This page tracks Subclass 189 Skilled Independent invitation rounds — what was issued, what the points cut-offs were, and when the next round is expected. We update it after each round, and the update log near the end records what changed and when. Rules and dates can change at short notice, so this information may be out of date by the time you read it. Please check the official SkillSelect invitation rounds page for the latest details, or contact us before you act.

As at 12 November 2026, the 15 October 2026 round is the most recent. It issued 20,000 invitations, twice the 10,000 issued on 4 June 2026, and came just over four months after that round. The Department has not published an expected date for the next round.

If you have an active Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, the sections below cover what happened in the last round, how invitations are ranked, and what to do while you wait.

When Is the Next 189 Invitation Round?

The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a fixed calendar of invitation rounds. Before the 15 October round it published an expected-by date on the SkillSelect invitation rounds page (31 October 2026).

As at 12 November 2026, that page shows the 15 October round as the current round and does not state a date for the next one.

Two things are worth understanding about round timing.

It is an expectation, not a commitment. Estimates have been missed before: the Department moved its earlier estimate of 30 September to 31 October. This time a round ran on 15 October. Treat any future estimate as a prompt to get your EOI in order, not as a booking.

Departmental rounds cover Subclass 189 and Subclass 491 Family Sponsored only. State and territory nominations for the 190, and for the State/Territory-nominated 491, are handled separately by each state on its own timetable and are not affected by these rounds.

The one thing genuinely within your control is making sure your EOI is accurate and current before a round runs. Points are assessed as at the date of invitation, and an EOI carrying out-of-date claims becomes a refusal risk later.

How Often Do 189 Rounds Actually Happen?

Many people still expect monthly invitation rounds. That was the pattern years ago. It is not the pattern now.

Every Subclass 189 invitation round published by the Department:

Year	Rounds held
2026	4 June · 15 October (so far)
2025	21 August · 13 November
2024	13 June · 5 September · 7 November
2023	25 May · 18 December
2022	21 January · 21 April · 22 August · 6 October · 8 December
2021	21 January · 21 April · 26 July · 29 October
2020	11 August · 11 September · 21 October

Since 2023 the pattern has settled at roughly two to three rounds a year. The longest recent gap ran from 7 November 2024 to 21 August 2025 — more than nine months with no Subclass 189 round at all. The gap before the June 2026 round was close to seven months. The gap between the 4 June and 15 October 2026 rounds was just over four months.

What that means in practice: if you were not invited in the last round, the wait is realistically measured in months, not weeks. That should change how you think about improving your points, sitting another English test, or pursuing a state nomination pathway in parallel.

October 2026 Round at a Glance

Detail	Information
Round Date	15 October 2026
Program Year	2026–27 (first round of the year)
Invitations Issued — Subclass 189	20,000
Invitations Issued — Subclass 491 Family Sponsored	0
Occupations With a Minimum Score Listed	159
Lowest Minimum Score	65 points (43 occupations)
Highest Minimum Score	100 points (2 occupations)

The Department publishes a minimum points score and a tie-break date for each occupation invited. A selection from its table:

Occupation	Minimum points	Tie-break date
Carpenter	65	21/09/2026
Electrician (General)	65	18/09/2026
Bricklayer	65	17/09/2026
Registered Nurse (Surgical)	70	15/11/2025
Engineering Manager	80	04/08/2026
Construction Project Manager	80	04/09/2026
Secondary School Teacher	80	04/09/2026
Architect	85	06/08/2026
Urologist	100	04/06/2026

The minimum score and tie-break date together show who was invited. At the minimum score, EOIs with a date of effect on or before the tie-break date were invited, and EOIs with higher scores in the same occupation were ranked ahead of them. Always check your own occupation on the Department’s invitation rounds page.

June 2026 Round at a Glance

Detail	Information
Round Date	4 June 2026 (~9:00 AM AEST)
Program Year	2025–26 (final round of the year)
Invitations Issued	Approximately 10,000
Occupations Invited	60+ across multiple sectors
Lowest Reported Cut-Off	65 points (multiple trade occupations)
Highest Reported Cut-Off	95 points (specialist engineering and science)

What Is the Subclass 189 Visa?

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who do not need an employer sponsor, a family sponsor, or state government nomination. It is awarded entirely on points — the higher your score and the earlier you lodged your EOI at that score, the better your chances of receiving an invitation.

To be eligible, you must have your occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), a valid skills assessment, and a points score of at least 65. Invitations are issued through the SkillSelect system, and competition varies significantly by occupation.

Points Cut-Offs by Sector — June 2026

The following cut-offs are based on community-reported data from SkillSelect applicants. Official Department of Home Affairs data is published separately and may vary.

Trades

Trade occupations had the lowest cut-offs of the entire round, with several roles invited at just 65 points — the minimum score to even submit an EOI. This reflects Australia’s sustained demand for licensed tradespeople in construction and infrastructure.

