Australia 189 Visa from India 2026 — Points Test & Complete Guide

Indian nationals consistently rank as the top recipients of Australia’s Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa. In 2024-25, India accounted for over 25% of all 189 grants. This points-tested, employer-independent pathway offers permanent residency from day one — no sponsorship, no regional obligations. However, increased demand means points thresholds have climbed, and a strategic approach to maximising your score is essential.

How the Points Test Works

The Subclass 189 visa uses a points-based system where you need a minimum of 65 points across several factors: age, English language proficiency, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications, and bonus categories. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, and the Department of Home Affairs invites the highest-scoring candidates in regular invitation rounds.

Points are awarded as follows: age 25-32 earns the maximum 30 points (tapering to 0 at 45+); a bachelor’s degree earns 15 points while a doctorate earns 20; superior English (PTE 79+ or IELTS 8+) earns 20 points; and 8+ years of skilled experience outside Australia earns 15 points. Additional points come from partner skills, Australian study, regional study, community language credentials, professional year, and state nomination (for the 190 variant).

A master’s degree adds no extra points over a bachelor’s (both score 15), but a doctorate adds 20. The biggest point-boosters for Indian applicants are: (1) achieving superior English (PTE 79+ is often easier than IELTS 8+ for Indian test-takers), (2) completing a NAATI community language credential for 5 bonus points, and (3) gaining Australian study or work experience if possible.

Skills Assessment — The First Step

Before you can lodge an EOI, your occupation must appear on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and you must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority. For Indian applicants, the most common bodies are:

ACS (Australian Computer Society) — assesses ICT occupations including software engineers, web developers, database administrators, and systems analysts. Processing takes 6-8 weeks. ACS typically deducts 2-4 years from your experience for skills assessment purposes (the “ACS deduction”), meaning you need more raw experience than other occupations. Fee: approximately AUD 550.

Engineers Australia — assesses engineering occupations via the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway for overseas-qualified engineers. You submit three career episodes and a summary statement. Processing takes 8-12 weeks. Fee: approximately AUD 690.

ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) — assesses registered nurses and midwives. Requires verification of nursing qualifications, English proficiency, and clinical hours. Processing takes 8-12 weeks. Fee: approximately AUD 600.

CPA Australia / CA ANZ — assesses accountants. Indian commerce graduates typically need to complete bridging subjects to meet Australian accounting standards. Processing takes 8-10 weeks. Fee: approximately AUD 570.

Skilled Occupation List (SOL) — Key Occupations for Indians

The MLTSSL determines which occupations are eligible for the 189 visa. Occupations with strong invitation patterns for Indian applicants in 2025-26 include:

Pro-rata occupations (accountants, ICT professionals, electronics engineers, and mechanical engineers) have annual invitation ceilings, causing longer wait times and higher score requirements. Non-pro-rata occupations like nursing and civil engineering tend to clear faster at lower scores.

Processing Times and Timeline

Skills assessment: 6-12 weeks depending on the assessing authority. Start this as early as possible, alongside English test preparation.

EOI and invitation: After submitting your EOI through SkillSelect, waiting times depend on your points and occupation. High scorers (90+) in non-pro-rata occupations may be invited within 1-2 months. For pro-rata occupations at 80-85 points, expect 6-12+ months.

Visa application: Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge a complete application. The Department of Home Affairs then processes the visa, which takes approximately 6-9 months for straightforward cases in 2026. This includes health examinations at a panel physician in India (available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and other cities) and police clearance certificates.

Total timeline: From first preparation to visa grant, most Indian applicants should budget 12-24 months. Complex cases with additional verification or pro-rata occupation backlogs can take longer.

Costs of the 189 Visa from India

Additional applicants increase costs significantly: AUD 2,320 per adult dependent and AUD 1,160 per child. For a couple with one child, total government fees alone exceed AUD 8,100. For a detailed breakdown of all relocation expenses, see our Cost of Moving from India to Australia 2026 guide.