When Is the Next 189 Invitation Round? Latest Home Affairs Status, the Last Eight Rounds and What to Do While You Wait
Updated 23 October 2026 (AEDT) · updated as soon as Home Affairs publishes a new date or changes its wording
As of 23 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs has not announced the date of the next Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) invitation round. The most recent round was held on 15 October 2026, and its official results (total invitations and the minimum score for each occupation) have not been published yet.
This page covers three things: what Home Affairs says now, the dates and sizes of the last eight rounds, and what to check before the next round. When Home Affairs publishes a new date or changes its wording, this page is updated straight away, so bookmark it.
Check my EOI before the next round
Leave your nominated occupation, points and contact details and a registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment.
| Status at a glance | |
| Next round date | Not yet announced by Home Affairs (as of 23 October 2026) |
| Most recent round | 15 October 2026, official results pending |
| Invitations in the previous round (official) | 10,000 (4 June 2026) |
| 2025–26 program year | Three rounds |
| Minimum points requirement for an invitation | 65 |
What Home Affairs says now: the next round date has not been announced
The SkillSelect “Invitation rounds” page currently lists only the results of the 4 June 2026 round and gives no date for the next one (the page was last updated on 14 October 2026). Before the 15 October round, Home Affairs firmed up the date in three steps:
First an expected date: by 30 September 2026
The official results of the 4 June 2026 round said the next round was expected to be held by 30 September 2026.
Then a new expected date: by 31 October 2026
In early October, the page changed to say the next 189 round was expected to be held by 31 October 2026, still without a specific date.
Then the date: 15 October 2026
On 9 October 2026, Home Affairs published the exact date, 15 October, just six days before the round.
The last eight 189 invitation rounds: dates and invitations issued
The table below lists the last eight 189 rounds published by Home Affairs. The gap between rounds has ranged from about two months to more than nine months, with no fixed cycle; the 2025–26 program year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026) had three rounds.
| Round date | 189 invitations (official) | Since previous round |
| 15 October 2026 | Not yet published | over 4 months |
| 4 June 2026 | 10,000 | almost 7 months |
| 13 November 2025 | 10,000 | almost 3 months |
| 21 August 2025 | 6,887 | over 9 months |
| 7 November 2024 | 15,000 | 2 months |
| 5 September 2024 | 7,973 | almost 3 months |
| 13 June 2024 | 5,292 | almost 6 months |
| 18 December 2023 | 8,300 | almost 7 months |
Source: Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds page and previous rounds page (read 23 October 2026).
While you wait for the next round, check these first
The next round can be announced at any time, and there may be only a few days between the announcement and the invitations. Use the time now to check every claim on your EOI: once invited, you have 60 calendar days to lodge your visa application, with evidence supporting every point you claimed.
Your points and the date you reached them
Applicants on the same score are ranked by the date they reached that score (the date of effect). Update your EOI as soon as you complete another year of work experience or receive a new English result, and make sure every point you claim can be supported by evidence. You can start by working out your current score with the EOI points calculator.
Expiry of your skills assessment and English test
Your English test result must still be valid when you are invited, so if it is close to expiring, book a new test now. Skills assessments also have expiry dates; if yours is close to expiring, arrange a renewal now. If it has already expired, what you can do depends on your circumstances, so ask a registered migration agent. The EOI itself is valid for two years.
Age band dates
Under the current points table, your age points drop when you turn 33 and again at 40, and you can no longer be invited for subclass 189 once you turn 45. If your birthday is close, work out how many points you will have after it. The points test is about to be reformed; once the changes take effect, the new rules published by Home Affairs apply.
Pathways beyond subclass 189
The state-nominated subclass 190 and the state- or territory-nominated regional subclass 491 visas run on each state’s own rounds, on a different rhythm from 189. If your points are not yet enough for 189, look at the states’ requirements at the same time.
Where to find the results of the 15 October round
The Newstars client invitation summary for the 15 October round (58 occupations and scores, unofficial) and the official minimum scores by occupation for the previous round are on the “Subclass 189 Invitation Round 15 October 2026” page. When the official results are published, that page is updated the same day.
How Newstars can help: a registered migration agent reviews your EOI
Send us your nominated occupation, your current points breakdown and the expiry dates of your skills assessment and English test. A registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment: where you stand now, which points you can still improve, and the pathways beyond subclass 189.
Not sure how ready your EOI is?
Book a free initial assessment →Related pages
- Subclass 189 Invitation Round 15 October 2026: Occupations and Scores Invited, Official Notice and Next Steps
- Australia PR & EOI Points Calculator 2026 (Subclass 189, 190 and 491)
- Australian Skilled Migration Points Table (Subclass 189, 190 and 491)
- Australia Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa: EOI points-tested stream
- State-nominated migration (Subclass 190 and 491)
- Skills assessment
- Article: Australia’s migration points reform takes effect March 2027
Common questions about the next 189 round
When is the next 189 invitation round?
As of 23 October 2026, Home Affairs has not announced it. For the most recent round, Home Affairs first gave a “by” deadline and then published the exact date close to the round. This page is updated when Home Affairs updates its page.
How often are 189 invitation rounds held?
There is no fixed cycle. Over the last eight rounds the gap has ranged from about two months to more than nine months; the 2025–26 program year had three rounds.
Can I wait for the announcement before updating my EOI?
Not necessarily. For the 15 October round there were only six days between Home Affairs publishing the date and the invitations going out. Update your EOI as soon as your points change, because applicants on the same score are ranked by the date they reached it.
How many invitations were issued on 15 October?
The official figure has not been published yet; Home Affairs publishes it after the round. Based on its clients’ invitations, Newstars estimates around 15,000 to 20,000 (unofficial). The official figure for the previous round (4 June 2026) was 10,000.
How do I know whether I have been invited?
Invited applicants receive an email notification from SkillSelect, and you can also log in to your SkillSelect account to check your EOI status.
Check your EOI before the next round
Send us your nominated occupation, points breakdown and the expiry dates of your skills assessment and English test. A registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment.
