Can I apply for both 189 and 190 at the same time?

Yes — your SkillSelect EOI can target multiple visa subclasses simultaneously. Most candidates lodge for both 189 and 190 (and often 491) to maximise their chance of any invitation. The invitation you receive first is the one you act on.

Is the 2-year state commitment under 190 enforceable?

It's a moral obligation rather than a strict visa condition — there's no condition 8539 attached to 190 like there is to 491. However, breaking it can damage your character assessment under PIC 4020 if you later apply for citizenship or another visa, and some states share data with DOHA.

Which has faster processing — 189 or 190?

Median processing for both is similar (12–18 months for 75% of applications). The 190 has an added 2–4 month state nomination step before lodgement, but post-invitation timelines are comparable.

Do I lose the 5 nomination points if I move states later?

No — once your 190 is granted, the 5 points are baked in. They were used to issue the invitation; they don't 'unwind' if you relocate. But moving early can affect future visa applications (e.g. partner sponsorship character checks).

Can I switch from 190 to 189 after grant?

There's no need to — both are permanent residency. You hold the same residence and work rights either way. The only practical difference is the state association on your visa record, which has no operational effect on your daily rights.

What happens to my 190 if my nominating state withdraws?

If withdrawal happens before grant, your invitation lapses. After grant, the visa remains valid — states cannot revoke a granted permanent visa. Withdrawal pre-grant typically only occurs if fraud is detected.

Does 190 require a job offer?

Generally no — most states nominate based on occupation list, points, English and commitment to settle. However, NSW, WA and ACT increasingly require evidence of employability (CV, contract, or 6+ months of relevant Australian experience) for competitive occupations.

189 vs 190 Visa: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026) | CMG

Visa Comparison

Both lead to permanent residency, but only one requires state nomination — and one demands materially higher points. Here's how to choose.

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Plain-English Advice

Quick Verdict

Subclass 189 is the cleaner pathway — no state ties, work anywhere in Australia, but invitation scores have climbed to 90+ points for most occupations. Subclass 190 trades a 2-year obligation to live in your nominating state for an extra 5 points and access to occupations not available on the 189 list — often the only realistic route at 75–85 points.

Side-by-Side

Specifications Compared

Key differences are highlighted in red. All fees in AUD; processing times reflect Department of Home Affairs published medians.

CompareSpecification	Option ASubclass 189 — Skilled Independent	Option BSubclass 190 — Skilled Nominated
Visa Type	Permanent Residency (from grant)	Permanent Residency (from grant)
SponsorshipKey diff	None — fully independent	State or territory nomination required
Minimum EOI PointsKey diff	65 points (rarely invited at this score)	65 points + 5 nomination bonus = 70
Typical Invitation ScoreKey diff	90–105 points (occupation-dependent)	75–90 points (state criteria-dependent)
Occupation ListKey diff	MLTSSL only (Medium & Long-Term Strategic Skills List)	MLTSSL + STSOL (state-specific lists)
Government Fee (primary)	AUD $4,770	AUD $4,770 + nominating state fee ($200–$300)
Processing Time (75%)	12–24 months from invitation	12–18 months from invitation
Work RightsKey diff	Unrestricted — work anywhere	Moral commitment to nominating state for 2 yrs
Geographic RestrictionsKey diff	None	Live & work in nominating state initially
Family Inclusion	Partner, dependent children, eligible relatives	Partner, dependent children, eligible relatives
Path to Citizenship	4 years from PR + 1 year continuous residence	4 years from PR + 1 year continuous residence
Travel Facility	5 years from grant, renewable via RRV	5 years from grant, renewable via RRV

Visa Type

Subclass 189

Permanent Residency (from grant)

Subclass 190

Permanent Residency (from grant)

SponsorshipKey diff

Subclass 189

None — fully independent

Subclass 190

State or territory nomination required

Minimum EOI PointsKey diff

Subclass 189

65 points (rarely invited at this score)

Subclass 190

65 points + 5 nomination bonus = 70

Typical Invitation ScoreKey diff

Subclass 189

90–105 points (occupation-dependent)

Subclass 190

75–90 points (state criteria-dependent)

Occupation ListKey diff

Subclass 189

MLTSSL only (Medium & Long-Term Strategic Skills List)

Subclass 190

MLTSSL + STSOL (state-specific lists)

Government Fee (primary)

Subclass 189

AUD $4,770

Subclass 190

AUD $4,770 + nominating state fee ($200–$300)

Processing Time (75%)

