1. Overview
Know these facts cold before the first client conversation - they are also what the exam below tests. Permanent residence on grant. You commit to living and working in the nominating state (typically ~2 years).
Visa typePermanent
LodgementOnshore or offshore
StayPermanent
Work rightsUnlimited - full PR work rights
Study rightsYes
Government charge~$4,910 (main applicant)
Processing time~5-9 months
2. Process flow
The handling sequence for a 190 file, from first consultation to decision. Each step assumes the one before it is genuinely finished - not "mostly done".
- Screen hard before promising anything
Occupation on the relevant list, realistic points including the +5 nomination points, under 45 at invitation, viable skills assessment route.
- Skills assessment
Lodge with the relevant assessing authority - the longest lead-time item.
- Secure the nomination
State or territory nomination: check each state's occupation list, work-experience and residence preconditions - they change quickly and close without notice.
- EOI, invitation, lodgement
Claim only evidencable points in SkillSelect; on invitation, lodge within 60 days with the full evidence pack.
- Health, character, decision
Medicals and police certificates promptly; respond to natural-justice letters inside the deadline.
- Grant briefing
Brief on the commitment: living and working in the nominating state (typically ~2 years).
5. Cost checklist
Quote the full stack, in writing, before the client signs. Surprise costs are the fastest way to lose a client's trust (and earn a complaint).
| Item | Indicative amount |
|---|
| Base visa application charge (2025-26, indicative) | ~$4,910 (main applicant) |
| Skills assessment (authority-dependent) | ~$500-1,600 |
| English test | ~$400-460 |
| Health examinations (per person) | ~$300-500 |
| Police certificates (AFP ~$42 each; foreign vary) | ~$42-150 each |
| Additional applicant charges | Roughly 50% (18+) / 25% (under 18) of the base charge |
| Your professional fee | Per your agency's schedule - quote in writing before Form 956 |
| Rule of thumb | Government charges usually change every 1 July - re-quote any file that lodges after 30 June |
7. Case studies - eligible cases
Illustrative composites showing what a grantable 190 file looks like in practice.
Grant: Anya from Sri Lanka
- Background
- Anya, an external auditor from Sri Lanka. Skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory - nomination adds 5 points.
- Why it qualified
- (1) State or territory nomination (occupation on their list). (2) Submit an EOI and receive an invitation. (3) Suitable skills assessment.
- What made the file strong
- Dates, names and figures matched across every document - no internal inconsistencies to trigger checks.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~5-9 months).
Grant: Farid from India
- Background
- Farid, an electrician from India. Skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory - nomination adds 5 points.
- Why it qualified
- (1) State or territory nomination (occupation on their list). (2) Submit an EOI and receive an invitation. (3) Suitable skills assessment.
- What made the file strong
- Every claim was evidenced before lodgement - nothing was left 'to follow'.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~5-9 months).
8. Case studies - refusal cases
The same visa, handled badly. Every one of these failure modes is screenable at the first consultation.
Refusal: Sofia from Colombia
- Background
- Sofia, a secondary school teacher from Colombia, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 190.
- What went wrong
- State occupation lists and requirements change quickly and close without notice
- Outcome
- The refusal went to review: another year, more cost, and no certainty the outcome changes.
- Lesson for the agent
- Apply the decision-ready test: if you cannot evidence the claim today, the application is not ready to lodge.
Refusal: Sipho from Iran
- Background
- Sipho, a software engineer from Iran, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 190.
- What went wrong
- Not meeting a state's work-experience or residence preconditions
- Outcome
- The application was refused, and the refusal must now be declared on every future application, for any country.
- Lesson for the agent
- Front-load the file - address the weakness squarely in a submission instead of hoping the case officer will not notice.
9. Self-exam
10 questions drawn from this manual. Pass mark 80%. Answers are graded on the server and your result is recorded against your agent profile - retakes are unlimited and your best score is kept. Log in to the agent portal first so your result is saved to My trainings.