Skilled Migration Pathway Consultation
Compare Subclasses 189, 190 and 491, or plan your pathway from a 491 visa to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 all in a 30-minute consultation with a registered migration agent.
Recent Visa Grants
A selection of skilled visa grants and invitations from matters we have prepared.
Published with the client's permission, with personal details removed. Every case is decided on its own facts. Past grants are not an indication of what may happen in your case, and no migration agent can guarantee a visa outcome. All decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs.
Permanent Program Planning Levels by Financial Year
| 2024/25 Planning level | 2025/26 Planning level | 2026/27 Planning level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migration Program | ||||
| Commonwealth Program | Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| Talent and Innovation1 | 5,300 | 5,300 | 3,5002 | |
| Employer Program | Employer-Sponsored | 44,000 | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| State and Territory Program | Regional | 33,000 | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 33,000 | 35,500 | |
| Total Skilled Migration Program | 132,200 | 132,200 | 132,240 | |
| Australian Family Program | ||||
| Partner & Child3 | Partner | 40,500 | 40,500 | 41,500 |
| Child | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,500 | |
| Parent & Other Family | Parent | 8,500 | 8,500 | 7,060 |
| Other Family | 500 | 500 | 400 | |
| Total Australian Family Program | 52,500 | 52,500 | 52,460 | |
| Special Eligibility | 300 | 300 | 300 | |
| Total Permanent Program | 185,000 | 185,000 | 185,000 | |
- The Talent and Innovation category includes the National Innovation Visa, as well as the Global Talent, Distinguished Talent and Business Innovation and Investment visas, which are closed to new applications. The 2025/26 planning level has been adjusted to reflect this.
- The Talent and Innovation planning level includes 20 places for the Business Innovation and Investment visas.
- Delivery of the Partner and Child visa categories is demand driven, with indicative planning levels only. These two rows are not caps in the way the skilled categories are.
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Permanent Migration Program planning levels. The 2026/27 program was announced on 12 May 2026 and is set at 185,000 places. Planning levels are set by the Australian Government and can change. Check the Department's page for the current figures.
Which Skilled Visa is Right for You?
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): A permanent visa for skilled workers who do not need employer or state sponsorship.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): A five year provisional visa for skilled professionals willing to live and work in regional Australia. It can be nominated by an Australian state or territory, or by an eligible relative, and it carries a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191.
Not sure which visa suits your situation? We will assess your eligibility and explain what may apply to you.
The Challenges of Applying for a Skilled Visa
Applying for a skilled migration visa is complex. Many applicants face difficulty due to:
- Unclear eligibility requirements
- Not meeting the points test
- Errors in the Expression of Interest (EOI) application
- Insufficient skills assessment documents
- Changing immigration laws and policies
Small mistakes can lead to delays or refusal, which is why the detail matters.
How We Support Your Skilled Visa Application
At Nationwide Migration and Education, we take the complexity out of the Skilled Migration Visa process so you can put forward the strongest application your circumstances allow.
- Eligibility Assessment: We assess your qualifications, skills and experience, and explain which visa options may be open to you.
- Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission: We prepare and submit your EOI so your claims are recorded correctly and every point you claim is properly evidenced. Invitations to apply are issued by the Department, not by us.
- Skills Assessment Assistance: We guide you through the skills assessment process with the relevant Australian assessing authority.
- State Nomination Applications: Where nomination is required, we prepare your state or territory nomination application. Nomination decisions are made by the relevant state or territory.
- Full Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement: We handle your paperwork, documentation and application submission from start to finish.
Careful preparation is what we control. We make sure your application is thorough, accurate and addresses the requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs. The decision itself is always the Department's.
How It Works
Book a Consultation
Speak with a Registered Migration Agent to assess your eligibility and discuss your visa options.
Application Strategy and Documentation
We prepare your EOI, skills assessment and supporting documents so nothing is missing when you lodge.
Visa Lodgement and Ongoing Support
We submit your visa application, manage follow-ups and keep you updated throughout the Department's assessment.
Why Nationwide Migration and Education?
Registered Migration AgentYour matter is handled by Suman Dua, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1800859, registered with OMARA and bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
Thorough PreparationEvery application is prepared, evidenced and checked against the criteria before it is lodged.
End-to-End ServiceFrom eligibility checks to lodgement and follow-up, we guide you at every step.
Up-to-Date Migration AdviceSkilled migration settings change often. We check your position against the current rules, not last year's.
Written Agreement Before We ActYou receive a written services agreement setting out the work and our fees before we start, as the Code of Conduct requires.
Honest, No GuaranteesWe will tell you plainly if a pathway is not realistic for you. No migration agent can guarantee a visa outcome, and all decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You need a minimum of 65 points to meet the points test for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491, based on age, work experience, education, English and other factors. The Department is clear that reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Invitations are issued to the highest ranking candidates, so the score actually needed can sit well above the minimum and it varies by occupation and by program year.
Your occupation must be assessed by the relevant Australian skills assessing authority. We guide you through the process.
Processing times vary by subclass and by individual circumstances, and they change over time. The Department of Home Affairs publishes current global visa processing times, and we will point you to the figure for your subclass at your consultation. No agent can influence or speed up how long the Department takes.
It depends on the subclass. The Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 are permanent visas. The Subclass 491 is a five year provisional visa, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 once you have held the 491 for at least three years and met its requirements. We map the permanent pathway with you from the start.
We help you explore alternative options, such as improving your English test scores, gaining extra work experience, or applying for state nomination.
No. No migration agent or consultant can guarantee a visa outcome, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being straight with you. All decisions are made solely by the Department of Home Affairs. What we can do is prepare your application carefully and make sure your claims are properly evidenced before it is lodged. MARN 1800859.
This page is general information, not personal migration advice, and it does not take your circumstances into account. Immigration assistance is provided by Suman Dua, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1800859, registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. Nationwide Migration and Education is not affiliated with the Australian Government and does not issue visas. All visa decisions, planning levels and processing times are set by the Department of Home Affairs and may change without notice.
Talk to a Brisbane Registered Migration Agent
Nationwide Migration and Education is a migration practice. Immigration assistance is provided by a registered migration agent. Suman Dua, MARN 1800859. This page is general information only and does not constitute personal migration advice. We do not guarantee visa outcomes; all decisions, queue positions and processing times are set by the Department of Home Affairs and may change.
Code of Conduct
Consumer Guide
Whether you are sponsoring talent or seeking sponsorship, our Registered Migration Agent, Suman Dua (MARN 1800859), manages the full process and maps the permanent residency options that may apply to you.
Contact
Phone: +61 7 37265183
Email: [email protected]
Address: 320 Adelaide St Brisbane QLD 4000
Nationwide Migration and Education
(by Appointment-only)
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