The latest 189 visa invitation round was held on 15 October 2026.
Invitation rounds apply to Skilled Independent Visas (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas (subclass 491): Family Sponsored. Invitations are usually released quarterly and each round varies depending on the number of applications that are received and processed by the Department of Home Affairs.
Sc 189: Latest SkillSelect invitation round
Information last checked: 9 Nov 2026
The Department has updated its website with the results of the Skillselect invitation round held on Thursday 15 October 2026. This was the first round of the 2026-27 program year. The Department issued 20,000 invitations for the Skilled Independent visa (Sc 189). It issued none for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) Family Sponsored.
Minimum points scores varied by occupation:
- 65 points for many trades and some other occupations including Carpenter, Electrician (General), Plumber (General) and Solicitor
- 70 points for General Practitioner and the Registered Nurse categories (other health occupations such as Cardiologist and Sonographer were at 75)
- 80 points or higher for a range of other occupations including Secondary School Teacher (80), Architect (85) and ICT Security Specialist (100)
SkillSelect invitation rounds 2025-26 and 2026-27
The Department of Home Affairs runs SkillSelect invitation rounds for the 189 visa and the 491 visa (Family Sponsored stream). Recent rounds have been held roughly every three months.
2026-27 program year
| Round date | Subclass 189 invitations | Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) invitations | Notes |
| 15 October 2026 | 20,000 (across 159 occupations; minimum scores 65 to 100 points, depending on the occupation) | None | First round of 2026-27. It was expected by 30 September 2026 and was rescheduled. The Department of Home Affairs published the 189 results in late October or early November 2026 (as at 10 November 2026). |
2025-26 program year
| Round date | Subclass 189 invitations | Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) invitations | Notes |
| 4 June 2026 | 10,000 | 0 | Tie-break date 24 April 2026. Lowest scores ranged from 65 points (mainly trades) to 100 points. |
| 13 November 2025 | 10,000 | 300 | |
| 21 August 2025 | 6,887 | 150 |
Total 189 invitations in 2025-26: 26,887. Information last checked 27 October 2026.
Details of the 4 June 2026 SkillSelect invitation round have been released on the Department’s website.
Occupations Invited by Points Score
65 Points
- 334112 Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
- 331111 Bricklayer
- 331212 Carpenter
- 331211 Carpenter and Joiner
- 334113 Drainer / Drainlayer
- 341111 Electrician (General)
- 341112 Electrician (Special Class)
- 333211 Fibrous Plasterer
- 333111 Glazier
- 331213 Joiner
- 334111 Plumber (General)
- 334115 Roof Plumber
- 333212 Solid Plasterer
- 331112 Stonemason
- 333411 Wall and Floor Tiler
70 Points
- 334114 Gasfitter
75 Points
- 252711 Audiologist
- 272311 Clinical Psychologist
- 253912 Emergency Medicine Specialist
- 253111 General Practitioner
- 253999 Medical Practitioners nec
- 254111 Midwife
- 252411 Occupational Therapist
- 253321 Paediatrician
- 252511 Physiotherapist
- 252611 Podiatrist
- 272399 Psychologists nec
- 254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- 254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health)
- 254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- 254421 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- 254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)
- 254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- 254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- 254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- 254499 Registered Nurses nec
- 241411 Secondary School Teacher
- 272511 Social Worker
- 241511 Special Needs Teacher
- 252712 Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist
80 Points
- 234111 Agricultural Consultant
- 234112 Agricultural Scientist
- 342111 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
- 139911 Arts Administrator or Manager
- 321111 Automotive Electrician
- 271111 Barrister
- 399111 Boat Builder and Repairer
- 394111 Cabinetmaker
- 253312 Cardiologist
- 134111 Child Care Centre Manager
- 252111 Chiropractor
- 133111 Construction Project Manager
- 211112 Dancer or Choreographer
- 224311 Economist
- 312311 Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
- 312312 Electrical Engineering Technician
- 342313 Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
- 342314 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)
- 342315 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)
- 253315 Endocrinologist
- 133211 Engineering Manager
- 234312 Environmental Consultant
- 139912 Environmental Manager
- 234313 Environmental Research Scientist
- 234399 Environmental Scientists nec
- 323211 Fitter (General)
- 323212 Fitter and Turner
- 452411 Footballer
- 234113 Forester / Forest Scientist
- 234412 Geophysicist
- 234413 Hydrogeologist
- 253317 Intensive Care Specialist
- 224511 Land Economist
- 341113 Lift Mechanic
- 224711 Management Consultant
- 251211 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