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
Carpenter / Carpenter and Joiner	65 pts
Electrician (General)	65 pts
Bricklayer	65 pts
Glazier / Plasterer (General)	65 pts
Wall and Floor Tiler	65 pts
Tiler / Fibrous Plasterer	70 pts
Painter	75 pts
Metal Fabricator / Welder	80 pts

Healthcare

Nine distinct nursing specialisations received invitations — one of the broadest nursing rounds in recent memory. Allied health professionals generally needed 80 points.

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
RN — Surgical / Critical Care & Emergency / NEC	75 pts
RN — Aged Care / Community Health / Disability	80 pts
RN — Medical / Mental Health / Perioperative	85 pts
General Practitioner	80 pts
Physiotherapist / Midwife / Occupational Therapist	80 pts
Speech Pathologist / Medical Laboratory Scientist	80 pts
Psychologist / Veterinarian	85 pts

Engineering & Technology

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
Engineering Manager (onshore)	70 pts
Construction Project Manager	80 pts
Civil Engineering Draftsperson / Technician	85 pts
Mining / Petroleum Engineer	85 pts
Chemical Engineer	90 pts
Telecommunications Engineer	95 pts

Education

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
Secondary School Teacher (onshore)	75 pts
Secondary School Teacher (offshore)	80 pts
Early Childhood Teacher	85 pts

Business, Legal & Community Services

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
Social Worker	75 pts
Economist / Management Consultant / Solicitor	80 pts
Architect / Musician (Instrumental)	85 pts
Multimedia Specialist	95 pts

Environmental & Science

Occupation	Lowest Reported Points
Agricultural / Environmental Consultant / Scientist	80 pts
Life Scientist (General) / Biotechnologist / Environmental Manager	85 pts
Food Technologist / Statistician	90 pts
Geophysicist / Meteorologist / Surveyor / Chemist	95 pts

Understanding Date of Effect — Why Two People With the Same Score Get Different Results

When multiple EOIs have identical points, the Department of Home Affairs uses Date of Effect (DOE) as the tie-breaker. Your DOE is the date your EOI first reached its current points score — not the date you lodged your EOI.

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of SkillSelect. Two applicants with 80 points can receive very different outcomes if one submitted their EOI in January 2025 and the other in November 2025. The earlier EOI is reached first. Once the invitation pool is exhausted at that score, later applicants at 80 points are not invited — even though their score is identical.

Practical rule: Never edit your EOI unless you are adding genuine additional points. Unnecessary edits can reset your DOE, moving you to the back of the queue even if your score does not change.

What to Do If Your EOI Was Not Invited

First, do not withdraw or delete your EOI. Your Date of Effect is fully preserved, and your EOI is automatically considered in every future round.

Use the gap between rounds to review your points position:

• English language: Retesting with IELTS, PTE or another approved test can add 10 points for Proficient English or 20 points for Superior English
• Partner skills: A partner under 45 with Competent English and a suitable skills assessment in an occupation on the same list as yours adds 10 points. Competent English alone adds 5 points
• Professional Year: Eligible STEM, accounting, or computing graduates can add 5 points
• Australian study: A qualification from an Australian institution adds 5 points; regional study adds a further 5

If the 189 cut-off for your occupation is consistently out of reach, the Subclass 190 (state nomination, +5 points) or Subclass 491 (regional nomination, +15 points) may bring you within range of a permanent visa pathway.

What to Do While You Wait

If you were not invited in the last round, keep your EOI current before the next one: confirm your skills assessment has not expired, check that your English test results are still valid, and update your employment details if your circumstances have changed.

An EOI that sits untouched for months is the most common avoidable problem we see. Points claimed must still be correct on the day an invitation is issued.

Talk to a Registered Migration Agent in Canberra

Skilled migration planning requires more than just adding up points — it involves assessing your skills assessment pathway, occupation list eligibility, English test strategy, and whether a state-sponsored pathway (190 or 491) better suits your situation and timeline.

At OVEC, we are Canberra-based registered migration agents with experience across the full range of skilled visa pathways. We can review your EOI strategy, identify opportunities to strengthen your points position, and guide you through the application process once you receive an invitation.

Contact us to book your consultation — we are happy to discuss your skilled migration options.

OVEC — Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1170438. This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Points cut-offs are based on community-reported data and should be verified against official Department of Home Affairs sources.

Update log

• 12 November 2026: Re-checked the Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds page (last updated 9 November 2026). The 15 October 2026 round is still the latest, and no date for the next round is published.
• 2 November 2026: Updated for the 15 October 2026 round: 20,000 invitations, the first round of the 2026–27 program year.
• 15 July 2026: First version, covering the 4 June 2026 round.

Official Sources

• SkillSelect invitation rounds — Department of Home Affairs
• SkillSelect previous rounds

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is current as at 12 November 2026. It does not take your personal circumstances into account and should not be relied on as advice for your own application. Invitation round timing, points cut-offs and occupation ceilings change. For advice specific to your situation, speak to a Registered Migration Agent.