Subclass 189 Invitation Round 15 October 2026: Occupations and Scores Invited, Official Notice and Next Steps
Updated 16 October 2026 (AEDT) · official data and the Newstars summary are updated continuously
The Department of Home Affairs has announced that the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) will be held on 15 October 2026. The round was originally expected by 30 September 2026; around 1 October the SkillSelect page changed this to “by 31 October 2026”, and on 9 October 2026 it was updated to the fixed date of 15 October. Invitations went out on 15 October as scheduled, and the Newstars migration team compiled the occupations and scores of its invited clients the same day (unofficial, see below). The official results of this round (invitations issued and occupation cut-offs) are still to be published.
The shape of this round, from Newstars clients’ invitations (unofficial): a large round, estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 invitations; a wide spread of occupations, with many invitations for priority occupations such as early childhood teachers, social workers, nurses and secondary school teachers; construction trades invited at 65 points; no civil engineering invitations seen.
This page brings four things together: the official wording and timeline for this round, the occupations and scores of Newstars clients invited in this round, the official minimum invited score for every occupation in the last round (4 June 2026), and what to do next whether you are invited or not. It is updated continuously as official data and Newstars’ summary come in, so bookmark it and check back.
Does my EOI have a chance in this round?
Leave your nominated occupation, points and contact details and a registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment.
| This round at a glance | |
| Round date | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
| Data source | Newstars client summary (unofficial); official data pending |
| Occupations seen by Newstars | 58 |
| Points range seen | 65–100 (varies by occupation) |
| Visa application deadline | 14 December 2026 (60 days from the round; the date on your invitation applies) |
| Official results | Pending; usually published about three weeks after the round |
Newstars client summary: occupations and scores invited in the 15 October round (unofficial)
On 15 October the Newstars migration team compiled the SkillSelect invitations its clients received and published them in the Newstars WeChat article “15 October invited occupations and scores: the last big round before the points reform?” (15 October 2026). The points below and the table are taken from that article. They reflect Newstars clients’ invitations, not official data, and are for reference only; once the official results are published, they take precedence.
A large round: Newstars estimates 15,000 to 20,000 invitations
Newstars considers the size of this round comparable to the November 2024 round: at least 15,000 invitations, possibly up to 20,000. The official total has not been published.
A wide spread of occupations, including niche ones
Clients were invited across a wide range of occupations, including niche ones: a tennis coach at 75 points, a solicitor at 65 and an instrumental musician at 65.
Priority occupations received many invitations
Early childhood teachers, social workers, registered nurses and secondary school teachers received many invitations: early childhood teachers at 90 points, social workers at 80 (with some invited at 75), registered nurses at 70 to 75 and secondary school teachers at 80. Newstars compared the invitation cut-off dates for priority occupations against EOI backlog data; they are shown in the notes column of the table, for reference only.
Construction trades invited at 65 points
Carpenters, wall and floor tilers, plasterers, bricklayers, joiners, cabinetmakers and electricians were invited at 65 points, and Newstars believes the 65-point EOIs have most likely all been cleared; painters were invited at 75 and welders at 80.
Civil engineering not invited
Civil engineers, civil engineering draftspersons and technicians, popular occupations with many applicants, were not invited among Newstars clients in this round.
Newstars clients invited: occupations and scores (15 October 2026 round, 58 occupations, unofficial)
| Occupation | Points invited | Note (Newstars) |
| Priority occupations | ||
| Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) | 90 | lodged Jun 2026 and 11 Jul 2026 |
| Social Worker | 80 | lodged Jun 2026; some invited at 75, but mostly at 80 |
| Registered Nurses nec | 75 | all 75-point EOIs cleared |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 70 | lodged Nov 2025 |
| Secondary School Teacher | 80 | lodged 1 Jun 2026 |
| Health related | ||
| Physiotherapist | 70 | |
| General Practitioner | 80 | |
| Veterinarian | 80 | |
| Speech Pathologist | 75 | |
| Occupational Therapist | 75 | |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 85 | |
| Radiation Therapy | 80 | |
| Midwife | 75 | |
| Other professional occupations | ||
| Solicitor | 65 | |
| Barrister | 80 | |
| Environmental Research Scientist | 70 | |
| Multimedia Specialist | 95 | |
| Statistician | 90 | |
| Musician (Instrumental) | 65 | |
| Architect | 85 | |
| Telecommunications Engineer | 85 | |
| Actuary | 85 | |
| Electronics Engineer | 100 | |
| Materials Engineer | 90 | |
| Valuer | 80 | |
| University Lecturer | 90 | |
| Chemical Engineer | 85 | |
| Tennis Coach | 75 | |
| Life Scientist | 95 | |
| Construction Project Manager | 80 | lodged Apr 2026 |
| Management Consultant | 80 | |
| Land Economist | 75 | |
| Landscape Architect | 90 | |
| Petroleum Engineer | 80 | |
| Arts Administrator | 85 | |
| Mechanical Engineer | 85 | |
| Economist | 80 | |
| Agricultural Consultant | 85 | |
| Agricultural Scientist | 85 | |
| Biochemist | 95 | |
| Chemist | 85 | |
| Food Technologist | 80 | |
| Geophysicist | 80 | |
| Other Spatial Scientist | 85 | |
| Engineering Manager | 80 | |
| Environmental Manager | 70 | |
| Mining Engineer | 80 | |
| Telecommunication Network Engineer | 95 | |
| Construction trades | ||
| Carpenter | 65 | cleared |
| Wall and Floor Tiler | 65 | |
| Plasterer | 65 | |
| Painter | 75 | |
| Bricklayer | 65 | |
| Cabinetmaker | 65 | |
| Joiner | 65 | |
| Electrician General | 65 | |
| Electronic Instrument Trades Worker | 70 | |
| Welder | 80 | |
Source: Newstars client invitation summary, 15 October 2026. Unofficial, for reference only; updated when official data is published.
