Home / Guides / Ways to get Australian PR in 2026: which pathway is easiest right now?
Ways to get Australian PR in 2026: which pathway is easiest right now?
Checked 5 November 2026
For skilled workers there are four main routes: 189 (no sponsor), 190 and 491 (state nomination), and employer sponsorship. Right now the easiest for most people is state nomination in a state that is short of your occupation and has few competing EOIs: we found 793 occupation and state pairs in shortage, 118 of them with a median competing score of 65 or less, for example Speech Pathologist (ACT, 55); Fitter-Welder (VIC, 55); Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (ACT, 60). 189 is easier only for some occupations: in the 15 October 2026 round 44 occupations were invited at 65 points, led by Carpenter, Electrician (General), Solicitor.
| Pathway | Sponsor or job offer | How you get in | Check it here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | No | Ranked by points per occupation; 44 occupations got in at 65 in the last round | Who got in at 65 |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | State nomination (+5 points) | Each state picks occupations it is short of; no published cut-offs | Shortage + low competition by state |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | State or family sponsor (+15 points) | Live and work in regional Australia for 3 years, then PR (191) | Shortage + low competition by state |
| Employer sponsored (482 Skills in Demand, then 186) | A job offer from an approved sponsor | No points test; the job and pay decide | Processing times |
| New Zealand Skilled Migrant (SMC) | A job with an accredited NZ employer | No ranking: 6 points, or 5 years of experience, or a trade route; age up to 55 | NZ residence options |
A quick way to choose
- Work out your points with the calculator. Calculate my points →
- Look up your occupation: if its last 189 cut-off is at or below your score, 189 is realistic. Find my occupation →
- If not, open the opportunities list for your occupation and pick the states where it is in shortage and competing EOIs score lowest; with 491 you also get 15 extra points. Open the opportunities list →
Questions
What is the easiest way to get Australian PR right now?
For most skilled workers it is 190 or 491 state nomination in a state that is short of your occupation and has few competing EOIs (118 such pairs have a median competing score of 65 or less). For some occupations 189 itself is easy: 44 occupations were invited at 65 points in the 15 October 2026 round.
Can I get Australian PR without a job offer?
Yes. 189, 190 and state-nominated 491 do not need an employer; you need a skills assessment, competent English, at least 65 points and an invitation. Employer-sponsored visas and the New Zealand SMC do need a job.
General information, not migration advice. Shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia; EOI data: SkillSelect; cut-offs: Home Affairs.