Visa Comparison

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

MARA Registered
Free 30-min Consultation
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.

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

MARA-Registered · Plain English

Still unsure between Subclass 189 and Subclass 190?

One 30-minute consultation can save months of planning down the wrong pathway. Our MARA-registered agents will assess your points, occupation list status and state nomination prospects — for free.

WhatsAppCall
Book Free Consultation