189 Visa Invitation Rounds 2026: Latest Results and Points Cut-Offs

You lodged your Expression of Interest (EOI) months ago. Now you are checking SkillSelect, reading forum posts and trying to work out if your score is close.

The good news is that Home Affairs publishes the real numbers after every 189 invitation round. You do not need to guess from rumours.

The latest official results are from the 4 June 2026 round, which invited 10,000 EOIs. Migration agencies reported a further round on 15 October 2026, but Home Affairs has not published any results for it yet.

This guide sets out every recent round and its official figures. It also shows the minimum points by job, how often rounds really happen and what to do if your score is short.

Every official figure below comes from the Home Affairs SkillSelect pages and carries an “as at” date, so you can check it yourself.

Want to know where your score stands? Try our Australian PR Points Calculator first.

How does the 189 invitation round system work in 2026?

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) works on a ranked pool. You lodge an EOI in SkillSelect. In each round, Home Affairs invites the top-scoring EOIs in each chosen occupation until it reaches the number it wants.

How EOIs are ranked

• The highest points score is invited first.
• When two EOIs have the same score, the one that reached that score earlier is invited first. Home Affairs calls this the “tie break” or “date of effect”.
• An occupation ceiling may cap how many EOIs are invited from one occupation group.
• Only occupations Home Affairs chooses for that round are invited. An occupation can be left out of a round completely.

How often rounds happen

• Rounds are held “periodically” during the program year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June.
• There is no fixed monthly or quarterly schedule.
• The 2024–25 program year had two rounds (September and November 2024).
• The 2025–26 program year had three rounds (August 2025, November 2025 and June 2026).
• For the 2026–27 program year, agencies reported a first round on 15 October 2026. Home Affairs has not yet confirmed it on the SkillSelect page.

One more point that often confuses people: these departmental rounds cover the Subclass 189 visa and the family-sponsored Subclass 491 visa only. State nominations for the Subclass 190 visa and the state-nominated 491 run separately, on each state’s own timeline.

Which occupation groups were invited in recent rounds?

Home Affairs does not sort occupations into official tiers. The groups below are our own summary of the official minimum scores across the last three published rounds. They are not a Home Affairs category.

• Construction trades (carpenter, bricklayer, electrician, plumber, tiler, plasterer): most were invited at 65 points in every round since September 2024.
• Nursing, allied health and teaching (nurses, midwives, GPs, physios, teachers, social workers): most needed 75 points in November 2025 and June 2026. In August 2025, they needed 80 to 85.
• Engineering managers, surveyors, architects and legal roles: mostly 80 to 85 points in June 2026, down from 90 in August 2025.
• Some science and telecommunications roles (telecommunications engineers, microbiologists, biotechnologists): 95 points in June 2026.
• Not invited in any 2025–26 round: software engineers, information and communications technology (ICT) business analysts, accountants, civil engineers and chefs. They were not in the published lists at all.

That last point matters. If your occupation was left out, a higher score alone may not bring an invitation. A Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa pathway may be the more realistic plan.

How to check your occupation

• Confirm your Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code with the skills assessing authority for your occupation.
• Find your occupation in the latest round on the official SkillSelect invitation rounds page.
• Check the two previous rounds on the previous rounds page to see the trend.
• Compare your current score with the minimum invited. If your occupation is missing, look at state nomination as well.

What were the latest 189 invitation round results?

The latest round with published results was held on 4 June 2026. It invited 10,000 EOIs for the 189 visa, with a tie-break date of 24 April 2026. Minimum scores ranged from 65 points for construction trades to 100 points for urologists, and 80 was the most common minimum.

Migration agencies reported a further 189 round on 15 October 2026. As at 21 October 2026, Home Affairs had not published any invitation numbers, minimum scores or tie-break date for it. Figures shared online for that round come from agencies and clients, not from the department, so we have not included them.

Official 189 invitation round results, September 2024 to October 2026

Source: Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect invitation rounds and previous rounds, as at 21 October 2026. “Most common minimum” is the score shared by the largest number of invited occupations in that round. Home Affairs published tie-break dates as month and year only until the June 2026 round, which gave a full date.

