On your own skills
189 · IndependentBuild a points-based case. You need an invitation before applying.
Explore independent →YOUR OCCUPATION. YOUR OPTIONS.
Economist
Researches economic activity and financial behaviour and advises governments and organisations on economic policy.
ANZSCO 224311VETASSESS assessment
Despite our best efforts, the information on this page may not be up to date. Please refer to official government sources for the latest migration updates.
New South Wales requirements
Nomination pathway
Check the latest NSW occupation list before relying on this pathway.
Work and residence
Onshore: work in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 paid hours a week, or currently live in NSW and have lived there continuously for at least six months. Offshore: six months continuously overseas.
Conditions to check
Onshore: work in NSW in your nominated occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week, or currently live in NSW and have lived there continuously for at least six months.
Offshore: live offshore and have lived there continuously for at least six months.
Tourist-visa time does not count towards NSW residence. Moving between NSW and offshore resets the residence period.
NSW also requires a matching valid skills assessment, the relevant federal visa occupation coverage and the NSW unit-group requirement. Other visa and nomination criteria still apply.
Use the official NSW guidance while the list check is pending.
Read NSW nomination criteria ↗Victoria requirements
Nomination pathway
For 190, submit an Expression of Interest and a Victorian Registration of Interest. Victoria must select your ROI before you apply.
Work and residence
You generally need to live in Victoria if you are in Australia. An offshore route also exists. A job is not a general 190 requirement.
Conditions to check
Onshore applicants generally need to live in Victoria. Border-community exceptions are considered case by case. Offshore applicants must commit to living in Victoria if granted.
A job is not a general 190 requirement. To claim Victorian earnings, you must live in Victoria and work in skilled employment for an employer physically in Victoria; a virtual or proxy office does not qualify. A border residence exception does not itself permit an earnings claim.
Skilled earnings can come from work different from your nominated occupation. The retained FAQ uses ANZSCO skill levels 1, 2 or 3. Without a qualifying earnings claim, other nomination criteria still need to be met.
Your full valid skills assessment must match the occupation in your EOI and have at least 12 weeks remaining validity at nomination application. A provisional 485 assessment is insufficient.
Competent English is required. If using test evidence, the test needs at least 12 weeks remaining validity at nomination application. The FAQ exempts the specified passport holders and citizens of the UK, Canada, New Zealand, USA or Republic of Ireland from providing test results; provide the passport bio page when using that exemption.
Submit a federal EOI and Victorian ROI. Victoria must select the ROI before nomination application; an ROI or the minimum 65 EOI points including nomination points does not guarantee selection.
The checked 2026–27 update was accepting 190 ROIs, but not 491 ROIs while 491 places remained unfinalised.
Compare the 190 criteria with your residence and work plans.
Explore Victorian nomination ↗South Australia requirements
Nomination pathway
Explore South Australia’s official occupation and nomination pathways.
Work and residence
Compare the state’s requirements with your work plans and preferred location.
Use the official list to check Economist and the relevant pathway.
Explore South Australia’s occupation list ↗Start with the route, then the details.
Four ways to explore your migration options. Each starts with a different requirement.
With a state
190 / 491 · NominationCompare nomination pathways and the conditions for where you live and work.
Compare states →With an employer
Employer sponsorshipStart with an employer willing to nominate you. The visa stream matters.
Explore sponsorship →In a region
Regional visas & DAMAExplore regional work, nomination and employer agreements as different routes.
Explore regions →MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE CLEARER
You don’t need to choose everything today.
Start with one route that fits how you want to work.
1
Check your assessment
Qualifications and experience shape the assessment pathway to explore.
Explore assessment →2
Compare the practical fit
Consider points, a nominating state, an employer and your preferred location.
Compare routes →Then go deeperInvitation history & demandWhat this occupation covers
Compare what each route asks of you.
Start with the main requirement. Then check the full visa and occupation rules.
189PERMANENT
Skilled Independent
A points-tested route without state nomination.
The key stepSuitable skills assessment, relevant occupation listing, points and an invitation.
Check 189 requirements ↗190PERMANENT
Skilled Nominated
A points-tested route with state or territory nomination.
The key stepMeet the visa rules and a nominating state’s own pathway criteria.
Compare nomination pathways →491PROVISIONAL
Skilled Work Regional
Live and work in designated regional Australia.
The key stepState nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship, plus assessment, points and invitation.
The state-nominated and family-sponsored routes have different requirements.
Check 491 requirements ↗482TEMPORARY
Skills in Demand
An employer sponsors a suitably skilled worker.
The key stepA nominated role with an approved sponsor; check the relevant stream and skills rules.
Explore employer sponsorship ↗There’s more than one employer or regional route.
Also explore employer permanent residence, regional employer sponsorship and DAMA agreements. Each needs its own occupation, stream and employer checks.
This guide explains pathway types. It does not confirm Economist’s current eligibility for every stream.
Where could you build your next chapter?
Compare nomination conditions alongside the place you want to live and work.
New South Wales
Check NSW’s latest occupation list.
Keep comparing residence, work and other state options.
This occupation-group result is awaiting another check.
Victoria
A job is not a general 190 nomination requirement.
Compare Victoria’s residence and ROI-selection rules with your plans.
491 registrations were not being accepted when checked.
South Australia
Explore South Australia’s occupation and nomination pathways.
Compare the official criteria with your work and location plans.
General exploration; availability is not established here.
Regional doesn’t always mean remote.
Use the official postcode definition rather than assumptions about a city or state.
Check regional locations ↗DAMA starts with an employer.
Check the designated region, employer endorsement and the agreement’s occupation rules. A DAMA is not a direct individual application.
How regional agreements work ↗Understand your skills assessment.
Start with VETASSESS guidance and check the requirements for your occupation and assessment pathway.
Find the assessment pathway that fits your background.
- Compare your qualifications and experience with the relevant pathway.
- Check the evidence and requirements before applying.
Assessment and visa strategy belong together.
Start with VETASSESS guidance and check the requirements for your occupation and assessment pathway.
Read the requirements for your pathway before preparing documents or making an application.
Return to visa options →Put invitations and demand in context.
Compare published past rounds with separately labelled community reports.
15 Oct 2026 · Subclass 189 Points-tested
85 points — Reported invitation points
1 anonymous report(s) under Economist; exact reported occupation codes were not verified. Not an official cutoff.
Read original report ↗4 June 2026 · Subclass 189 Points-tested
80 points — Minimum score invited
Minimum invited score in this published round; not a current cutoff.
View historical round ↗13 Nov 2025 · Subclass 189 Points-tested
85 points — Minimum score invited
Minimum invited score in this published round; not a current cutoff.
View historical round ↗Understand what the records establish.
Past scores describe those rounds, not today’s cutoff or your likelihood of invitation.
Community reports, where shown, are an anonymous sample and are separate from Home Affairs results.
Explore official invitation history ↗Understand the work behind the title.
Researches economic activity and financial behaviour and advises governments and organisations on economic policy.
Economist
- Compare the full occupation definition with the work you actually do.
Start with the duties you actually perform.
Compare the occupation description with your work, then check the assessment requirements for your qualifications and experience.
Explore the assessment step →