assessment fee, the English test and any coaching |
| Checks | The medical examination and police certificates |
| Arrival | Flights, first rent and living costs until your first salary |
189 Visa Checklist: Documents You Need
Prepare early, because a 189 visa from Kerala is document-heavy and Home Affairs asks for proof of every claim.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Identity | Your 189 visa documents: passport and identity papers, as clear scans |
| Education | Degree certificates and transcripts |
| Work | Experience letters, payslips and tax records |
| Language and assessment | English test report and skills assessment outcome |
| Family | Marriage and birth certificates |
| Police clearance | 189 visa police clearance from each country where you lived for 12 months or more; allow 2 to 4 weeks for the Indian certificate |
| Medicals | 189 visa medical examination with an approved panel doctor; results usually upload within 1 to 2 weeks |
Including Your Family
The skilled independent visa lets you include family in 189 visa applications: your spouse or partner and dependent children. Each person needs health and character checks and pays a separate charge.
What You Get After the Grant
The main 189 visa benefits are lasting ones.
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Freedom | Live, work and study anywhere in Australia, so your work and study rights carry no state or employer conditions |
| Health | Medicare access follows for permanent residents |
| Family | You may sponsor eligible relatives |
| Travel | The initial travel facility lasts five years |
| Citizenship | Citizenship after 189 visa grant usually becomes possible after four years of lawful residence, including one year as a permanent resident |
India does not allow dual citizenship, but an OCI card keeps your right to live and work in India.
Common 189 Visa Mistakes
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Claiming points you cannot prove | Match every claim to a document |
| Assessing the wrong occupation | Check the occupation list before you pay |
| Booking police certificates late | Apply when you lodge your EOI |
| Missing the 60-day deadline | Keep every document ready before the invitation |
| Weak experience letters | Include duties, dates and working hours |
Example: How a Typical Plan Is Made
This is an illustrative example, not a client record.
- Profile: a 29-year-old IT professional from Kochi with six years of experience, a bachelor degree and PTE 79 in each skill
- 189 visa points: 30 for age, 20 for Superior English, 15 for education and 10 for experience, which makes 75
- Months 1 to 2: ACS assessment
- Month 3: EOI lodged
- Result: a clear 12 to 15 month plan and an invitation as the target
Why Choose Mount Bell for the Australia Subclass 189 Visa
Your first step is a free 189 visa assessment, where an adviser checks your 189 visa eligibility against the current rules. Mount Bell then prepares your Australia subclass 189 visa file step by step.
Honest route guidance
An honest comparison of routes, with no reason to push one.Registered verification
A licence you can verify, and offices in Thrissur and Kochi that serve every 189 visa from Kerala.Specialised visa teams
Separate teams for nurses, PR and work visas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Australia subclass 189 visa?
189 visa eligibility needs an occupation on the list, a positive assessment, Competent English, age under 45 and at least 65 points. You also need an invitation.
How many points do I need?
The minimum is 65, but your real target depends on your occupation. We compare your 189 visa points with recent invitation scores before you pay for tests.
Can I apply without a job offer?
Yes. A 189 visa without sponsor needs no employer and no state nomination. It needs enough points, an assessed occupation and an invitation.
How long does the Australia subclass 189 visa take?
The subclass 189 processing time is about 6 to 12 months after lodgement. Most well-prepared applicants need 8 to 18 months from first assessment to decision.
Can I include my family?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included after their own checks.
Can I apply for the 189 visa from Kerala?
Yes. Applicants complete the assessment, tests, medicals and police certificates in Kerala, then lodge their 189 visa application online through a registered migration agent.
Speak to an Adviser
Talk to a Mount Bell adviser about the Australia subclass 189 visa. The first assessment is free.
- Call: +91 9207014777
- Thrissur landline: +91 487 2221317
- Email: edu@mountbell.com
- Book a free assessment →
Thrissur Office (HQ)
Fair Trade Center, TUDA Road, Ashwini Jn, Thrissur, Kerala 680022
Kochi Office
Mathewsons Centre Point, 5th Floor, Metro Pillar No. 485, Palarivattom P O, Mamangalam, Edappally Road, Kochi, Kerala 682025
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