Last updated: 30 March 2026

189 Visa Invitation Rounds: Latest SkillSelect Updates

The subclass 189 visa does not accept direct applications. Before you can lodge a formal application with the Department of Home Affairs, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and receive an invitation. That invitation comes through periodic rounds — and how those rounds work, what the published data tells you, and how to position your EOI within the pool are central to planning your 189 pathway.

This page explains how SkillSelect invitation rounds operate, how to read occupation ceiling data and cutoff scores, what recent patterns show across occupation types, how tie-breaking rules work, and what your options are if you have been in the pool without receiving an invitation.

How SkillSelect Works

SkillSelect is the online platform managed by the Department of Home Affairs for submitting and managing Expressions of Interest. Every applicant seeking a subclass 189 visa must submit an EOI before receiving an invitation to lodge.

When you submit your EOI, you declare:

• Your nominated ANZSCO occupation code
• Your calculated points score across all applicable factors
• Your skills assessment reference number
• Personal circumstances including age, English level, qualifications, and employment history

Your EOI enters a ranked pool alongside all other 189 EOIs for your occupation. You do not receive an invitation simply by meeting the minimum threshold of 65 points — the Department issues invitations competitively, from the highest scores downward, up to the number of places allocated for that round.

How Invitation Rounds Are Run

In each round, the process follows a defined sequence:

1. The Department determines how many invitations to issue across the 189 subclass for that round, and how many to allocate to each ANZSCO occupation code
2. Within each occupation pool, EOIs are ranked by points score from highest to lowest
3. At the cutoff point — where the allocated invitations run out — tie-breaking applies to applicants with equal scores
4. Invitations are issued to the selected applicants
5. Invited applicants have 60 days to lodge a formal visa application through ImmiAccount

Invitation rounds are now run on a quarterly schedule. As of 2025–26, the Department runs approximately four rounds per financial year — one per quarter (Q1 Jul–Sep, Q2 Oct–Dec, Q3 Jan–Mar, Q4 Apr–Jun). This is a significant change from the monthly cadence that operated in earlier program years. The move to quarterly rounds means that applicants who miss a round may wait three months or more for the next opportunity.

The Department publishes SkillSelect outcome reports on its website approximately 6 to 8 weeks after each round. These reports are the authoritative source of data on what score was required in each round and for which occupations.

Occupation Ceilings

The Department applies occupation ceilings to the 189 program. A ceiling is a cap on the total number of invitations that can be issued for a specific ANZSCO occupation code across the entire program year. Ceilings exist to spread the permanent residency intake across a wider range of occupations and prevent any single occupation from absorbing a disproportionate share of the program.

When an occupation hits its annual ceiling:

• No further invitations are issued for that occupation under subclass 189 until the new program year begins
• Your EOI remains in the pool but will not be actioned until the ceiling resets
• High-demand occupations — particularly in ICT — reach their ceilings earlier in the financial year

The practical implication is that your wait time in SkillSelect is not solely a function of your score. An occupation that has reached its ceiling will not issue invitations regardless of your points total. Monitoring your occupation’s ceiling status through the Department’s SkillSelect outcome reports is part of tracking your prospects.

Cutoff Scores: How to Read the Data

The Department’s SkillSelect outcome reports publish the following for each round:

What the cutoff score tells you

The lowest score invited is the floor for that specific round. It tells you what was required at that moment — not what will be required in future rounds. Cutoff scores fluctuate because:

• New high-scoring EOIs enter the pool each month
• Previously invited high-scorers leave the pool, sometimes reducing the pressure at the top end
• The Department’s per-round allocation changes
• Occupation ceiling positions change through the financial year

A cutoff of 85 this month does not mean next month’s cutoff will be 85. It may be higher if a large number of new high-scoring EOIs have entered, or lower if the Department issues a larger allocation.

