How to Move to Australia Through Skilled Migration in 2026

Australia's skilled migration programme is one of the world's most structured — and most competitive. It operates on a points-based system where your age, education, work experience, and English proficiency are scored against other applicants. The minimum threshold is 65 points, but for most occupations, you need 80–90+ to receive an invitation.

This guide breaks down the visa subclasses, how points actually work, and what most guides skip: the practical reality of what it takes to get invited in 2026.

The Three Main Skilled Visas

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent

The gold standard. This visa gives you permanent residency from day one, with no state sponsorship or employer ties. You can live and work anywhere in Australia. The trade-off is the highest point requirements — competitive occupations routinely require 90+ points for an invitation. The application fee is AUD 4,240 (~USD 2,750) for the primary applicant.

To be eligible, your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). You need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, and you must be under 45 years old.

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated

Same outcome as the 189 (permanent residency) but requires nomination by an Australian state or territory. Each state publishes its own priority occupation list and may have additional requirements like minimum work experience in the nominated occupation or commitment to living in that state for at least two years.

State nomination adds 5 points to your score, which can make the difference between invitation and waiting indefinitely. The application fee is the same as the 189. States like South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory tend to have more accessible nomination criteria than New South Wales or Victoria.

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

This is a 5-year provisional visa that requires you to live and work in a designated regional area. After three years of regional living and meeting income thresholds (currently AUD 53,900/year), you can transition to the subclass 191 for permanent residency. State/territory nomination adds 15 points, and family sponsorship adds 15 points, making this the most accessible entry point for skilled workers who don't have elite point scores.

"Regional" in Australia includes everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane metropolitan areas — so cities like Adelaide, Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, and Canberra all count as regional.

How Points Actually Work

The points test scores you across several categories. Here's where most people's points come from:

Age: 25–32 years old scores the maximum 30 points. Scores decrease to 25 points (33–39), 15 points (40–44), and zero at 45+. Age is the single biggest factor and the one you can't change.

English: A "superior" IELTS score (8+ in each band) gives you 20 points. "Proficient" (7+ each band) gives 10 points. "Competent" (6+ each band) gives zero additional points but is the minimum requirement. The jump from 7 to 8 in IELTS is significant — many candidates take the test multiple times specifically to reach the 20-point "superior" threshold.

Work experience: 8+ years of overseas experience in your nominated occupation gives 15 points. Australian work experience is scored separately and more generously — 3+ years of Australian experience gives 10 points.

Education: A doctorate gives 20 points, a bachelor's 15, and a diploma or trade qualification 10. An Australian qualification adds 5 bonus points.

Skills Assessment: The First Hurdle

Before you can even submit an Expression of Interest, you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority for your occupation. For engineers, that's Engineers Australia. For IT professionals, the Australian Computer Society (ACS). For trades, TRA (Trades Recognition Australia). For accountants, CPA/CA/IPA.

Each authority has its own requirements, processing times, and quirks. The ACS, for example, deducts 2–6 years from your work experience for "skill development" — meaning your 8 years of IT experience might only count as 4 for points purposes. Engineers Australia requires a detailed Competency Demonstration Report. These assessments cost AUD 500–1,500 and take 4–16 weeks.

Processing Times and Costs

Once invited, visa processing takes 6–12 months for most cases. Total costs from start to permanent residency include the skills assessment (AUD 500–1,500), English test (AUD 400), visa application (AUD 4,240 for primary applicant plus AUD 2,120 per additional adult), health checks (AUD 400–600 per person), and police clearances (~AUD 50–100 per country lived in). For a single applicant, budget AUD 6,000–7,000 total. For a family of four, AUD 12,000–15,000.

Who This Actually Works For

Australia's skilled migration system rewards people who are young (25–32), highly educated, have strong English, and work in occupations on the skills lists. If you're an engineer, nurse, IT professional, accountant, or tradesperson under 35 with strong English and 5+ years of experience, your chances are genuinely good — especially through the 491 regional pathway.

If you're over 40, the maths becomes very difficult. If your occupation isn't on the skills lists, the skilled migration pathway simply isn't available regardless of your qualifications.