Updated 2026 SkillSelect Invitation Guide
Official subclass 189 invitation-round results, occupation cut-offs, next-round expectations and practical Expression of Interest guidance.
The latest published 189 visa invitation round took place on 4 June 2026, when the Department of Home Affairs issued 10,000 invitations for the Skilled Independent visa. Minimum invitation scores varied by occupation, ranging from 65 points to 100 points, and the published tie-break date was 24 April 2026.
Latest 189 visa invitation round: 4 June 2026
The most recent completed visa 189 invitation round was a federal SkillSelect round held on 4 June 2026. Home Affairs invited 10,000 Expressions of Interest for the points-tested Skilled Independent visa.
Published tie-break
24 Apr 2026
Occupation range
65 – 100
This round did not mean that every person with 65 points received a 189 visa invitation. The lowest score depended on the nominated occupation, available invitations, competing EOIs and the applicable date-of-effect tie-break.
An invitation is not a visa grant
SkillSelect selection allows you to apply. Home Affairs still assesses the actual subclass 189 application, including your age, skills assessment, English, points claims, health and character.
When is the next 189 visa invitation round in 2026?
Home Affairs states that the next 189 visa invitation round 2026 is expected to be held by 30 September 2026. As at 25 August 2026, this is the clearest published official guidance for the next round.
The phrase “by 30 September” gives an expected latest timing within the stated period. It does not establish a guaranteed date, a confirmed number of invitations, the occupations that will be included or the points cut-offs that will apply.
Prepare before the round, not after the date is confirmed
Keep your EOI active, check your skills assessment and English result, review claimed points, and make sure your nominated occupation and personal information are accurate.
The Department runs rounds periodically, and past intervals have varied considerably. Claims that invitations are always monthly, always quarterly, or guaranteed on one exact September date go beyond the official announcement.
189 visa invitation rounds in 2026
The 2025-26 migration program year ran from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Official SkillSelect figures show three subclass 189 rounds during that period.
| Invitation round |
Subclass 189 invitations |
491 Family Sponsored invitations |
Cumulative 189 total |
| 21 August 2025 |
6,887 |
150 |
6,887 |
| 13 November 2025 |
10,000 |
300 |
16,887 |
| 4 June 2026 |
10,000 |
0 |
26,887 |
Together, those 189 visa invitation rounds produced 26,887 subclass 189 invitations. The two 2025 rounds are useful when researching the 189 visa invitation round 2025, but their occupation cut-offs cannot predict the outcome of a later 2026-27 round.
Invitation counts are not identical to visa grants, migration planning levels or the number of individual people who eventually receive permanent residence. One invitation does not always lead to a lodged or granted visa, and an application can include family members.
189 invitation points by occupation: June 2026 examples
Home Affairs published occupation-specific minimum scores for the 4 June 2026 invitation round 189 visa. The following examples show why comparing your exact occupation is more useful than relying on one general minimum.
| Occupation or example group |
Lowest invited points |
What the result means |
| Carpenter; Bricklayer; Electrician (General); Plumber (General) |
65 |
Selected building and trade occupations reached the legal minimum in this round. |
| Gasfitter |
70 |
A related trade can have a different cut-off from other construction occupations. |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care); Midwife; Social Worker; Secondary School Teacher |
75 |
Several healthcare, social-service and teaching occupations were invited from 75. |
| Construction Project Manager; Agricultural Scientist; Psychiatrist |
80 |
Professional and specialist occupations can remain competitive even in a large round. |
| Architect; Sonographer; Cartographer |
85 |
Higher-ranked EOIs were needed for some professional occupations. |
| Actuary; Statistician |
90 |
The legal 65-point minimum was well below the invitation threshold. |
| Electronics Engineer; Telecommunications Engineer; Biotechnologist |
95 |
Some engineering and science occupations required significantly stronger points. |
| Urologist |
100 |
A very high occupation-specific cut-off applied in the published June round. |
These are historical outcomes, not guaranteed future thresholds. An occupation missing from a round’s published table was not necessarily removed permanently; it may simply not have been invited in that round or may not have had an eligible EOI meeting the Department’s selection settings.