- 234611 Medical Laboratory Scientist
- 251212 Medical Radiation Therapist
- 322311 Metal Fabricator
- 234912 Metallurgist
- 233611 Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
- 211212 Music Director
- 211213 Musician (Instrumental)
- 234999 Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec
- 251213 Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- 254411 Nurse Practitioner
- 253914 Ophthalmologist
- 251411 Optometrist
- 272313 Organisational Psychologist
- 251912 Orthotist or Prosthetist
- 252112 Osteopath
- 232214 Other Spatial Scientist
- 324111 Panelbeater
- 233612 Petroleum Engineer
- 234914 Physicist
- 134213 Primary Health Organisation Manager
- 253411 Psychiatrist
- 254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
- 254416 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
- 254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
- 254425 Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
- 322211 Sheetmetal Trades Worker
- 399112 Shipwright
- 271311 Solicitor
- 253311 Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
- 253399 Specialist Physicians nec
- 232212 Surveyor
- 452316 Tennis Coach
- 224512 Valuer
- 234711 Veterinarian
- 322313 Welder (First Class) (Aus) / Welder (NZ)
85 Points
- 232111 Architect
- 232213 Cartographer
- 234211 Chemist
- 253911 Dermatologist
- 253917 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
- 234212 Food Technologist
- 253316 Gastroenterologist
- 232112 Landscape Architect
- 323214 Metal Machinist (First Class)
- 234913 Meteorologist
- 253913 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
- 253514 Orthopaedic Surgeon
- 251214 Sonographer
- 241599 Special Education Teachers nec
- 253511 Surgeon (General)
- 134214 Welfare Centre Manager
90 Points
- 224111 Actuary
- 224113 Statistician
95 Points
- 234514 Biotechnologist
- 233411 Electronics Engineer
- 234511 Life Scientist (General)
- 234599 Life Scientists nec
- 234516 Marine Biologist
- 234517 Microbiologist
- 261211 Multimedia Specialist
- 263311 Telecommunications Engineer
- 263312 Telecommunications Network Engineer
- 253324 Thoracic Medicine Specialist
100 Points
- 253518 Urologist
Next invitation round
The first invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) in the 2026-27 program year was held on 15 October 2026. See the table above for the latest status.
On this page you will find information about SkillSelect Invitation Rounds:
- From May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, SkillSelect invitation rounds shifted to a targeted approach to prioritise the occupations Australia needed at the time (historical). See our page on Bespoke Invitation Rounds for 189 and 491 Visa (Family Sponsored Visa).
- For our analysis of the 21 January 2022 invitation round, see our page on the Latest Subclass 189 and 491 Invitation Round Analysis.
- During the COVID-19 border closures (2020 to 2022) several State and Territory skilled programs were closed to offshore applicants. These programs have since reopened. For background on that period, see our page on Which Australian States/Territories are open for Offshore Skilled Migration program?
- The Skilled Migration Program is highly competitive. For further information about the most common occupations selected in the 2021 Skilled Migration program see our page on Top Occupations for Australia Immigration 2021: Skilled Migration.
- If you are looking for information regarding SkillSelect Invitation Rounds in each State/Territory in Australia for the 190 and 491 visas (state sponsored), see the relevant pages below:
Occupation Ceilings
Occupation ceilings may be applicable to the invitations issued for some occupations in the subclass 189 and subclass 491 (family sponsored) visa programs. Occupation ceilings are a reasonable limit on the number of Expression of Interest (EOIs) that can be invited. Occupation ceilings do not apply to State or Territory Nominated visa subclasses.
Previous rounds
21 January 2022 round
Invitations issued on 21 January 2022
| Visa subclass | Number |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | 200 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): Family Sponsored | 200 |
Invitations Issued during 2021-22 Program Year
| Visa subclass | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | 250 | 200 | 200 | |||||||||
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): Family Sponsored | 500 | 200 | 200 |
If you are Invited or Selected
If you are invited to apply for a visa, you will receive an invitation from SkillSelect. The applicant will then have 60 days from the date of invitation to make a valid visa application online prior to the invitation expiring. Applications received outside of the timeline will be invalid and another invitation will be required for the applicant to be eligible.
Occupations in the 21 January 2022 Invitation Round
Related guides
- Industries We Work With
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas – Subclass 491
- Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa
- New 4-tier invitation system for the 189 visa
- Victoria invitation rounds
- NSW invitation rounds
- State sponsorship for Australian PR
- Book a video consultation
