189 vs 190 vs 491 Visa: Key Differences, Costs and Processing Times
Updated: Oct 8
Updated: 8 October 2026
The main difference between the 189 and 190 visa is nomination.
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) needs no nomination. Home Affairs invites you based on your points ranking.
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) needs a state or territory government to nominate you first. Nomination adds 5 points.
Both are permanent visas. You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is different. It is a 5-year provisional visa for living and working in regional Australia. It adds 15 points and can lead to permanent residence after 3 years.
All three visas use the same points test, with a minimum of 65 points.
189 vs 190 vs 491 at a glance
Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 | |
Visa type | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional, 5 years |
Nomination or sponsorship | Not required | State or territory nomination | State or territory nomination, or an eligible relative's sponsorship |
Nomination points | 0 | 5 | 15 |
Who invites you | Home Affairs, in SkillSelect invitation rounds | Home Affairs, after a state nominates you | Home Affairs, after a state nominates you or a relative sponsors you |
Where you live | Anywhere in Australia | Anywhere, but the state asks you to commit to living there | A designated regional area |
Visa cost (main applicant) | From AUD 6,135 | From AUD 6,140 | From AUD 6,140 |
Processing (50% / 90%) | 61 days / 8 months | 4 months / 16 months | 5 months / 18 months |
Path to PR | PR on grant | PR on grant | Subclass 191 after 3 years |
Processing times come from the Home Affairs processing times guide, checked on 8 October 2026. The 189 figure is for the Points-tested stream. The 491 figure is for the State/Territory Government Nominated Regional stream.
Compare current timeframes for every visa with our visa processing times tool.
Estimate your own charges with our visa fee calculator.
What is the difference between the 189 and 190 visa?
The 189 and 190 visas share the same points test, age limit, English requirement and skills assessment requirement. They differ in five ways.
1. Nomination
189: no nomination or sponsor. You compete on your points score alone.
190: a state or territory government must nominate you before Home Affairs invites you.
Each state sets its own nomination criteria. See our state nomination guide for 190 and 491.
2. Points
189: no extra points.
190: 5 points for nomination, as long as the state does not withdraw it.
If your score is just short of a competitive 189 invitation, the 5 nomination points can make a difference.
3. Who decides your invitation
189: Home Affairs runs invitation rounds and ranks EOIs by points score. It publishes a tie-break date for each round.
190: the state chooses whom to nominate, based on its own occupation needs. Home Affairs then invites you.
4. Where you live
189: you can live and work anywhere in Australia.
190: Home Affairs does not list a 190 visa condition that limits where you live. Each state asks you to commit to living there when it nominates you. Commitment terms differ by state.
5. Cost and processing
189: from AUD 6,135. 50% processed in 61 days, 90% in 8 months.
190: from AUD 6,140. 50% processed in 4 months, 90% in 16 months.
The 189 currently moves faster after lodgement. But you can only lodge after you receive an invitation, and 189 invitations depend on rounds Home Affairs runs.
For the 190 in detail, read our 190 visa guide. For the 189, read our 189 visa guide.
How is the 491 visa different?
The 491 is the only one of the three that is not permanent.
Provisional, 5 years. You can stay in Australia for 5 years.
Regional only. You and your family members on the visa must live, work and study in a designated regional area.
15 points. You get 15 points for state nomination or for sponsorship by an eligible relative.
Two ways in. A state or territory nominates you, or an eligible relative sponsors you.
PR after 3 years. You can apply for permanent residence after holding the 491 for 3 years. The usual pathway is the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).
Which areas count as regional?
Most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is a designated regional area for migration purposes.
That includes these cities and major regional centres:
Perth
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Canberra
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Wollongong and Illawarra
Geelong
Hobart
Home Affairs publishes the full postcode list on the same page. Check your postcode there before you accept a 491 nomination.
Study in a designated regional area can also earn 5 extra points under the 189, 190 and 491 points test, if the qualification meets the Australian study requirement.
If you already hold a 491
You cannot switch to a 189 or 190 straight away. Home Affairs requires you to have held your 491 (or 494) for at least 3 years when you apply for a 189 or 190.
For a closer look at the two state-nominated visas, read 190 visa vs 491 visa.
What do the 189, 190 and 491 have in common?
All three visas require you to:
be under 45 when you are invited to apply
have at least Competent English at the time of invitation
have a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation
have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for that visa
submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and receive an invitation
score at least 65 points
meet health and character requirements
If you turn 45 after you are invited, you can still apply. If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before you are invited, you will not be invited.
If you apply in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.
Each visa has its own eligible occupation list, so check your occupation against the list for the visa you want. You can search by occupation in our skilled occupation list.
How do the points compare across the 189, 190 and 491?
All three visas use the same points for age, English, skilled employment, education and partner status. The only difference is nomination:
Example: the same applicant under each visa
Take an applicant with this profile at the time of invitation:
Age 30: 30 points
Proficient English: 10 points
Bachelor degree: 15 points
3 years of overseas skilled employment: 5 points
Single: 10 points
Their base score is 70 points. Under each visa, that becomes:
189: 70 points
190: 75 points (70 + 5)
491: 85 points (70 + 15)
Points values come from the Home Affairs points tables for the 189, 190 and 491. You must provide evidence for every point you claim.
Check your own score with our PR points calculator.
Is 65 points enough?
65 is the minimum to be invited. It does not guarantee an invitation.
