0433 695 7730431 029 583info.e2vs@gmail.com
0433 695 773
189 invitation round results 2026 points by occupation

189 Invitation Round 2026: Latest SkillSelect Results, Points & Next Round

If you've lodged an Expression of Interest, you already know the routine: refresh, wait, refresh again. This page tracks every 189 invitation round in plain English: when the latest round happened, which occupations were invited and at what points, when the next round might come, and what to do if you get an invitation (or don't).

Not every Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted through SkillSelect receives an invitation to apply. See the latest round results, minimum points scores by occupation, and how invitations are actually issued.

Quick answer

The latest 189 invitation round was held on 15 October 2026, the first SkillSelect round of the 2026-27 program year, with 20,000 EOIs invited. Minimum scores ranged from 65 points (many trades) to 100 points, depending on occupation. If you were invited on 15 October, your deadline to lodge is 14 December 2026.

20,000
Skilled Independent (189) EOIs invited
159
Occupations invited this round
65 – 100
Minimum points range
14 Dec
Lodgement deadline for 15 Oct invitees
Current round

Latest 189 Invitation Round: 15 October 2026

The Department of Home Affairs held the first Skilled Independent (subclass 189) round of the 2026-27 program year on Thursday 15 October 2026. It came after a long gap: no 189 invitations were issued in July, August or September 2026. The round was first expected by the end of September, was then pushed to October, and the date was confirmed on 9 October.

15 October 2026 round at a glance
VisaSkilled Independent (subclass 189)
Program year2026-27 (first round of the year)
Previous round4 June 2026
Invitations issued20,000
Occupations invited159
Lowest minimum score65 points
Highest minimum score100 points
491 Family Sponsored invitations0
Lodgement deadline for invitees14 December 2026

Occupations by minimum points

Click a bar to filter the occupation table below.

What the results are showing

Construction trades did best. Carpenters, bricklayers, wall and floor tilers, joiners and general electricians were invited at 65 points, the legal minimum.

Health occupations were mid-range. Most registered nurse, allied health and GP occupations needed 70 points, with many medical specialists between 75 and 90.

Some professions came in at the floor. Solicitors, economists and environmental consultants were invited at 65 points.

ICT and accounting were quiet. No accounting occupations appear in this round, and ICT Security Specialist needed 100 points.

Round history

Previous SkillSelect Invitation Rounds

Looking back helps you see the pattern. Here are the federal SkillSelect invitation rounds from the 2025-26 program year:

Round date189 invitations491 Family SponsoredNotes
21 August 20256,887150First round after a nine-month pause
13 November 202510,000300—
4 June 202610,0000Minimum scores 65–100 by occupation; tie-break 24 April 2026
2025-26 total26,887450

Two things stand out. First, rounds have become fewer and larger, often one to three big rounds a year instead of monthly draws. Second, the government has lifted the 2026-27 planning level for the Skilled Independent category to 21,090 places, up from 16,900 the year before. More places doesn't guarantee lower points, but it does mean more rounds or bigger rounds are likely this year.

2026-27 program year

Total Invitations — 2026–27 Program Year

Figures below do not include state/territory government-nominated visas.

Visa subclassJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
Skilled Independent (189)00020,00000000000
Skilled Work Regional 491 – Family Sponsored000000000000
Most asked question

When Is the Next 189 Invitation Round?

This is the most-asked question on this page, so here's the honest answer: the next 189 invitation round has not been announced.

Home Affairs doesn't publish a round calendar. Recent rounds have only been confirmed a few days before they happen, and the timing has moved more than once. What we can say:

2026-27 has a bigger 189 planning level than last year, so more invitations are still to come before 30 June 2027.

Recent years have seen one to three large rounds per program year.

Rounds are usually announced on the SkillSelect page shortly beforehand. We update this page as soon as a date is confirmed.

The best thing you can do while waiting is make sure your EOI is accurate and claiming every point you're entitled to. When a round lands, there's no time to fix it.

Waiting on the next round? Make sure your EOI is ready for it.

Our registered migration agent reviews your EOI, checks every points claim, and spots points you may be missing. Small fixes can move you up the queue.

Book an EOI Review Check My Points
The basics

How SkillSelect Invitation Rounds Work

The Department of Home Affairs runs invitation rounds periodically throughout the program year for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — Family Sponsored stream. How many invitations go out, and to which occupations, depends on the needs of the Australian economy and how many EOIs are already on hand.

State and territory nominated visas — the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the state/territory-nominated stream of subclass 491 — are not affected by these departmental rounds. Each state or territory manages its own nominations according to its own priorities.

It starts with your EOI

You can't apply for a 189 visa directly. You lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, claim your points, and wait to be invited. You need at least 65 points to lodge an EOI, but 65 is a floor, not a target. Most occupations need more.

There is no single points cut-off

Each occupation has its own queue. In a round, the Department invites the highest-ranked EOIs within each occupation until that occupation's share is used. That's why a carpenter can be invited at 65 while another occupation needs 85 or more. When people ask "what's the 189 points cut-off?", the real answer is "for which occupation?"

Ties are broken by date of effect

If two people in the same occupation have the same points, the one whose EOI reached that score first is invited first. That date is your "date of effect". It resets whenever your points change, up or down — so lodge early and update your EOI the moment your points go up.

Your EOI stays alive between rounds

If you aren't invited, your EOI stays in the pool for future rounds. An EOI is generally valid for two years from lodgement. After that, you'd need to lodge a new one.

Occupation ceilings

Some occupation groups have an upper limit on how many EOIs can be invited in a program year — this keeps the skilled program balanced across a diverse range of occupations. Ceilings do not apply to the subclass 190 visa or the state/territory-nominated stream of subclass 491.

