Migrating to Australia and obtaining permanent residency (PR) is a dream for many Indians. A frequent myth is that you must have a job offer from an Australian employer to even apply. That’s not true — there are paths to Australia PR without a job offer, especially under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. In this blog, we will explore:
How to get Australia PR without a job offer from India
Whether you can apply with just a bachelor’s degree
Latest Australian immigration news relevant to Indian applicants
The difference between Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 visas
Who can sponsor you for Australia PR
By the end, you will have a clearer view of whether you qualify and which path might suit you best.
The primary route for securing PR without needing an employer is via skilled migration under Australia’s GSM program. Under this, you don’t necessarily need a job offer; your skills, occupation, education, English ability, and points score matter most.
The main visa subclasses under GSM that allow applying without a job offer are:
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) — independent, no state or employer sponsorship required.
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa) — you need nomination by a state or territory, but not necessarily an employer.
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa, provisional) — for those willing to live in regional areas; offers a pathway to PR without a job offer.
These visas rely on a points-based system and a valid skills assessment, rather than an employer backing you.
Here’s a typical roadmap:
Check whether your occupation is on the relevant skilled list
Australia maintains occupation lists for migration (e.g. the Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills List, etc.). If your profession is on that list, you can potentially nominate it.
Get a skills assessment
A designated assessing authority must evaluate your qualifications and work experience in your nominated occupation.
Meet English language requirements
Usually via IELTS, PTE, or equivalent tests. You’ll need at least “Competent English,” and higher scores can earn you bonus points.
Calculate your points & ensure you meet the minimum
You must reach the minimum threshold (usually 65 points, though in practice higher for competitive occupations). Points come from age, education, work experience, English, etc.
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect
This is a profile where you indicate your nominated occupation, your points, and which visa subclasses (189, 190, etc.) you’re interested in.
Wait for an invitation to apply (ITA)
If your EOI is competitive and your points/occupation match demand, you may receive an invitation.
Lodge the visa application with supporting documents
Once invited, you have a fixed window (e.g. 60 days) to submit your full visa application with health, character checks, identity, etc.
Await decision / visa grant
After processing, you may be granted PR if all criteria are satisfied.
Maximize your English test score (IELTS 8+, etc.)
Gain additional relevant work experience
Acquire higher education or credential recognition
Select less competitive states or occupations for nomination (for Subclass 190)
Consider applying for regional visas (Subclass 491) which may have lower competition
Keep your EOI profile updated — e.g. awards, publications, further qualifications, language improvements
The bottom line: you can get Australia PR without a job offer, but you must build a strong profile under the GSM scheme.
Yes — a bachelor’s degree is sufficient in many cases, depending on your occupation, point score, and experience.
One of the primary components in the points test is educational qualification. A bachelor’s degree generally fetches a certain number of points.
But that degree must be relevant to your nominated occupation and acceptable to the assessing authority for that occupation.
Also, having only a bachelor’s degree might not always push you above the competitive threshold; work experience, English, and other point factors will matter significantly.
Some occupations may require additional certification, licensing, or further study in Australia or a professional year.
In short: a bachelor’s degree is often sufficient to be eligible, but not always sufficient to win an invitation — the strength of your overall profile matters.
Staying updated with policy changes is crucial. Here are some of the recent developments and news items relevant to Indian applicants:
From 16 September 2024, India officially became a participating country in Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program.Each year, up to 1,000 eligible Indian citizens aged 18–30 can apply via a ballot for a first Work & Holiday visa.This gives an additional route for young Indians to go to Australia, work short-term, and possibly build connections.
Recent sources mention a PR Visa Update 2025, suggesting reforms to make approvals faster and better sponsorship options.However, details are often promotional or speculative, so always verify via official Australian immigration sites.
Australia has been clamping down on fraudulent “ghost colleges” used to exploit student visas with paths to residency.This matters for Indian students intending to transition to PR — make sure your institution is legitimate and documentation is genuine.
In India, cases have emerged of visa agents defrauding clients by promising PR visas and job offers. Always do due diligence, use registered migration agents if needed, and avoid promises that seem too good to be true.
Understanding the difference between these two skilled migration visas is essential to choose the right path. Here’s a breakdown:
| Feature | Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) | Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship / nomination required | No state or territory nomination required. You are independent. | Requires nomination by a state or territory government. |
| Flexibility of location | You can live and work anywhere in Australia. | Initially, you are expected to live and work in the nominating state or territory for a period. |
| Points & competition | Very competitive. You must rely on a strong points score without extra nomination points. | You get extra points (usually +5) for having state nomination, making it easier in some cases to be competitive. |
| State-based advantage | No specific benefit from state. | States may offer incentives or lower thresholds for in-demand occupations in their region. |
| Application process | Submit EOI → wait for invitation → apply | Submit EOI, also apply for state nomination → if nominated, get invitation → apply |
| Suitability | Best for applicants with very strong profiles who don’t want constraints | Good for those whose scores are borderline but whose occupation is in demand in a state, or who are willing to commit to a specific state |
Some in visa forums note that if your points are very high (e.g. 90+), Subclass 189 gives you full flexibility and is preferable. But if your points are lower, Subclass 190 can improve your chances via state nomination. > “If you have high points (90+), Subclass 189 is better … If your points are lower and your occupation is in demand in a specific state, Subclass 190 increases your chances of getting PR.”
Also, remember you can express interest in both 189 and 190 in your EOI — but when invited you’ll choose which visa to apply for.
Though GSM visas like 189 and 190 allow applying without a job offer, some visas do require sponsorship. Here are who might sponsor you, and how sponsorship works:
For Subclass 190, state/territory nomination is the sponsorship mechanism. States invite or nominate skilled people whose skills match their regional priorities. They set their own criteria (e.g. minimum points, required occupations, willingness to live in certain areas).
Some visas outside GSM require employer sponsorship (e.g. Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482). But those are different from the PR (permanent) paths we’re exploring.
For regional visas (Subclass 491), sometimes a family member who lives in a designated regional area may sponsor the applicant.
If you go via Subclass 189, you do not need sponsorship from a state or employer — that’s the key advantage of 189.
Yes, you can get Australia PR without a job offer via the GSM program, by applying under subclass 189, 190, or 491.
A bachelor’s degree is sufficient in many cases, though your overall points profile must be competitive.
The key difference between Subclass 189 and 190 is that 190 requires state nomination (gives extra points) while 189 gives more freedom in location.
Sponsorship (from a state, employer, or family in regional cases) is relevant for 190 and other visas, but not required for 189.
Always stay updated with immigration policy changes, watch out for fraud, and ensure your documentation is legit.
