CWmigration Advisor

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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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 $6,135

Subclass 190

AUD $6,140 + 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 CWmigration Advisor 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

189 or 190

Where the 189 and the 190 actually diverge

Both are permanent on grant, both are points-tested and both start with the same Expression of Interest. The difference is who selects you: the 189 is ranked nationally against everyone in your occupation, while the 190 is selected by a state or territory against its own criteria. That single difference drives everything - the score you need, the evidence you prepare and how long you are likely to wait.

Both permanent

Permanence

Neither is a provisional visa

National or state

Selection

Ranking versus a state program's own process

+5 points

Nomination uplift

The 190 nomination adds five points

None versus a state

Commitment

The 190 carries a commitment to the nominating state

Side by side

The same decision, costed three ways

Running both is often possible. That is worth knowing before you commit to one.

The same decision, costed three ways
CriterionSubclass 189 onlySubclass 190 onlyBoth in parallel
Who selects youThe department, by points rankingA state or territory programEither - whichever comes first
Score neededHigh enough to clear the national cut-offFive points lower, effectivelyWhatever each route requires
What you commit toNo state commitmentA commitment to the nominating stateDepends which invitation you accept
Main riskWaiting years below the cut-offOccupation not listed by any statePreparing two evidence sets

Occupation lists differ between the national list and each state list. Check both before ruling either route out.

Sequence

Deciding, then running it

The decision comes first, but only after eligibility has been tested on both routes.

  1. Test eligibility on both routes

    Week 1You

    Occupation on the relevant list, a valid assessment and an English result.

  2. Calculate both scores

    Week 1You

    Your unaided score, and your score with the five nomination points.

  3. Compare against recent cut-offs

    Week 1You

    Invitation rounds for your occupation, and each state's published behaviour.

  4. Check state lists and criteria

    Week 2You

    Which states list your occupation, and what else they require.

  5. Lodge EOIs for both

    Week 2You

    One SkillSelect account can hold both at the same time.

  6. Respond to whichever arrives

    On invitationDepartment

    A short window to lodge, so the evidence pack must already exist.

The state commitment is only meaningful if you are willing to honour it. Answer that honestly at step four.

Budget

What each route costs

The charges are similar. The difference is what you pay in time.

What each route costs
Cost itemIndicative costWhen it appliesNotes
Visa application chargeAbout AUD 4,900At lodgementPrimary applicant, indicative and indexed annually.
Skills assessmentAUD 500 - 1,300Before EOIOne assessment can support both EOIs.
English testAUD 400 - 500Before claimsHigher bands improve both routes.
State nomination applicationNil to a few hundred dollarsWith nominationMost states do not charge.
Cost of waiting on one routeYears, for some occupationsAvoidableThe real cost of choosing only one pathway.

Indicative only. Confirm the charge schedule current at your lodgement date.

Fit test

Which way to lean

In practice this is decided by your score relative to the cut-off, and by whether a state lists your occupation.

Lean 189 when

  • Your score comfortably clears the cut-offs being invited in your occupation.
  • You do not want, or cannot accept, a commitment to a particular state.
  • Your occupation is not listed by any state program.
  • You already live and work where you intend to stay.
  • You want the simplest evidence set with the fewest extra criteria.

Lean 190 when

  • Your score sits just below the cut-offs being invited.
  • A state lists your occupation and you would genuinely move there.
  • You are onshore and can evidence skilled employment in a state.
  • Your occupation is in demand in a specific state.
  • You want a second route running alongside a 189 EOI.

Failure modes

How this choice goes wrong

The mistakes here are strategic rather than administrative, which is why they cost so much.

Waiting on the 189 alone

High impact

Cut-offs in many occupations sit well above 65, and a 189-only candidate can wait indefinitely.

Fix: Run a 190 EOI in parallel wherever a state lists your occupation.

Accepting a state commitment lightly

High impact

The 190 carries a commitment to the nominating state, and it matters.

Fix: Decide whether you would genuinely settle there before applying.

Assuming the lists match

High impact

The national list and each state list are different, and both change.

Fix: Check the list for each route separately at the time you decide.

