Skilled 189 vs 190: Which Pathway Wins?

Subclass 189 is a permanent visa granted directly by the federal government based on your points score and occupation, with no state or employer involvement. Subclass 190 is also permanent, but requires state or territory nomination, which adds 5 points to your total and comes with a two-year residence and work commitment in the nominating state.

Recent invitation rounds for 189 have cleared at 90+ points for most occupations, with some at 95 or higher. State nominations for 190 typically clear at 85 points including the 5-point nomination bonus. If you sit at 80 to 85 points, a well-matched state nomination is often faster than waiting for a 189 round to move on your occupation.

The 190 pathway is not just about extra points. Each state publishes its own occupation lists, salary thresholds and residence expectations. New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT all have distinct programmes. Some states prefer applicants already onshore in their region. Sky Consultants maps your profile against each open state programme before you spend the application fee.

You can hold parallel EOIs for both 189 and 190. If you accept a 190 nomination, your 190 EOI must be lodged within 14 days and, once granted, you are committed to the nominating state for two years. Withdrawing after grant can complicate future applications. Choose deliberately.