On 15 October, the Department of Home Affairs issued a new round of Skilled Independent Subclass 189 invitations as scheduled.
Looking at the number of invitations and the spread of occupations in this round, we believe its scale may be comparable to the November 2024 round. We estimate that at least 15,000 invitations were issued, possibly as many as 20,000.
What are the key features of this 189 invitation round?
First, the number of invitations was clearly substantial, estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000.
Second, the round covered a very broad range of occupations, including some less common occupations that have rarely received 189 invitations in the past. For example, one of our clients was invited as a tennis coach in this round, and there was also a Solicitor invitation at 65 points.
The traditional “four treasures” occupations also received a large number of invitations in this round. We will further compare and analyse the specific cut-off dates for priority occupations against EOI backlog data, aiming to reconstruct the invitation outcomes for different occupations as closely as possible. However, as we do not currently have all the official data, this analysis can only be used as a reference.
Construction trades also performed particularly strongly in this round, with several related occupations receiving invitations at 65 points. Based on the information currently available, some construction trades occupations may well have essentially cleared their backlog in this round.
However, not all popular occupations received invitations. Civil engineering occupations, including Civil Engineer and Civil Engineering Draftsperson and Technician, still showed no clear evidence of invitations in this round.
This is related to the large applicant numbers and substantial EOI backlogs in these occupations. It also shows that 189 invitations are not simply issued across the board from the highest score down; occupation quotas and other factors still influence them.
Below are most of our invitations.
This 189 invitation round may be an important opportunity before points system reform
Several official sources have now confirmed that the new skilled migration points system reform is expected to be implemented around March 2027.
Given the very large number of 189 invitations in this round, and the usual impact of the Christmas and New Year holiday period in December on the Department’s work schedule, we believe this is very likely to be one of the final one or two 189 invitation rounds before points system reform. We cannot even rule out the possibility that it is the last round before the reform.
Ultimately, this will depend on the Department’s subsequent invitation schedule and the date the reform is formally implemented.
Applicants who successfully received a 189 invitation in this round should promptly review their other EOI arrangements.
If you have received a 189 invitation, consider promptly withdrawing any 190 EOI lodged at the same time, along with duplicate 189 EOIs, to avoid receiving duplicate invitations later and free up more opportunities for other applicants.
What should you do next if you were not invited in this round?
Applicants who did not receive a 189 invitation in this round need to assess their position further against their occupation and points score.
If your score has essentially reached the maximum currently available to you but your occupation still received no invitations in this round, the current 189 allocation and invitation mechanism suggest that there may not be enough invitation places for that occupation this financial year.
In that situation, simply continuing to wait for a 189 invitation may not be the only option. You can also consider Subclass 190 or 491 state nomination, or employer-sponsored pathways such as Subclass 482 or 186.
If you still hold a student visa or have just moved onto a Subclass 485 graduate visa, you can also consider other occupational directions, such as construction trades, in advance, taking account of your qualifications, occupation and future migration plans. Expanding your skills and employment options can preserve more possibilities for migration later.
Overall, the defining features of this 189 invitation round were its large volume, broad occupational coverage and particularly strong showing by some construction trades. Those who have been invited should move ahead with their visa applications promptly. Those who have not yet been invited need to assess their occupation, points and visa timeframe early to decide whether to keep waiting for a 189 invitation or pursue state nomination, employer sponsorship or other pathways.