What the latest EOI submission date tells you

At the cutoff score, tie-breaking goes to the applicant who submitted their EOI earliest. The “latest EOI submission date” in the outcome report is the submission date of the last person invited at the cutoff score.

If your score matches the cutoff and your submission date is earlier than the date shown, you were likely invited. If your submission date is later, you were not invited in that round but remain in the pool. This is why submitting your EOI as soon as your information is accurate is worthwhile — earlier submission dates improve your tie-breaking position without requiring any change to your score.

November 2025 Round: Confirmed Invitation Data

The November 2025 round — run on 13 November 2025 — is the most recently published SkillSelect round as of March 2026. It was a significant round that issued more invitations than any earlier 2025–26 round.

The November 2025 round confirmed the quarterly pattern — no invitations were run in September or October 2025. The total of 16,887 subclass 189 invitations issued across the first two rounds of the 2025–26 program year positions the program to reach a significant annual total by June 2026.

Minimum Scores by Occupation — November 2025

The following minimum scores were recorded in the November 2025 round. These are the actual cutoff figures from the published outcome report, not estimates.

These figures illustrate the four-tier priority structure operating in the 2025–26 program: trades and nursing occupations invite at the lowest scores (65–75), professional services and engineering invite at 85, and highly competitive or over-supplied occupations require 90 or above.

Cutoff Score Patterns by Occupation Type

The following patterns are based on observed SkillSelect outcome data. Always verify against the current outcome reports for your specific ANZSCO code — these are illustrative patterns, not current figures.

High-demand ICT occupations

Occupations such as Software and Applications Programmers (ANZSCO 261311), ICT Business Analysts (261111), and Systems Analysts (261112) consistently see high cutoff scores due to large EOI pools. Cutoffs in the 85 to 95 range are typical for these occupations. Applicants at 65 to 75 points in these categories may remain in the pool for extended periods without an invitation at current program settings.

Accounting occupations

Accounting occupations including General Accountants (221111) and Management Accountants (221112) have pools with competitive pressure, given the volume of overseas-trained accountants who hold skills assessments. Cutoffs in the 75 to 85 range are common. The exact figure varies with program year and pool composition.

Engineering occupations

Engineering occupations vary considerably by discipline. Civil engineers, structural engineers, and electrical engineers typically see cutoffs in the 70 to 80 range. Niche engineering specialisations with smaller pools may see lower cutoffs because fewer high-scoring applicants compete for available places. Check your specific ANZSCO code’s history.

Nursing occupations

Registered Nurses (254411) have seen variable invitation patterns. Periods with no invitations under the 189 have alternated with periods of active rounds. If your occupation has been quiet under the 189, the subclass 190 or 491 may offer more consistent invitation activity for your specific situation.

Lower-volume occupations

Occupations with smaller EOI pools — where fewer applicants compete for available places — often see lower cutoffs. For some occupations, 65 to 70 points may be sufficient. The outcome report history for your specific ANZSCO code over the past 12 months is the most informative reference you have.

Tie-Breaking Rules

When two or more applicants have the same score at the cutoff, the Department resolves the tie using EOI submission date. The applicant who submitted their EOI earlier receives the invitation.

This rule has two practical consequences:

Submit your EOI as soon as your information is accurate. Once you have a valid skills assessment, a valid English test result, and a reliable points calculation, there is no strategic reason to delay. Every day you wait is a day you lose in the tie-breaking queue.

Be deliberate about updating your EOI. Updating certain fields in your EOI — including English test scores, employment history entries, and qualifications — resets your submission date to the date of the update. If you update your EOI to add 5 points but your updated submission date is months later than your original, the tie-breaking position you built up over that time is lost.

The trade-off: if your points improvement is 10 or more points, updating is almost always worthwhile regardless of the submission date reset, because you move above more of the pool. If the improvement is 5 points and you are already in a strong tie-breaking position, the calculation is less clear. Assess this case by case against your occupation’s observed cutoff range.

