AUGeneral Skilled Migration
Australia's program is built around the GSM points test — age, English, skilled work experience and education. Three subclasses lead skilled professionals to PR: 189, 190 and 491. We identify which one your profile actually supports.
Three visa subclasses
Each subclass carries different obligations, points and geography. The right answer depends on your occupation, your score and where you're willing to commit.
A points-tested visa granting Permanent Residency without sponsorship from an employer, state or territory. Requires an occupation on the relevant list and an invitation via EOI.
A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. Nomination adds points and may be tied to state-specific occupation lists.
A provisional visa requiring you to live and work in a designated regional area. After meeting income and residency requirements, you become eligible for PR via Subclass 191.
Search your 6-digit ANZSCO occupation to verify which Australian assessing authority assesses you, whether your occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL, and which visa subclasses (189, 190, 491) you qualify to apply for.
| ANZSCO | Occupation Title | Assessing Authority | List | Eligible Visas | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 261313 | Software Engineer IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 261312 | Developer Programmer IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 261111 | ICT Business Analyst IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 261112 | Systems Analyst IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 263111 | Computer Network and Systems Engineer IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 262112 | ICT Security Specialist IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 261311 | Analyst Programmer IT & Tech | ACS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 261212 | Web Developer IT & Tech | ACS | STSOL | Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233211 | Civil Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233512 | Mechanical Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233311 | Electrical Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233611 | Mining Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233914 | Engineering Technologist Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233411 | Electronics Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233111 | Chemical Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233513 | Production or Plant Engineer Engineering | Engineers Australia | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 254418 | Registered Nurse (Medical) Healthcare | ANMAC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 254424 | Registered Nurse (Surgical) Healthcare | ANMAC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 254415 | Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) Healthcare | ANMAC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 254411 | Nurse Practitioner Healthcare | ANMAC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 252511 | Physiotherapist Healthcare | APC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 252411 | Occupational Therapist Healthcare | OTC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 251211 | Medical Diagnostic Radiographer Healthcare | ASMIRT | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 251214 | Sonographer Healthcare | ASMIRT | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 234611 | Medical Laboratory Scientist Healthcare | AIMS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 272311 | Clinical Psychologist Healthcare | APS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 253111 | General Practitioner Healthcare | MBA / AMC | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 272511 | Social Worker Healthcare | AASW | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 252712 | Speech Pathologist Healthcare | SPA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 221111 | Accountant (General) Accounting & Finance | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 221112 | Management Accountant Accounting & Finance | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 221113 | Taxation Accountant Accounting & Finance | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 221213 | External Auditor Accounting & Finance | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 132211 | Finance Manager Accounting & Finance | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | STSOL | Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 241111 | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher Teaching & Education | ACECQA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 241411 | Secondary School Teacher Teaching & Education | AITSL | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 241511 | Special Needs Teacher Teaching & Education | AITSL | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 134111 | Child Care Centre Manager Teaching & Education | ACECQA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 232111 | Architect Construction & Trades | AACA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 233213 | Quantity Surveyor Construction & Trades | AIQS | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 341111 | Electrician (General) Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 351311 | Chef Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 351411 | Cook Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 321211 | Motor Mechanic (General) Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 331212 | Carpenter Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 334111 | Plumber (General) Construction & Trades | TRA | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
| 232212 | Surveyor Construction & Trades | Geospatial Council / SSSI | MLTSSL | Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491 | Assess Profile |
Eligibility requirements
The points test is non-capped (no maximum limit of 100). Higher scores directly elevate ranking in SkillSelect rounds.
Home Affairs points schedule
Points allocation under General Skilled Migration (Schedule 6D of Migration Regulations 1994). Verified against official Home Affairs criteria.
Points are determined based on your exact age on the day Home Affairs issues your invitation to apply (ITA). Applicants aged 45 and over are ineligible for GSM.
Evidence from an approved test (IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1) completed within 3 years prior to invitation.
Paid employment in your nominated skilled occupation or closely related skilled occupation outside Australia, post-qualification.
Paid employment in Australia on a substantive visa with work rights in your nominated occupation or closely related skilled occupation.
