Australia 189 vs 190 Visa for Indians: Points, Fees and Wait Times

Figures in this comparison are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Visitor, student and work routes are covered on our Australia visa page for Indians.

What is the main difference between the 189 and 190 visas?

Who backs your application. The 189 is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored: you lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and can apply only if invited. The 190 is also permanent, but you must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency after your EOI.

Everything else in the core criteria is close to identical, so the nomination is effectively the extra hurdle for the 190. Our record does not include individual state nomination criteria, so check the nominating agency's own rules before you count on a 190.

How do the 189 and 190 compare side by side?

Processing figures come from the Home Affairs global processing-time guide. They cover all nationalities and recently decided applications, and are not specific to India.

How many points do Indian applicants need?

The published minimum is 65 points for both visas. For the 189, Home Affairs adds that the invitation may require a higher score, so reaching 65 makes you eligible to be invited but does not guarantee an invitation.

Our dataset does not hold the points table itself (age, English, experience and qualification points), and we do not reproduce figures we have not verified. Use the points test on the Home Affairs 189 page to calculate your score, and keep evidence for every point you claim. Three practical checks for Indian applicants:

• Age: you must be under 45 at the time of invitation, not at the time of your EOI.
• English: Competent English is the floor at invitation; plan your test date so the result is valid then.
• Skills assessment: for the 189 it must be obtained within 3 years before the invitation. An expired assessment means a new one.

Why does the 190 take longer, and what does that mean for you?

Home Affairs publishes the times but not the reasons. On its global guide, half of 189 applications were decided in 61 days and 90% in 8 months; for the 190, half took 4 months and 90% took 16 months. Plan job notice periods, school admissions and property decisions in India around the 90% figure, not the 50% one.

For comparison, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) showed 50% in 5 months and 90% in 18 months, and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream showed 50% in 21 months and 90% in 25 months.

What does it cost to include your family?

Home Affairs charges in AUD and publishes no INR amount. Each family member included in the application adds a separate charge:

Skills assessment, English tests, health checks and police certificates are separate costs not included in these charges.

Should you consider the 491 or an employer-sponsored route instead?

If neither invitation arrives, two alternatives appear in the Home Affairs data:

• Subclass 491: a 5-year provisional visa for designated regional Australia, nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible relative. It also needs 65 points and age under 45 at invitation, costs AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, and leads to permanent residence through subclass 191 after holding it for 3 years.
• Employer routes: the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is employer-sponsored temporary work, and the employer may later sponsor you for subclass 186. Indian citizens received 6,220 primary 482 grants from 1 July to 31 December 2025, 18.1% of the total and the largest citizenship group. The 186 Direct Entry stream needs age under 45, at least 3 years of relevant experience and a salary of at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, unless exempt.

What happens after you become a permanent resident?

Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years of living in Australia on a valid visa immediately before applying, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' absence in total in those 4 years and no more than 90 days in the final year. The fee is AUD 285 for applicants aged 18 to 59 who sit the citizenship test.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram helps with the short-trip side of Australian travel: flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visitor visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or visit our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 189 or 190 visa permanent from day one?

Yes. Home Affairs describes both the Skilled Independent (189) and Skilled Nominated (190) visas as permanent visas. The 491 is the provisional one, with a pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191 after 3 years.

Can I apply for a 189 visa without an invitation?

No. You submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and can apply only if invited. You must be under 45 and have at least 65 points at the time of invitation.

Does the 190 visa cost more than the 189?

Slightly. The main applicant charge is AUD 6,140 for the 190 and AUD 6,135 for the 189. Adult family members cost AUD 3,070 on both, while children under 18 cost AUD 1,535 (190) or AUD 1,540 (189).

Are the 189 and 190 processing times specific to Indian applicants?

No. The 61-day, 8-month, 4-month and 16-month figures come from the Home Affairs global processing-time guide, which covers all nationalities and recently decided applications.