What is the minimum points cut-off trend for the 189 visa?

Across the last five published rounds, the typical minimum score has eased from 90 points in 2024 to 80 points in June 2026. Most construction trades have stayed at 65 throughout. The number of occupations invited has ranged from 131 to 160 per round, with 140 in June 2026.

What the official numbers show

• The most common minimum fell from 90 (September 2024 to August 2025) to 85 (November 2025) and then 80 (June 2026).
• The highest minimum fell from 115 points in 2024 to 100 points in the last two rounds.
• Carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers were invited at 65 points in all five rounds.
• Registered nurses have moved between 70 and 80 points: 75 (September 2024), 70 (November 2024), 80 (August 2025), then 75 (November 2025 and June 2026).
• Software engineers were invited at 95 to 100 points in 2024, but were not invited in any 2025–26 round.

Past rounds show what happened, not what will happen next. Each round’s occupations and numbers depend on the program planning levels and the applications Home Affairs already has on hand.

When is the next 189 visa invitation round in 2026?

Home Affairs has not announced the date of the next 189 round. It does not publish a calendar, and recent program years have had two or three rounds each. Agencies reported a round on 15 October 2026, the first of the 2026–27 program year. The department has not yet confirmed it.

What we know about 2026–27 so far

• The program year runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
• As at 21 October 2026, the SkillSelect invitation rounds page (last updated 14 October 2026) still showed 4 June 2026 as the latest round.
• Official results for the reported 15 October round will appear on the SkillSelect invitation rounds page. We will update this guide once they are published.
• Keep your EOI details current so it is ranked correctly whenever the next round runs.

What are the points cut-offs for the 189 visa in 2026 by occupation?

In the 4 June 2026 round, construction trades were invited at 65 points. Most health and teaching roles needed 75. Most engineering manager, legal and surveying roles needed 80. The table compares common jobs across the last three published rounds.

Minimum points by occupation, last three published rounds

Source: Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect results, as at 21 October 2026. “Not invited” means the occupation did not appear in that round’s published list. The full lists cover 131 to 143 occupations per round.

Check your score against these figures with our Australia PR Points Calculator, or compare pathways in our 189 vs 190 visa guide.

How can you maximise your chances of receiving a 189 invitation?

The most reliable way to improve your chances is to raise your score by at least 5 points. Keep EOIs open for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas at the same time. In the June 2026 round, many occupations were invited at 75 or 80 points, so a 5-point lift can change your position in the ranking.

Highest-impact points levers

• Superior English gives 20 points, compared with 10 for Proficient. For a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic test taken from 7 August 2025, you need at least 69 for listening and 70 for reading. You also need 85 for writing and 88 for speaking. For the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you need 8 in each band. See the Home Affairs Superior English page (as at 21 October 2026).
• A partner under 45 with Competent English and a positive skills assessment in an occupation on the same skilled occupation list as yours adds 10 points.
• A partner with Competent English only adds 5 points.
• A Professional Year in Australia adds 5 points.
• A credentialled community language from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) adds 5 points.
• Study in regional Australia adds 5 points.
• A specialist education qualification (an eligible science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) master’s by research or PhD from an Australian institution) adds 10 points.
• Applying without a partner, or with a partner who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, adds 10 points.

Worked example: a registered nurse on 70 points

• Registered Nurses nec needed 75 points in the 4 June 2026 round, so a nurse on 70 points sat 5 points short.
• If that nurse has Proficient English, a Superior result adds 10 points and lifts the score to 80, above the June minimum.
• If they already have Superior English, a partner’s Competent English (5 points) or a NAATI credential (5 points) would each close the gap.
• When the score rises, the date of effect becomes the date the new score was reached. Update the EOI as soon as the new result arrives.

EOI strategy when rounds are irregular

• Keep your EOI up to date at all times, because there is no fixed round calendar to plan around.
• Lodge separate EOIs for the Subclass 189 visa, the Subclass 190 visa (for each state you qualify for) and the Subclass 491 visa. SkillSelect allows this.
• Update your EOI as soon as your points change, such as a new English result, more work experience or an age change.
• Check that your ANZSCO code matches your actual duties, not only your job title.
• Keep your skills assessment and English test valid, as both have expiry dates.