Subclass 189

12–24 months from invitation

Subclass 190

12–18 months from invitation

Work RightsKey diff

Subclass 189

Unrestricted — work anywhere

Subclass 190

Moral commitment to nominating state for 2 yrs

Geographic RestrictionsKey diff

Subclass 189

None

Subclass 190

Live & work in nominating state initially

Family Inclusion

Subclass 189

Partner, dependent children, eligible relatives

Subclass 190

Partner, dependent children, eligible relatives

Path to Citizenship

Subclass 189

4 years from PR + 1 year continuous residence

Subclass 190

4 years from PR + 1 year continuous residence

Travel Facility

Subclass 189

5 years from grant, renewable via RRV

Subclass 190

5 years from grant, renewable via RRV

Decision Framework

Which One Fits You?

189

Choose 189 if…

You score 90+ points and your occupation is on the MLTSSL.
You want complete freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia.
Your occupation is in high demand nationally (engineers, IT, medical).
You don't want to be tied to a single state for 2 years.
You can wait through occupation-ceiling rounds (some occupations cap quickly).

190

Choose 190 if…

You score 75–89 points and need the +5 nomination bonus to compete.
Your occupation is on a state's nomination list but not the MLTSSL.
You have a genuine connection to a state (family, study, work offer).
You're comfortable committing to live and work in one state for 2 years.
Your occupation is over-subscribed under 189 (accounting, business analyst).

Real Scenarios

Three People, Three Choices

Composite profiles drawn from CMG client cases. Names changed, circumstances preserved.

Priya — Senior Software Engineer

Age 30 · 7 yrs ICT experience · IELTS 8.0 · 95 points

Priya works for a global tech firm in Bangalore and wants to move to Sydney. She holds Superior English, a positive ACS skills assessment for ANZSCO 261313 (Software Engineer), and 8 years of overseas experience.

Best fit

Subclass 189

At 95 points with a high-demand MLTSSL occupation, Priya will be invited in the next 189 round. No state commitment means she can take the highest offer from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

Maria — Registered Nurse

Age 34 · ANMAC-assessed RN · IELTS 7.5 · 80 points

Maria has 6 years of nursing experience in the Philippines and a positive ANMAC assessment. At 80 points her 189 prospects are weak — invitations for ANZSCO 254418 routinely require 85+.

Best fit

Subclass 190

Queensland and Victoria both nominate Registered Nurses under 190. The +5 bonus lifts Maria to 85, and Queensland Health actively recruits internationally. She commits to QLD for 2 years and gets PR on grant.

James — External Auditor

Age 32 · CPA · IELTS 7.0 · 75 points

James is an accountant looking at Australia. Accounting (ANZSCO 221111) is severely over-subscribed under 189 — invitation scores have hit 100+ — but multiple states still nominate it under 190 with conditions.

Best fit

Subclass 190

James pivots to a 491-then-191 pathway or pursues 190 in NSW with proof of 12 months work experience in a regional area. The state route is realistically his only PR option at this score.

Traps to Avoid

Common Mistakes When Choosing

The pitfalls we see week after week — costly, avoidable, often invisible until grant is delayed or refused.

Assuming 190 is 'easier' — every state has its own checklist (committed work offers, regional residence, English thresholds). Some are stricter than 189.

Lodging a 190 EOI without checking the state's nomination list — your occupation may be available federally but not in any state.

Treating the 2-year moral commitment as legally binding — it isn't enforceable in court, but breaking it can trigger PIC 4020 issues for future visas.

Submitting parallel EOIs for both 189 and 190 with different occupations — DOHA flags inconsistency and may invite under the weaker claim.

Forgetting that state nomination is awarded separately from invitation — you must accept the nomination within 14 days or it lapses.

Counting Australian study points twice (under both Australian Study Requirement and Regional Study) — only one applies.

FAQ

Subclass 189 vs Subclass 190 — Frequently Asked Questions

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Subclass189vs190—WhichSkilledVisaWins?

The30-secondanswer

Specifications Compared

Which One Fits You?

Choose 189 if…

Choose 190 if…

Three People, Three Choices

Priya — Senior Software Engineer

Maria — Registered Nurse

James — External Auditor

Common Mistakes When Choosing

Subclass 189 vs Subclass 190 — Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for both 189 and 190 at the same time?

Is the 2-year state commitment under 190 enforceable?

Which has faster processing — 189 or 190?

Do I lose the 5 nomination points if I move states later?

Can I switch from 190 to 189 after grant?

What happens to my 190 if my nominating state withdraws?

Does 190 require a job offer?

Still unsure between Subclass 189 and Subclass 190?