How invitations are ranked

For subclass 189 and the family-sponsored stream of subclass 491, the highest-scoring EOI is invited first. Where EOIs are tied on points, the EOI that reached that score earliest — its "date of effect" — is invited first.

For subclass 190 and the state/territory-nominated stream of subclass 491, it's the relevant state or territory government that reviews EOIs and decides who to nominate — a nomination automatically triggers an invitation.

491 Family Sponsored vs state nominations

The Department runs rounds for the 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored stream. The subclass 190 and the state-nominated 491 work differently: each state and territory runs its own selection, often with its own registration process and occupation list. Some states publish their own round results.

190 & 491

State and Territory Nomination Rounds (190 and 491)

EOIs nominated by state and territory governments, 1 July 2026 – 30 September 2026:

Visa subclassACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA
Skilled Nominated (190)<51118870271017
Skilled Work Regional 491 – State/Territory Nominated<50208<50960120

State program updates for 2026-27

State programs for 2026-27 are opening at different speeds. Here's what had been announced as of late October 2026:

ACT

Its first Canberra Matrix round of 2026-27, on 12 October 2026, invited 261 candidates for subclass 190 nomination and none for the 491.

Tasmania

Announced 1,250 subclass 190 and 800 subclass 491 places for 2026-27.

Victoria

The 2026-27 program had not yet opened. Anyone who registered interest in an earlier year will need to submit a new Registration of Interest when it does.

New South Wales

The 491 program was closed for the year. 190 nominations are by invitation only, with no announced round dates.

Qld, SA & WA

2026-27 settings still to be confirmed at our last check.

State programs change often. Always confirm on the state's own migration website before relying on it, or ask E2VS to check your options across all states. Considering Victoria? Try our Victorian points test.

Invited?

Got an Invitation? What to Do in Your 60 Days

60
days to lodge

Congratulations. Now the clock is running. You have 60 days from the date of your invitation to lodge your visa application, and the Department can't extend it. For a 15 October 2026 invitation, the last day is 14 December 2026.

1

Check every claim against your invitation date

Your application must prove the points you claimed on the day you were invited. Your skills assessment, English test and work experience all need to be valid on that date. If you were invited at or near the cut-off, you have no points to spare.

2

Gather your evidence early

Employment references, payslips, tax records, qualifications, English results and identity documents all take time. Police checks from overseas can take weeks. Start now, not in week seven.

3

Organise health checks and police clearances

Book health examinations once you're ready, and request police certificates for every country you've lived in for the required period.

4

Lodge a complete application, but not on the last day

A rushed application with missing evidence is a refusal risk. A last-minute technical problem can cost you the invitation altogether. Aim to lodge with time to spare. E2VS can prepare and lodge your 189 application so every claim is backed by evidence.

Not invited?

Not Invited? How to Improve Your Chances for the Next Round

Missing a round is frustrating, but most people who are eventually invited missed at least one round first. Points are the lever you can actually pull.

Retake your English test

Moving from Proficient to Superior English is one of the biggest single points boosts available.

Count your work experience carefully

Points step up at set thresholds. If you're close to the next one, your points may increase — but only if your EOI reflects it.

Look at partner points

A skilled partner, a partner with competent English, or being single can each affect your score.

Professional Year or NAATI

Consider a Professional Year or NAATI credential, if eligible for your occupation.

Look beyond the 189

State nomination (190) adds points, and regional pathways (491) add more. These often have lower practical thresholds.

Update your EOI the day points change

Your date of effect is the tie-breaker. Every day of delay can cost you places in the queue.

Avoid these

Common Mistakes With SkillSelect EOIs

Claiming points you can't prove

If your application can't back up what your EOI claimed at the time of invitation, the visa can be refused. Claim only what your documents support.

Letting a skills assessment or English test expire

These need to be valid on the day you're invited. An expired test means lost points, or a claim you can't support.

Forgetting to update your EOI

Points that go up don't count until your EOI shows them. And your date of effect only starts when you update.

Choosing the wrong occupation

Your nominated occupation decides which queue you're in. A closely related occupation might have a very different invitation pattern.

Leaving the application to the last week

Sixty days goes faster than people expect. Overseas police checks alone can take most of it.

Frequently Asked Questions — 189 Invitation Rounds

The latest 189 invitation round was held on 15 October 2026, when 20,000 Skilled Independent invitations were issued. It was the first SkillSelect round of the 2026-27 program year. The previous round was on 4 June 2026, when 10,000 invitations were issued.

The next round hasn't been announced. Home Affairs usually confirms rounds only a few days in advance. With a 2026-27 planning level of 21,090 Skilled Independent places, more invitations are expected before 30 June 2027.

You need at least 65 points to lodge an EOI, but there's no single cut-off. Each occupation has its own threshold. In the 15 October 2026 round, minimum scores ranged from 65 to 100 points depending on occupation.

You have 60 days from the date of the invitation to lodge your visa application, and this can't be extended. For an invitation on 15 October 2026, the deadline is 14 December 2026.

The tie is broken by date of effect, the date your EOI reached its current points score. The earlier date is invited first. That date resets whenever your points change.

No. Subclass 190 and state-nominated 491 visas are run by each state and territory, each with its own selection process. Home Affairs runs the federal rounds for the 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored stream.

Get Ready for the Next 189 Invitation Round With E2VS

Invitation rounds come with little warning, and once you're invited, the 60-day clock leaves no room for a messy EOI or missing evidence. The applicants who do best are the ones who were ready before the round was announced.

E2VS and our registered migration agent help skilled migrants at every stage: checking your points and EOI before the next 189 invitation round, finding state nomination options when the 189 is out of reach, and preparing a complete, evidence-backed visa application once you're invited.

Book an EOI & Points Review Just Got Invited? Start Your 189 Application Call 0433 695 773
WhatsApp UsUseful Links