For the 189, the lowest score invited depends on your occupation. In the 4 June 2026 round, for example:
Bricklayer, Carpenter and Plumber (General): 65
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) and Secondary School Teacher: 75
Architect: 85
Actuary: 90
Biotechnologist: 95
For the 190 and 491, each state sets its own selection criteria. Your score is one factor, alongside your occupation and the state's needs.
How do invitations work for each visa?
Subclass 189
Home Affairs runs SkillSelect invitation rounds and invites the highest-ranked EOIs for each occupation.
In the 4 June 2026 round, Home Affairs invited 10,000 EOIs for the 189, with a tie-break date of 24 April 2026.
The same page shows no 189 invitations issued in the 2026–27 program year as at 8 October 2026.
Subclass 190 and 491 (state nominated)
States and territories decide whom to nominate. Each one sets its own occupation list and criteria.
Subclass 491 (family sponsored)
Home Affairs issues these invitations through SkillSelect rounds, like the 189.
Track the latest results on our SkillSelect invitation rounds page.
Which is faster: 189, 190 or 491?
Your total wait has two parts:
Before you can lodge. You wait in the EOI pool for an invitation and, for the 190 and 491, for a state to nominate you. This time is not part of the Home Affairs processing times.
After you lodge. Home Affairs processes your visa application. The processing times guide covers this stage only.
A fast processing time does not mean a fast pathway. For example, the 189 is processed quickly after lodgement, but no 189 invitations have been issued in the 2026–27 program year so far.
After lodgement, the 189 is currently the fastest of the three:
189 (Points-tested): 50% in 61 days, 90% in 8 months
190: 50% in 4 months, 90% in 16 months
491 (State/Territory Nominated): 50% in 5 months, 90% in 18 months
All three are processed in the priority order set by Ministerial Direction No. 122.
Your priority group affects your wait more than the subclass does. Home Affairs is currently processing applications lodged up to:
Priority group | 189 | 190 |
Priority sectors (construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence) | June 2026 | March 2026 |
Primary applicant in Australia at lodgement | June 2026 | January 2026 |
Primary applicant outside Australia, single applicant | November 2025 | February 2025 |
All other applicants outside Australia | November 2025 | February 2025 |
These dates come from the Home Affairs 189 and 190 visa pages, checked on 8 October 2026. Home Affairs notes they may fluctuate while it moves applications into the new order.
For the full breakdown, read our 190 visa processing time guide. To check the latest 189, 190 and 491 timeframes side by side, use our visa processing times tool.
Which visa should you choose?
The right visa depends on your occupation, your score and where you are willing to live.
The 189 may suit you if:
your occupation is eligible for the 189
your score is high enough to compete in invitation rounds
you want to live anywhere in Australia without a state commitment
The 190 may suit you if:
a state lists your occupation and you meet its criteria
you need the 5 nomination points to become competitive
you are willing to commit to living in the nominating state
The 491 may suit you if:
your score is too low for a 189 or 190 invitation, and the 15 points would help
your occupation is on a state's regional list or the relevant 491 list
you are willing to live, work and study in a designated regional area for at least 3 years
Many applicants meet the criteria for more than one visa. A registered migration agent can help you compare your options before you submit your EOI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the 189 and 190 visa?
The 189 needs no nomination, while the 190 needs a state or territory government to nominate you. Nomination adds 5 points to your score. Both are permanent visas.
Which is better, 189 or 190?
Neither is better for everyone. The 189 lets you live anywhere in Australia without a state commitment, but invitations depend on your points ranking. The 190 adds 5 points and suits applicants whose occupation a state wants.
Is the 491 visa permanent?
No. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa. You can apply for permanent residence after holding it for 3 years, usually through the Subclass 191 visa.
How many points do I need for a 189, 190 or 491 visa?
You need at least 65 points to be invited for any of the three. Invitations often go to higher scores, depending on your occupation and, for the 190 and 491, on state demand.
Can a 491 visa holder apply for a 190 or 189 visa?
Yes, but you must have held the 491 for at least 3 years when you apply. The same rule applies to 494 visa holders.
Which cities count as regional for the 491 visa?
Most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane counts as a designated regional area. This includes Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart.
Do I have to live in the nominating state on a 190 visa?
Home Affairs does not list a 190 visa condition that limits where you live. Each state asks you to commit to living there when it nominates you, so check your state's commitment terms before you accept.
Which skilled visa is processed fastest?
After lodgement, the 189 is currently the fastest: 50% in 61 days and 90% in 8 months, compared with 16 months for the 190 and 18 months for the 491 at the 90% mark.
Sources
Department of Home Affairs, Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Points-tested stream, checked 8 October 2026
Department of Home Affairs, Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), last updated 2 October 2026
Department of Home Affairs, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), checked 8 October 2026
Department of Home Affairs, points tables for subclass 189, subclass 190 and subclass 491
Department of Home Affairs, Designated regional areas, checked 8 October 2026
Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect invitation rounds, checked 8 October 2026
Department of Home Affairs, Global visa processing times, checked 8 October 2026
Start Planning Your Skilled Migration Pathway
Choosing between the 189 190 or 491 visa Australia pathways can feel complex, especially because state nomination rules and invitation rounds change regularly.
A professional eligibility assessment can help you understand:
Your migration points score
The best visa pathway for your occupation
Your chances of receiving an invitation
Book a migration consultation with the RACC team
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