EOI Expiry

Your EOI remains active in the SkillSelect pool for up to two years from the date of submission. If you have not received an invitation within two years, the EOI expires. You can submit a new EOI after expiry — but your new submission date restarts the tie-breaking clock.

Manage your EOI timeline actively. If you are approaching the two-year mark without an invitation, consider:

• Whether your points score can be improved before expiry
• Whether alternative pathways such as the subclass 190 state nominated visa or 491 are viable with your current profile
• Whether your occupation is still on the MLTSSL and whether invitation activity for your ANZSCO code is expected

Strategy If You Are Not Getting Invited

If you have been in the SkillSelect pool for 6 months or more without an invitation, work through the following assessment:

Step 1: Check your occupation’s invitation history

Access the SkillSelect outcome reports on the Department’s website. Filter for subclass 189 and your ANZSCO code. Look at the past 12 months:

• Has your occupation been running regular rounds?
• What is the range of cutoff scores?
• How many invitations are issued per round?

If your occupation has seen no rounds for several months, it may have reached its annual ceiling. In this case, you are waiting for the new financial year rather than for your score to become competitive.

Step 2: Calculate your genuine score and compare it to the cutoff range

A common situation is that the score you calculated for your EOI does not match what you can actually evidence at lodgement. Before assuming your score is competitive, verify that every claimed point is supported by documentation you can produce within 60 days of receiving an invitation.

If your score is below the observed cutoff range, consider what improvements are achievable:

Step 3: Evaluate alternative pathways

If your occupation has a ceiling or your score is not competitive under the 189, the subclass 190 state nominated visa may offer a more accessible pathway. State nomination adds 5 points to your score, which can move you above the cutoff for many occupations. States also have their own occupation lists that sometimes include occupations not achieving invitation activity under the 189.

The permanent residency in Australia framework includes several employer-sponsored pathways that do not depend on the points-tested system at all, which may be relevant depending on your employment situation.

Submitting and Managing Your EOI

Your EOI is submitted and managed through the SkillSelect section of your ImmiAccount. Key steps:

• Log in to your ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• Complete your EOI with accurate information for each points factor
• Enter your skills assessment reference number
• Note your submission date — this is your tie-breaking timestamp
• Set up email notifications so you receive an alert if an invitation is issued

Once you receive an invitation email, you have 60 days to lodge your formal application. This window cannot be extended. Do not let it expire.

For detailed requirements you need to meet at lodgement, see our subclass 189 visa guide. For what happens after you lodge — including current wait times — see our page on 189 visa processing time.

Frequently Asked Questions About 189 Invitation Rounds

How often does SkillSelect run invitation rounds?

As of 2025–26, invitation rounds run quarterly — approximately four times per financial year. This is a change from the monthly cadence that operated in earlier program years. The Department does not publish a fixed calendar, but the two rounds run so far in 2025–26 were in August and November 2025, consistent with a quarterly pattern. Missing a round now means waiting approximately three months for the next opportunity. Monitoring the SkillSelect outcome reports on the Department’s website — published approximately 6 to 8 weeks after each round — is the most reliable way to track activity for your specific ANZSCO code.

What determines the cutoff score for 189 invitations?

Cutoff scores depend on the number of invitation places allocated for that round, the number of EOIs in the pool for your occupation, the occupation ceiling for the financial year, and the points distribution of applicants currently competing. These variables shift every round. A cutoff that was 85 last month may be 80 or 90 next month depending on new EOI entries, the Department’s allocation decisions, and where the occupation sits relative to its annual ceiling.

What happens if you don’t get invited?

Your EOI remains in the pool for up to 2 years from the submission date. If your score is below the cutoff for your occupation, your options are to improve your points and update your EOI, wait for a change in program settings that lowers the cutoff, consider a state nomination pathway under the subclass 190 or 491, or assess whether an employer-sponsored pathway is available. A MARA-registered migration agent can help you assess which combination of options suits your specific profile.