Five dollars separates the government charge for a 189 from a 190 or 491. The 189 costs $6,135 and the other two cost $6,140. If price were the difference, nobody would need a guide. In practice, the three visas share one points test and one SkillSelect queue, then diverge sharply on who selects you and what you owe afterwards. Those two things decide the next five years of your life in Australia.
Short answer: All three visas use the same 65-point pass mark and the same expression of interest. The 189 is permanent with no nominator, and the 190 is permanent with a state nomination worth 5 points. The 491 is a five-year regional visa with a nomination worth 15 points.
This guide sets out what stays the same across the three, then works through the differences line by line.
What stays the same
Every points-tested visa starts in the same place. You need an occupation on the relevant list, a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for that occupation, and at least competent English. You must be under 45 when the invitation is issued. You lodge an expression of interest in SkillSelect, wait for an invitation, and then have a short fixed window to lodge the application.
The points test is also shared. Age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study and partner factors add up the same way regardless of subclass. Consequently, a person with 70 points has 70 points for the 189, 75 for the 190 and 85 for the 491 once nominated. That arithmetic is where the differences begin.
The three visas, one at a time
The Skilled Independent visa is permanent on grant and asks nothing of you afterwards. No state selects you and no employer sponsors you. Because of that freedom, it is the most competitive of the three. Invitations go to the highest ranked candidates in each occupation, and the score needed changes from round to round.
The Skilled Nominated visa is also permanent on grant. The difference is a state or territory nomination, which adds 5 points and places you in that state’s own selection process. In return, states expect you to live and work there for a period after grant. The commitment is a condition of nomination rather than a visa condition, but it is taken seriously.
The Skilled Work Regional visa is provisional, valid for five years. Nomination by a state, or sponsorship by an eligible relative in a regional area, adds 15 points. Visa conditions require you to live, work and study in designated regional areas. After three years, and subject to an income requirement, the permanent 191 visa opens.
The differences, line by line
| Line | 189 | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status on grant | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional, five years |
| Who selects you | Home Affairs only | State, then Home Affairs | State or relative, then Home Affairs |
| Extra points | None | 5 | 15 |
| Where you may live | Anywhere | Nominating state, by commitment | Designated regional areas, by condition |
| Route to permanent residence | Immediate | Immediate | 191 after three years |
| Main applicant charge | $6,135 | $6,140 | $6,140 |
| Occupation list | National list | State list within the national list | State list, often broader |
Two lines deserve a closer look. The location line is different in kind, not just degree. A 190 holder who leaves the state early breaches a commitment to that state. A 491 holder who moves to a capital city breaches a visa condition, which can affect the 191. The occupation line matters too, because 491 lists are frequently wider than 190 lists in the same state.
What a points-tested application looks like in time
- Month 0Skills assessment lodged with the assessing authority for your occupation.
- On assessmentEnglish test booked if points are needed beyond competent English.
- EOIExpression of interest lodged in SkillSelect covering the 189, 190 and 491 as applicable.
- State stageRegistration of interest with one or more states for the 190 or 491.
- InvitationSixty days to lodge the visa application with full evidence.
- DecisionGrant, then either freedom of movement, a state commitment or regional conditions.
Processing times vary and the Department publishes them monthly. We do not invent them here.
Costs for the whole family
For the 189, the main applicant pays $6,135, adults $3,070 and children $1,540. Family members are included in the same application and must meet health and character requirements. The fees and process page explains how professional fees sit alongside these charges.
Which deal suits which applicant
If your score is well above recent invitation levels for your occupation, pursue the 189 and keep a 190 option alive. If your score is respectable but not outstanding, a state that wants your occupation turns a maybe into a likely. If location is negotiable, the 491’s 15 points and broader lists often produce the earliest invitation. However, that visa is a five-year regional commitment, so choose it with eyes open.
Can one expression of interest cover all three visas?
Yes. A single expression of interest can nominate the 189, 190 and 491, and you may register with more than one state. Once a state nominates you for one visa, SkillSelect issues an invitation for that visa. Accepting it does not cancel your other options until you lodge.
Are invitation cut-offs published?
Home Affairs publishes results after each round, including the lowest score invited by occupation. Those figures describe the past. The next round can set a different bar, and rounds are not held on a fixed schedule. Check SkillSelect for the current position rather than relying on an earlier year.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 190 and 491 use different points tests from the 189?
No. All three share the same points test and the same 65-point pass mark. The 190 and 491 simply add nomination points on top, which changes where you rank in the queue.
Can I live outside the nominating state on a 190?
The 190 has no visa condition tying you to the state. However, nomination is granted on your commitment to live and work there for a period, and states record breaches. Leaving early needs a genuine reason and, ideally, a conversation with the state first.
What counts as a designated regional area for the 491?
Everywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The Department publishes the postcode list. Regional centres such as Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Canberra are included, which surprises many applicants.
Is the 491 harder to convert to permanent residence than people say?
The 191 requires three years holding the 491 and compliance with its conditions. It also requires taxable income at or above a set threshold for three of those years. Applicants who plan for the income requirement from the start rarely have difficulty. Those who discover it in year three sometimes do.
Can I include a partner who has their own skills?
Yes, and a partner with a skills assessment and competent English can add points. Alternatively, a partner with competent English alone adds a smaller amount. The partner’s evidence must be in place when the invitation is issued, not gathered afterwards.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at 2 September 2026. It is not legal advice. Invitation settings, state lists and figures change through the year, so obtain advice on your own profile before acting.