Highest recognized qualification verified through skills assessment or comparable to Australian standards.
Master's degree by research or Doctorate from an Australian educational institution including at least 2 academic years in designated science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields.
Completion of 1 or more degrees, diplomas, or trade qualifications requiring at least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of study in Australia registered on CRICOS.
Lived and studied in designated regional Australia while meeting the Australian study requirement without distance learning.
Accredited at the paraprofessional level or higher, or holds a Credentialled Community Language (CCL) certification from NAATI.
Completed an approved Professional Year program in Australia in Accounting, ICT, or Engineering for at least 12 months in the 48 months before invitation.
Points awarded based on your marital status and your spouse or de facto partner's skills and English proficiency.
Additional points granted automatically upon receiving official state/territory nomination or eligible regional family sponsorship.
Realistic scoring models
See how different professional profiles accumulate points across age, English, skilled experience, and state nomination.
At 85 points for 189 and 90 points for NSW 190, the candidate sits in the upper quartile of IT applicants and has prime competitiveness for both federal invitation rounds and NSW priority tech streams.
Healthcare occupations benefit from dedicated invitation targets and lower points cutoffs in state programs. With a 70-point profile and ANMAC outcome, Victoria and WA healthcare pathways offer rapid invitation velocity.
The 15 points from Subclass 491 nomination elevates the candidate from 70 to 85 points, unlocking fast-track regional pathways in South Australia or Regional Queensland with a direct pathway to permanent residence via Subclass 191.
Australia Skills Assessment
Your nominated ANZSCO occupation decides which body assesses you. Choosing the right authority — and evidencing your duties against its criteria — is the difference between a clean outcome and a costly re-lodgement.
Designated Australian assessing authorities covered by our advisory practice — from ICT and engineering to nursing, teaching, health and skilled trades.
Not sure which assessing authority applies to your occupation?
Send us your qualifications and role history — we map your ANZSCO occupation to the correct assessing body before you spend a rupee on lodgement.
Australia PR — step by step
We match your qualifications and work history to an ANZSCO code and confirm which skilled occupation list it sits on.
Documentation prepared and lodged with the designated assessing authority — ACS, Engineers Australia, ANMAC, VETASSESS and others.
Target the PTE or IELTS band that shifts your total, then layer partner skills, study and nomination points.
SkillSelect Expression of Interest submitted and maintained, with state and regional nomination applications where they strengthen your case.
On invitation, full documentation, health, character and coordination through to the Permanent Residency grant.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.
Why apply now
Australia's 2026–27 permanent migration program allocates 132,240 places to the Skill stream (out of 185,000 total places), with 21,090 places for Subclass 189, 35,500 for Subclass 190, and 14,110 for Subclass 491.
State and territory nomination programs (Subclass 190 and 491) actively select candidates in healthcare, construction, digital tech, engineering, and education.
Invited candidates gain priority visa processing under Ministerial Direction 122 (effective 19 September 2026, revoking Direction 105), prioritizing Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Resources, and onshore applicants.
Securing your skills assessment and English test in advance positions your EOI ahead of upcoming state invitation rounds [Last updated: 2026-10].
Free points snapshot
Answer five questions for an indicative GSM points total, then share the result or download it as a snapshot to bring to your assessment call. It's a frame for your strategy — your real assessment is free and far more precise.
Indicative only. Not an eligibility determination — all final decisions rest with the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the relevant assessing authority.
At or above the 65-point entry threshold — eligible to submit an EOI. Competitive rounds often require more.
Get my precise free assessmentClient outcomes
“MovesEdu structured my ACS skills assessment and points optimization meticulously. Their advice to target Superior English pushed my score to 85 points, securing an invitation in the next invitation round.”
“As an overseas registered nurse, navigating AHPRA registration followed by the ANMAC modified skills assessment and Victorian nomination was made straightforward by MovesEdu. Their step-by-step guidance led directly to my 190 PR grant.”
“They were transparent from day one that my points were best matched for regional Australia. We targeted the Subclass 491 pathway in South Australia, and the grant arrived right on schedule.”
Outcomes described are illustrative of past casework. Individual results depend entirely on profile, occupation demand and decisions made by immigration authorities.
