You have an occupation in mind — or maybe just a course — and you want to know which PR pathway is actually available to you. Not in theory. Right now, on the current lists.
The honest answer is: it depends on your occupation, your points score, and where in Australia you are willing to live and work. Three doors exist. They are not equally wide, and they do not open for the same people.
Door One: The Federal Points Test (Subclass 189)
The subclass 189 is the most talked-about pathway. It is also the most selective.
It is points-tested and invitation-only. You lodge an Expression of Interest, the Department invites the highest-scoring candidates in each occupation round, and you apply. No employer needed. No state government needed. Just your points.
Of the 940 occupations tracked in our system, 212 appear on the federal pathway. That is fewer than one in four occupations. If yours is not on that list, this door is not open — regardless of your score.
If your occupation is on the list, your score still has to clear the cutoff for your specific occupation and round. Cutoffs have ranged from 65 to 115 points across recorded rounds. They move. The figure that applied last month may not apply next round. Treat any specific cutoff as a live check, not a fixed number.
Points are awarded by category. Age is one of the larger levers: if you are at least 25 but under 33 years old, you receive 30 points. If you are at least 18 but under 25, or at least 33 but under 40, you receive 25 points. English, qualifications, skilled employment, study in Australia, a Professional Year, NAATI credentialled community-language ability, and a skilled partner all add points — the amounts are set by the Department.
The 189 suits people with a high-demand occupation, a strong points score, and flexibility about where they settle. If that is not your situation, the next two doors may be more realistic.
Door Two: State and Territory Nomination (Subclass 190 and 491)
State nomination adds a second decision-maker: a state or territory government. They nominate you; you then apply for the visa. The subclass 190 leads to permanent residence directly. The subclass 491 is a provisional visa — it can be a step toward permanent residence, but it carries regional living and working conditions.
Of the 940 occupations tracked, 276 have at least one state pathway. That is a wider list than the federal 189, but it is still not universal.
Here is where it gets complicated: each state and territory runs its own occupation list, its own requirements, and its own invitation schedule. An occupation open in one state may be closed in another. Requirements — English scores, work experience, local ties — differ by jurisdiction. When lists differ this much, the only safe move is to check each state's current list directly, not to rely on a summary.
State nomination also adds points to your score — the amount is set by the Department. That can matter if you are close to a cutoff.
The 491 adds a further layer: you must live and work in a designated regional area. For some people that is a genuine option. For others it is not. Be honest with yourself about this before you invest time in an application.
Door Three: DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreements)
This is the door most people do not know exists.
DAMA regions are areas where local governments or industry bodies have negotiated special migration agreements with the federal government. These agreements can cover occupations and skill levels that do not appear on the standard skilled lists — including trade and vocational occupations.
Of the 940 occupations tracked, 715 have at least one DAMA pathway. That is the widest net of the three doors by a significant margin. 33 occupation-region entries across the DAMA network are qualification-only.
DAMA pathways are employer-sponsored. You need an employer in the relevant region who is a party to the agreement and willing to nominate you. That is a real requirement, not a formality. But for trade and vocational workers — especially those in regional Queensland, the Northern Territory, or other areas with genuine labour shortages — this is often the most realistic path to permanent residence.
The catch: each DAMA has its own occupation list, its own salary requirements, and its own conditions. What applies in one region does not apply in another. The Department sets these terms per agreement.
How the Three Doors Compare
| Subclass 189 | State (190/491) | DAMA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupations with a pathway | 212 | 276 | 715 |
| Employer required? | No | No | Yes |
| Points test? | Yes | Yes | No (employer-nominated) |
| Regional living required? | No | 491 only | Often yes |
| Lists differ by location? | No | Yes — by state | Yes — by region |
The Question Nobody Asks First
Most people start with "which visa should I apply for?" The better question is: "which occupations linked to my course or trade actually appear on these lists?"
Our system maps 20,087 CRICOS courses to skilled occupations. A course that sounds PR-relevant may link to an occupation that appears on none of the three lists. A course that sounds less impressive may link to an occupation with multiple open doors.
Before you commit to a course — or change the one you are in — check where the occupation it leads to actually sits across the 189, state, and DAMA lists. That check takes minutes and can change the decision entirely.
What to Do With This Information
The lists above tell you which doors are shown open. They do not tell you whether your specific profile — your occupation, your points, your English score, your location — meets the requirements behind each door. Those are two different questions.
For advice on your personal situation, a registered migration agent (MARA) is the right professional — we can point you to one.
What you can do right now, for free, is have your occupation checked against all three pathway lists — 189, state, and DAMA — so you know which doors are actually open before you make any course or location decisions.