65 points is eligibility, not an invitation promise
The points-tested skilled visas require at least 65 points to be considered. Your actual invitation prospects depend on the occupation, competing EOIs, round settings and the date of effect.
How to submit an EOI for a 189 visa
An EOI for 189 visa purposes is submitted through SkillSelect. It tells Home Affairs that you want to be considered for a Skilled Independent invitation; it is not the same as submitting the actual visa application.
1. Confirm the eligible occupation
Identify the occupation relevant to subclass 189 and make sure your background aligns with the assessment requirements.
2. Check skills and English evidence
Obtain the appropriate skills assessment and English result, and confirm that you can substantiate every claim entered in SkillSelect.
3. Calculate your points honestly
Review age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study, partner eligibility and other legitimate points categories.
4. Submit your SkillSelect EOI
Enter the correct personal, occupation and points information, select the relevant visa options, and save the EOI details.
5. Keep it accurate while you wait
Update changes to employment, qualifications, English results, skills assessments, family composition and any other relevant claims before an invitation is issued.
Home Affairs states that a 189 visa EOI remains active for two years from submission. You can update it before receiving an invitation, but you cannot edit that EOI once an invitation has been issued.
Importantly, an EOI visa 189 profile does not grant a Bridging Visa, does not extend your existing visa and does not give you permission to remain in Australia. An EOI is only an expression of interest, not a lodged substantive visa application.
How many points do you need for a 189 visa invitation?
The legal minimum for a points-tested subclass 189 EOI is 65 points. However, the June 2026 results show that successful invitation scores differed substantially between occupations.
65–70 points
Some construction and trade occupations reached this range in the June round. That does not make 65 competitive for every occupation.
75–85 points
Many healthcare, teaching, social-service and professional occupations appeared in this range, with differences between exact occupation titles.
90–100 points
Certain science, engineering, actuarial and specialist medical occupations required significantly higher scores in that particular round.
Applicants must also generally be under 45 when invited, have a suitable skills assessment and meet the relevant English and other visa requirements. Meeting the points threshold alone does not override those criteria.
How to improve an EOI for a 189 visa
A stronger EOI 189 visa strategy focuses on legitimate points and accurate supporting documents, not guessing the next cut-off.
- Improve English results: a higher recognised English level may increase points if you hold a valid, eligible test result.
- Review skilled employment: only claim employment that satisfies the relevant skilled-work and evidence requirements.
- Check qualification points: verify the recognition, level and relevance of your academic credentials.
- Assess partner points: confirm whether your partner’s age, skills, English or your relationship status creates a lawful points entitlement.
- Consider eligible Australian study: review Australian study, specialist education, regional study or professional-year claims where relevant.
- Keep supporting evidence current: monitor skills-assessment expiry, English-test validity, occupation details and changes to family circumstances.
- Compare alternative pathways: investigate subclass 190 or 491 visa separately if the occupation and state criteria are suitable.
189 vs 190 visa invitation rounds in 2026
A common misunderstanding in searches for 189 vs 190 visa invitation rounds 2026 is assuming that both visas are selected through the same federal round. They are not.
| Feature |
Subclass 189 |
Subclass 190 |
| Who selects applicants? |
Home Affairs through federal SkillSelect invitation rounds. |
A state or territory nominates applicants according to its own priorities. |
| Sponsorship or nomination |
No employer sponsorship or state nomination required. |
State or territory nomination required. |
| Additional points |
No state-nomination points. |
Eligible state nomination can provide 5 points. |
| Timing |
Rounds occur periodically when the Department runs a selection. |
Each state or territory controls its own nomination schedule and criteria. |
| Permanent residence |
A permanent skilled visa that does not require state nomination. |
A permanent skilled visa linked to state or territory nomination and its applicable commitments. |
Home Affairs expressly states that state and territory nominations are not affected by federal subclass 189 invitation rounds. A delayed 189 round does not necessarily mean a state has stopped issuing 190 nominations.
