Australia PR from India 2026 - Points, Skills & 189 Guide

Australia is the second-most popular PR destination for Indians after Canada. Indians make up the single largest source of new permanent migrants - over 900,000 Indians now call Australia home. The fundamentals are strong:

• The 189 Skilled Independent visa is direct PR with no employer needed
• Salaries are high: median IT salary in Sydney is A$110-130K (~₹62-73L)
• Universal healthcare via Medicare from day one of PR
• Citizenship after 4 years (including 12 months as PR)
• Strong Indian community in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane
• No language barrier - English is the working language everywhere
• Weather and lifestyle attract Indians fleeing UK/Canada winters

Compare side-by-side with Canada in our Canada PR from India guide, or start with how to move to Australia in 2026.

Three visas dominate Indian Australian migration. Pick based on whether you have an employer and where you want to live.

The 189 is the gold standard - direct PR with no employer dependency. But points are competitive. Most Indian software engineers need 80+ to be invited in current rounds.

Australia's points test is simpler than Canada's CRS, but tougher to game. Here's how points stack up:

Four sample Indian profiles after the points test:

Use the Australia points calculator to estimate yours.

Before lodging an Expression of Interest, your profession must be 'skills assessed' by a designated authority. The body depends on your job:

• ACS (Australian Computer Society) - all IT roles (software, networks, data, cyber)
• Engineers Australia - civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics engineering
• VETASSESS - managers, accountants, marketers, scientists, allied health
• AHPRA - nurses, doctors, allied health practitioners
• CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA - accountants
• TRA - trades occupations (electrician, plumber, carpenter)

Costs: ACS A$530 (~₹28K); Engineers Australia A$640-1,300; VETASSESS A$1,030; AHPRA A$640. Processing: 4-8 weeks for ACS; up to 16 weeks for VETASSESS. Always check the latest assessment authority list on the Department of Home Affairs website.

English is worth up to 20 points. Indian applicants overwhelmingly choose PTE Academic over IELTS - and you should too in most cases.

PTE is computer-marked, predictable, and rewards clear pronunciation over native accent. Most Indian engineers report a 0.5-1.0 band uplift switching from IELTS to PTE. Fee: A$410 (~₹22K). Centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and 30+ smaller cities.

Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) for 189, or the STSOL/ROL for other visas. Common Indian occupations:

The lists update periodically. Always check the current MLTSSL on the Department of Home Affairs site before paying for a skills assessment.

Australia is the most expensive PR application of the major destinations - the family fees add up. Budget for it. Compare with cheaper routes in the cost of immigration 2026 report.

If you're on H-1B in the US, Australia is a viable Plan B alongside Canada. Your US experience counts fully - every year of skilled employment overseas (US included) earns up to 15 points.

• US Master's degree counts the same as an Australian Master's for points
• Your spouse's US work experience also counts if applying as partner skill
• You can apply from the US while on H-1B; you don't need to quit
• Australian PR doesn't affect your H-1B, AOS, or US priority date
• 189 PR grants right of entry - you don't have to move immediately

See the parallel Canada PR option, and use the Australia points calculator to compare scores.

1. Skipping PTE and sitting IELTS - most Indians score 1 band higher on PTE
2. Paying for a skills assessment before checking your occupation is on the MLTSSL
3. Not accounting for ACS experience deduction (B.Tech CS = lose 2 years; BCA = lose 4-6)
4. Lodging EOI at 65 points and waiting forever - competitive scores are 80-90+
5. Including family in EOI without budgeting an extra A$2,385 per adult

1. Month 1: Confirm your ANZSCO occupation is on the MLTSSL; identify the right skills body
2. Months 1-2: Sit PTE Academic, target 79+ each section (Superior English = 20 points)
3. Months 1-3: Order skills assessment with all employment evidence (offer letters, salary slips, reference letters with detailed JDs)
4. Month 3: Calculate final points; submit Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
5. Months 3-6: Wait for invitation (189) or apply to states (190) - NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania all run Indian-friendly streams
6. On invitation: Submit full 189/190 application within 60 days with police clearance, medicals, and form 80
7. Months 9-15: Receive grant letter; plan first entry within validity (usually 6 months from grant)

Return to the India visa guide hub or compare Canada PR in parallel.