Many clients ask right at the start: Am I more suitable for 189 or 190? Is 491 a “lower-tier PR”? Should I look for a state first, or submit EOI first?In reality, these three skilled migration visas all follow the same main pathway, with differences only in:

• Who issues the invitation
• The nature of the visa
• The waiting time

I. Key conclusion first: The one common starting point for 189 / 190 / 491

No matter which visa you aim for:

• 189 (Skilled Independent)
• 190 (State Nominated Permanent)
• 491 (State Nominated Regional Temporary)

The first step is always the same: submit an EOI.

What an EOI actually is:

 Declaring your intention to migrate in the system
 Entering a selection pool
 Waiting to be “picked”

Key characteristics of an EOI:

• Valid for 2 years from initial submission
• Scores can be updated unlimited times during validity
• Not a visa
• Not a queue number

And the reality is harsh:

• Some people may never receive an invitation
• Even if you meet the so-called “reference score”, you may still not be selected

Because this is a selection pool, not a sequential queue

II. Three pathways branch out from EOI

After submitting EOI, you may enter one of three different routes.

Scenario 1: 189 Invitation(Federal Government directly selects candidates)

189 invitations are issued by the Australian Federal Government, selecting occupations they consider nationally needed. Some occupations are invited quickly.If you receive a 189 invitation, the next step is to directly lodge the 189 permanent visa.

If at that time you:

• Hold a substantive visa
• Are physically in Australia

The system will grant you an inactive Bridging Visa A, which will automatically activate when your current visa expires, allowing you to lawfully remain in Australia while waiting for the 189 decision.This is a key mechanism that allows many onshore applicants to legally wait for PR.

Scenario 2: 190 Invitation(State governments issue pre-invitations first)

The logic of the 190 visa is different.States first issue pre-invitations from the EOI pool, and each state has clear preference profiles.For example, documents show that Victoria this financial year prefers candidates with:

• Employment in the nominated occupation
• High salary
• Full-points partnerFull-points partner

In other words, it is not score-only, but a combined background assessment.

190Full 190 process:

1. State issues pre-invitation
2.   Applicant submits full documents to the state (assessment ~1–3 months)
3.  State grants formal nomination

Applicant then lodges the 190 permanent visa，If you are onshore with a substantive visa when lodging 190, you will also receive a Bridging Visa A and wait in Australia for the outcome.

Scenario 3: 491 Invitation(State nomination for regional areas)

The 491 pathway is almost identical to 190:

• State pre-invitation
• Submission of state documents (1–3 months)
• Formal nomination
• Lodgement of the 491 visa

The only difference is that 491 is a temporary visa (not PR).After meeting regional residence and work requirements, applicants transition to 191 permanent residence.The overall process is highly similar to 190.

III. Official processing times (very realistic)

Based on the Department of Home Affairs data in your document:

189：

• 50%: ~10 months
• 90%: ~11 months

190：

• 50%: ~17 months
• 90%: ~27 months

491：

• 50%: ~21 months
• 90%: ~28 months

Important Notes

These timeframes start after visa lodgement, and do not include:

• Skills assessment
• English testing
• EOI waiting period
• State nomination stage

In reality, the full timeline is usually 2–3 years at minimum.

IV. Key realities many people overlook

EOI is not a queue — it is a competitive selection pool，Selection is not first-come-first-served，It is driven by policy direction + background matching，For state nomination, points alone are not enough. States assess:

• Occupation shortage level
• Local employment
• Salary
• Partner profile
• Genuine settlement intention

High points with the wrong background can still sink to the bottom.491 is not a “worse version of 190”. It is an independent regional talent pathway, suitable for applicants willing to develop long-term careers in regional Australia.