What happens after a 189 visa invitation?
When a visa 189 invitation arrives, Home Affairs generally gives you 60 days from the invitation date to lodge the visa application through ImmiAccount.
1. Read the invitation carefully
Check the nominated occupation, points score, invitation date and deadline. Do not assume the invitation is a visa grant.
2. Verify the claims you made
Confirm that your age, employment, English, partner, qualification and skills-assessment claims can be supported with documents.
3. Prepare identity and family evidence
Collect passports, civil documents, relationship records, translations and any relevant dependent-family information.
4. Lodge and pay within 60 days
Complete the subclass 189 visa application, attach the required evidence and pay the applicable government charge before the invitation expires.
5. Complete post-lodgement requirements
Respond to health, character, biometrics or additional-document requests and check the current skilled-visa processing guidance.
An invitation generally locks the relevant EOI against further updates. If a claimed score cannot be substantiated, obtain advice promptly before lodging an application that may be refused.
Why an eligible 189 EOI might not receive an invitation
Even a complete EOI for 189 visa consideration may remain uninvited for an extended period. Common reasons include:
Occupation-specific competition
Your occupation may require more points than the legal minimum, or it may not be selected in a particular round.
A later date of effect
Another eligible applicant with the same points may have reached that score earlier.
Changes in invitation volumes
Round size and occupation selection depend on program settings, workforce demand and applications already on hand.
Outdated or inaccurate EOI details
Expired assessments, inaccurate employment dates or unreported changes can undermine the profile.
EOI expiry
An expression of interest remains active for two years; an expired EOI needs a new valid submission.
Age or other eligibility changes
Applicants generally need to be under 45 when invited, regardless of when the EOI was first created.
If your current Australian visa will expire before an invitation is issued, review your lawful visa options separately. Waiting in the SkillSelect pool does not extend your current visa or establish bridging-visa rights.
Preparing your subclass 189 EOI?
Ask VEM to review your nominated occupation, points claims, skills assessment, English evidence and whether a 189, 190 or regional pathway suits your circumstances.
Contact VEM Visa
189 visa invitation round FAQs
When was the latest 189 visa invitation round?
The latest published subclass 189 invitation round occurred on 4 June 2026. Home Affairs issued 10,000 Skilled Independent invitations and published a tie-break date of 24 April 2026.
When is the next Australia 189 visa invitation round in 2026?
Home Affairs says the next Skilled Independent invitation round is expected to be held by 30 September 2026. This is an expectation window, not confirmation that the round will occur on that exact date.
How many 189 invitations were issued in the 2025–26 program year?
Home Affairs published 26,887 subclass 189 invitations across three rounds: 6,887 on 21 August 2025, 10,000 on 13 November 2025 and 10,000 on 4 June 2026.
Is 65 points enough to receive a 189 visa invitation?
Sixty-five points is the legal minimum to be considered, but it does not guarantee selection. In June 2026, some trades were invited from 65 points, while other occupations required 75, 85, 95 or even 100 points.
How long does a 189 visa EOI stay active?
Home Affairs states that a SkillSelect expression of interest remains active for two years after submission. You can update it before you receive an invitation, but an EOI is not a visa application and does not provide a Bridging Visa.
What does the 24 April 2026 tie-break date mean?
It is the published date-of-effect tie-break associated with the 4 June 2026 invitation round. When otherwise comparable EOIs have the same points, an earlier relevant effective date may rank ahead of a later one.
Are subclass 189 and 190 invitations issued in the same round?
No. Subclass 189 invitations are issued through federal Home Affairs SkillSelect rounds. Subclass 190 depends on state or territory nomination programs, which follow their own criteria, schedules and priorities.
How long do I have to apply after receiving a 189 invitation?
You generally have 60 days from the invitation date to lodge the subclass 189 visa application through ImmiAccount. Prepare evidence that supports every points claim and submit the application before the invitation expires.
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