Points-tested visa
Skilled Independent
Points-tested. No state nomination and no employer.
Learn more about this visaEMC Australia / Skilled migration
Find a skilled visa from the occupation you actually do.
Search 590 occupations, then look at 189, 190 and 491, state nomination, points and skills assessment. Occupation first. Visa second.
How this works
Occupation first. Visa second.
01
Find the occupation
The occupation has to match the work you actually do — not the job title on a card.
02
See which visas can use it
Independent, state-nominated, regional, or employer-sponsored. Occupation first.
03
Check assessment, points, English
A skills assessment is separate from the visa. Points and English sit on top.
04
Then decide whether to apply
We will say if an EOI, a nomination, or an employer visa is the realistic path.
Popular occupations
Open an occupation page
Each occupation page shows the assessing authority, visa pathways, points factors, and state nomination information we hold.
Browse the full listPoints-tested visas
Independent, nominated, and regional visas
These are the points-tested skilled visas from the occupation tool. An employer-sponsored visa is on the work visas page.
Points-tested visa
Skilled Nominated
Points-tested. A state or territory has to nominate you.
Learn more about this visaPoints-tested visa
Skilled Work Regional
Points-tested regional visa. State nomination or eligible family.
Learn more about this visa| Independent | Nominated | Regional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points-tested | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| State nomination | No | Required | State or eligible family |
| Regional | No | No | Yes |
States and territories
Nomination is a state setting
Whether an occupation is open for 190 or 491 depends on the state, and it changes. Occupation-specific status sits on the occupation page.
Victoria
Relevant skilled visas: 190 / 491. Program rules are checked against the occupation, not this map.
EOI and state nominationPoints
Points are only one part
Age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study, partner points and nomination all sit on the points table. A high score does not fix the wrong occupation.
Points calculator- Age
- English
- Skilled employment
- Qualifications
- Australian study
- Partner factors
- Nomination
- Other
Skills assessment
The assessing body is set by the occupation
Accountants, nurses, trades and ICT occupations are not assessed by the same body. Applying to the wrong one wastes a year.
Skills assessmentIf points-tested visas are not the right path
Employer sponsorship is separate
482, 186 and 494 are employer-sponsored pathways — separate from the points-tested 189 / 190 / 491 visas.
Work and sponsorship