What are the most common 189 invitation round mistakes?

The most common mistakes are claiming points you cannot prove, keeping only one EOI and letting EOI details go out of date. Each one is easy to fix once you know to look for it. A quick check of your EOI against your evidence catches most of them.

Mistakes that cost you an invitation or a visa

• Overclaiming work experience: counting years that your skills assessment did not treat as skilled.
• Wrong ANZSCO selection: choosing a code that does not match the duties in your reference letters.
• Stale EOI: not updating after new experience, a higher English score or a partner’s skills assessment.
• Relying on one EOI: state nomination for the Subclass 190 or 491 visa can arrive while you wait for a 189 round.
• Leaving points unclaimed: partner points and a Superior English result are the most often missed. See the points levers above.
• Missing the 60-day window: once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application, so have your evidence ready before the invitation arrives.

What happens after you receive a 189 invitation?

After you receive a 189 invitation, you have 60 days to lodge a complete visa application in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs then checks every points claim against your evidence, along with health and character requirements, before deciding the visa.

Post-invitation steps

• Gather your evidence for every points claim: skills assessment, English results, work references and qualifications.
• Lodge your application and pay the visa charge. Check the current amount in the Visa Pricing Estimator, as fees change every 1 July.
• Arrange health examinations through Bupa Medical Visa Services.
• Get police certificates for each country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
• Provide Form 80 or Form 1221 if Home Affairs asks for them.
• If you are in Australia, you may receive a bridging visa. See our Bridging Visas Explained guide.
• Check current processing times in the official processing times guide.

Need an ImmiAccount first? Follow our ImmiAccount setup guide.

What if your points are too low for the 189 invitation round?

Your score may be below the recent minimum, or your occupation may not have been invited. If so, the main alternatives are the Subclass 190 visa (state nomination, +5 points), the Subclass 491 visa (regional, +15 points) and employer sponsorship.

Alternative pathways when the 189 is out of reach

• Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated: permanent, with 5 points from state nomination. See our 189 vs 190 visa comparison.
• Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional: provisional for five years, with 15 points and a pathway to the permanent Subclass 191 visa. See our Regional Australia Visa Options guide.
• Subclass 482 Skills in Demand: a temporary employer-sponsored visa that can lead to the Subclass 186 visa.
• Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme: permanent residence through an Australian employer.
• Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA): regional employer sponsorship with possible concessions on age, English or salary.

For full eligibility details, read our 189 Visa Australia guide. You can also learn how many EOIs you can submit and the difference between an EOI and an ROI.

How The Migration helps you secure a 189 invitation

Many applicants who wait a long time for an invitation are held back by one of three things. They claim points they cannot prove, use an ANZSCO code that does not fit their duties or rely on the Subclass 189 visa alone. Our MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2619480) check your profile against the latest published round before you spend money on tests or assessments.

You can verify our registration on the MARA public register.

What working with The Migration looks like:

• Points and ANZSCO check: every claim tested against your evidence and the correct occupation code.
• EOI plan across 189, 190 and 491: set up so you are ranked in every pathway you qualify for.
• State nomination targeting: current 190 and 491 criteria for each state and territory.
• Decision-ready documents: evidence prepared before you lodge, not after a request.
• Skills assessment guidance: choosing the right assessing authority for your duties.
• EOI updates: keeping your EOI current as your points change.

Conclusion

The 189 invitation round results reward two things: a strong points score and an occupation Home Affairs chooses to invite. The 4 June 2026 round invited trades at 65, most health and teaching roles at 75 and many professional roles at 80. Some occupations were not invited at all.

Agencies have reported a round on 15 October 2026, and we will add its official results once Home Affairs publishes them.

Check your occupation against the official lists, keep your EOI current and keep a Subclass 190 or 491 visa option open.

Want a clear plan for the next round? Book a consultation with our MARA-registered agents (MARN 2619480). We will check your points and ANZSCO code, and you will leave with an EOI plan across the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas.

Frequently asked questions