Australia PR from Pakistan: Subclass 189/190 and 491(Pathway) Visa Requirements (2025)

Australia’s Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), State-Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) offer Pakistani professionals opportunities for permanent residency. The Subclass 189 allows skilled workers to live anywhere without needing state nomination, while the Subclass 190 requires nomination from an Australian state or territory, with NSW, Western Australia and Victoria being popular choices. The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa designed for regional areas, providing a pathway to permanent residency through Subclass 191 after meeting residency and work requirements.

Eligibility for these visas requires scoring at least 65 points, with additional points available through NAATI CCL or PTE 79+ scores. In-demand occupations in 2024 include Professional Engineers, Engineering Technicians, Architects, Architectural Draftsperson, Social worker, nurses, Medical Technicians, Primary & Secondary School Teachers accountants, and IT specialists. Candidates with superior English proficiency (IELTS 8.0) and over five years of work experience have higher success rates. Early SkillSelect submissions (July-October) improve chances of securing invitations before annual quotas are met.

Applicants must complete a skills assessment through relevant authorities such as ACS for IT or CPA for accountants, alongside police clearances and medical checks. Misrepresentation of work experience is a common mistake that leads to refusals. ANZECOM’s document review process catches errors to ensure a smooth application. Last year, Australia granted 79,600 permanent residency visas, making skilled migration a promising pathway. ANZECOM’s Priority List offers insights into state-specific opportunities, while their free points calculator helps applicants determine eligibility.