Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Australia · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 22 June 2026

Permanent visa for invited skilled workers, no sponsor and no state nomination needed. Lets you live and work anywhere in Australia. The most competitive route: you need 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect, but in practice recent invitation rounds sit at roughly 85-95+ points. Occupation must be on the MLTSSL.

Rules last verified: 22 June 2026 · by Elizabeth O

At a glance

Embassy processing

Varies by round and occupation

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£2,489

≈ ₦4,552,381

Why applications get refused

Not invited (points too low)

Score below the round cut-off despite meeting 65.

Fix: Maximise points (English, experience, study, partner, NAATI) before lodging the EOI.

Occupation not on MLTSSL

Nominated occupation not valid for 189.

Fix: Confirm the occupation is on the MLTSSL; otherwise consider 190/491.

Negative skills assessment

Assessing authority did not confirm skills.

Fix: Meet the assessing authority's exact qualification/experience criteria.

Points claim not evidenced

Claimed points (e.g. experience) not provable.

Fix: Hold documentary proof for every point claimed.

Document checklist

Required

Valid passport

When: "all"

Positive skills assessment

When: "all"

English test results

When: "all"

Evidence of skilled employment (for work-experience points)

When: "claiming work points"

Qualification certificates & transcripts

When: "all"

Health examinations & police certificates

When: "all"

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

Varies by round and occupation

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

Visa application charge (main applicant)

£2,489

4,552,381

Skills assessment (assessing authority)

£0

0

English test (IELTS/PTE)

£0

0

Total government fees

2,489

≈ ₦4,552,381

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1829 NGN · 2026-08-03. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

Know your real chances for this route

Free, in about a minute. Your eligibility, gaps, and the all-in cost estimate. No signup to see the score.

Check your chances free →

The assessment pre-selects Australia and the work route for you. You can adjust before you run it.

Common questions about the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Sourced answers to the most-searched questions about this corridor are being verified and will appear here. Start the free assessment or ask the desk directly.

Real outcomes

100% approved

Based on 12 reported outcomes across all Rekoja cases. This is a look back at past cases, not a prediction. The embassy decides; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Prepare for the interview

Many work routes include an interview or credibility check. Done-for-you Premium includes a live interview-preparation session with a specialist: the questions officers actually ask on this route, practised with you before the real thing.

Preparation improves your readiness, not the decision. Practice, never a guarantee.

Related routes

Your crossing, done right.

Know exactly where you stand. Free, in about a minute. No signup to see your score.

Check your chances free →

Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.