Ignoring state-specific criteria

Moderate

Meeting the national threshold does not mean meeting a state's requirements.

Fix: Read each state's published criteria for your occupation.

Treating five points as marginal

Moderate

At competitive cut-offs five points can be the difference between waiting and being invited.

Fix: Recalculate with the uplift and compare against recent rounds.

Changing pathway after investing

Moderate

Switching later can mean a new assessment or new evidence.

Fix: Decide the pathway before commissioning assessments wherever possible.

Evidence

What each route needs behind it

The core is shared. The 190 adds a second layer on top of it.

What each route needs behind it
DocumentWhat it has to establishWhat strips it of weight
Skills assessmentYour occupation and experience are recognisedAn assessment naming an occupation the state does not list
English test resultThe English points you claimAn expired result or a lower band than claimed
Employment evidenceThe skilled employment points claimedReferences that omit duties or conflict with tax records
State criteria evidenceThat you meet the nominating state's requirementsGeneric evidence that does not address the state's criteria
Commitment statementA genuine intention to settle in the stateA statement with no research behind it
Consistent EOIThat both records describe the same personAn EOI that contradicts the nomination application

Straight answers

189 versus 190 questions

Short answers to the questions that decide this comparison.

Which is faster, the 189 or the 190?

It depends on your occupation and score. The 190 adds five points through nomination, which can make it faster where the 189 cut-off sits above your score, provided a state lists your occupation.

Can I apply for both at the same time?

Yes. One SkillSelect account can hold active EOIs for both the 189 and the 190, and running both is usually the stronger position.

Do I have to live in the state that nominates me?

A 190 nomination carries a commitment to that state. It is a real expectation, and you should be willing to honour it before applying.

How many points does the 190 add?

Five. That can be decisive at competitive cut-offs, and it is the main reason applicants run a 190 EOI alongside a 189.

Is the 189 harder to get?

Not harder in criteria - both are permanent and points-tested - but it depends entirely on clearing the national cut-off without the nomination uplift, which many occupations do not.

Can I switch from a 189 EOI to a 190 later?

Yes. Adding a 190 EOI is straightforward where a state lists your occupation. Switching after an assessment may require checking that the assessment suits the new route.

After grant

After the decision

Whichever route you take, the next steps are the same shape.

Keep the other EOI alive

Where eligible, until a visa is granted.

Honour the commitment

For a 190, settle in the nominating state as expected.

Note every deadline

Invitation windows and validity periods, recorded the day they appear.

Keep the evidence pack ready

The invitation window is short and the file should already exist.

Re-check cut-offs

Set a review point rather than waiting passively.

Record the reasoning

Why you chose this route, so a later change is a decision.

Current settings

What moves between the two routes

Both routes are affected by settings that change during the year.

Invitation cut-offs
National cut-offs move each round with supply and demand per occupation.
State lists and criteria
States revise their lists and requirements as places are allocated.
Program volumes
The number of places allocated to each route changes by program year.
Occupation lists
List membership determines whether each route is open at all.
Points settings
Points allocations and English thresholds have been adjusted in past reforms.

Re-check both routes before committing money, not only at the start.

How to use this comparison

What you should expect from us

A comparison is only useful if it ends in a decision you can act on and afford.

Both options costed, not just described

Charges, assessments and the cost of waiting, side by side.

The switching cost named

What it costs to change pathway later, before you commit to one.

Obligations stated plainly

Regional residence and state commitment are conditions, not intentions.

Running both, where possible

Parallel options are usually the strongest position, and we say when they are not.

Figures move with policy and indexation. A registered agent will confirm each one against the current Department schedule before you commit to a pathway or a payment.

Coverage

Searches this page is written to answer

  • 189 vs 190 visa
  • Difference between 189 and 190
  • 189 or 190 which is better
  • Skilled independent vs skilled nominated
  • 190 state nomination points
  • 189 visa cut off points
  • 190 visa requirements
  • 189 visa requirements
  • State nomination vs independent
  • 190 nomination commitment
  • Australia 189 vs 190 points
  • Which is faster 189 or 190

Other visa comparisons

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.

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