8 Jurisdictions · Subclass 190 & 491
Australian states and territories run autonomous nomination programs with individual priority lists, quotas, and invitation rounds. Securing nomination awards an instant +5 points (190) or +15 points (491).
Health, Education, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Infrastructure, Agriculture
Health, Social Services, Early Childhood & Secondary Teaching, Advanced Manufacturing, New Energy & Digital Tech
Healthcare, Engineering, Construction & Building, Tourism & Hospitality, Agribusiness
Building & Construction, Healthcare & Social Assistance, Hospitality & Tourism, Education & Early Childhood
Health & Medical, Trades & Construction, Early Childhood, Defense & Space, IT & Cyber
Health, Allied Health, Building & Construction, Education, Community Services
ACT Critical Skills List (IT, Cyber, Public Administration, Health, Teaching, Engineering)
NT Offshore Priority List (Civil engineering, Hospitality, Health, Early Childhood, Mechanical)
We evaluate your ANZSCO code against all 8 state shortage schedules simultaneously to identify your fastest nomination route.
SkillSelect mechanics
Understanding the statutory architecture of SkillSelect prevents costly application misunderstandings.
The Department of Home Affairs periodically runs invitation rounds for Subclass 189 and Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored). Candidates are ranked purely by points score and EOI submission timestamp (date of effect).
For Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 (State Nominated), state governments access SkillSelect or their own Registration of Interest (ROI) portals. States choose candidates based on local shortages rather than raw points alone.
Candidates who fall short of GSM points cutoffs can leverage employer-sponsored pathways: Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand), Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme - Direct PR), or the National Innovation visa (Subclass 858).
Frequently asked
Straight answers on points, subclasses, assessments and English requirements.
The statutory minimum to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is 65 points. However, actual invitation thresholds depend on supply and demand: priority healthcare and teaching occupations often receive invitations near 65–75 points, while competitive ICT, accounting, and engineering occupations frequently require 85–95+ points for Subclass 189. State nomination (190 and 491) opens lower threshold opportunities.
Subclass 189 is an independent permanent residency visa granting immediate right to live anywhere in Australia without nomination. Subclass 190 is a permanent residency visa sponsored by a specific state or territory government (+5 points), requiring a 2-year moral commitment to live in that state. Subclass 491 is a 5-year provisional regional visa (+15 points) requiring you to live and work in designated regional Australia (anywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) before converting to permanent residency via Subclass 191.
Lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is completely free of charge. Once submitted, your EOI remains active for up to two years. If you do not receive an invitation within 24 months, the EOI expires, but you can submit an updated EOI at any time.
Yes. Unlike most temporary visa categories, holders of the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa are eligible to enroll in Medicare from the date of visa grant or arrival in Australia, under Australian Department of Health provisions.
To obtain the permanent Subclass 191 visa, you must hold your Subclass 491 for at least 3 years and comply with Condition 8579 (living and working in regional Australia). Crucially, the Australian Government officially removed the previous minimum taxable income threshold ($53,900); you simply need to have lodged Notices of Assessment (NOA) with the ATO for 3 income years.
You can claim: 10 points if you are single or your spouse is an Australian Citizen/PR; 10 points if your spouse has Competent English and a positive skills assessment in an occupation on the same skilled occupation list; or 5 points if your spouse has Competent English only (IELTS 6.0 or PTE: L47, R48, W51, S54).
No. You must demonstrate at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band or PTE: Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54) at the time you are invited to apply. Achieving Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 / PTE: L58, R59, W69, S76) adds 10 points, while Superior English (IELTS 8.0 / PTE: L69, R70, W85, S88) adds 20 points. Note: PTE tests taken before 7 August 2025 remain valid under the previous 50/65/79 standard.
No. General Skilled Migration visas (189, 190, 491) are merit-tested points visas and do not require an existing Australian job offer. Certain state streams prioritize candidates currently employed locally, but offshore candidates without job offers are regularly nominated across priority sectors.
Free eligibility assessment
We'll assess your occupation against current ANZSCO codes and skilled occupation lists — and identify your strongest subclass and assessing body.