This 189 round: the official wording and the timeline
The Home Affairs notice on the SkillSelect page is two sentences long: the next 189 invitation round will be held on 15 October 2026, and applicants should make sure their EOI (Expression of Interest) is up to date and accurate. The notice does not state how many invitations will be issued or the cut-off score for any occupation; both have always been published after the round.
Originally: by 30 September 2026
The official results of the 4 June 2026 round stated that the next round was expected by 30 September 2026. The published round records show no round on 30 September.
First change: by 31 October 2026
Around 1 October the page was changed to say the next 189 round would be held by 31 October 2026, with no fixed date.
Set on 9 October: 15 October 2026
On 9 October 2026 the page was updated to the fixed date of 15 October 2026 (notice timestamp 9 October 2026, 3:34 pm), with the same reminder to check that your EOI is accurate and up to date.
Results of the 15 October 2026 round: official data, updated continuously
After each round Home Affairs publishes the number of 189 invitations issued, the tie-break date and the minimum score invited for each occupation. When this page was last updated (16 October 2026), the official figures had not yet been published. Home Affairs usually publishes them about three weeks after the round (the figures for the 4 June 2026 round appeared on 24 June); the figures shown are from the Newstars client summary above (unofficial) and will be replaced as soon as the official ones appear, with Newstars’ occupation-by-occupation reading.
Invitations issued this round
Unofficial estimate · updatingAbout 15,000 to 20,000 (Newstars’ estimate from its clients’ invitations, unofficial). The official figure is to be published; the last round (4 June 2026) issued 10,000.
Tie-break date
To be publishedTo be published. The last round’s tie-break date was 24 April 2026.
Minimum score invited by occupation
Unofficial summary · updatingOfficial figures to be published. The 58 occupations and scores of Newstars clients invited in this round are in the Newstars client summary above (unofficial); the full official table for the last round is in the next section.
Official data updated continuously; the figures shown are the Newstars client summary, unofficial.
The last round for reference: minimum score invited by occupation, 4 June 2026
The 4 June 2026 round issued 10,000 subclass 189 invitations with a tie-break date of 24 April 2026. The table below is the minimum score invited for each occupation as published by Home Affairs. To judge your own chances, match the nominated occupation on your skills assessment; broad groups such as “IT”, “engineering” or “nursing” are not enough.
Three things to keep in mind when reading the table
- 65 points is the minimum points requirement for an invitation; reaching 65 does not mean you will be invited. In the last round most occupations sat between 75 and 85 points: construction trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and others) were invited at 65, most registered nurses at 75, statisticians and actuaries at 90, electronics engineers, telecommunications engineers and biotechnologists at 95, and urologists at 100.
- For an occupation missing from the table, no official cut-off has been published and the reason is not inferred. For listed results, Home Affairs notes that a result can also mean no EOIs were available to invite, or that EOIs were available but did not meet the parameters for an invitation.
- The last round’s scores cannot be applied directly to this round: the number of invitations, the number of people in each occupation pool and the spread of scores all change.
Commonly nominated occupations (4 June 2026 round)
| Occupation | Minimum score invited |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Medical) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 75 |
| Midwife | 75 |
| Secondary School Teacher | 75 |
| Special Needs Teacher | 75 |
| Social Worker | 75 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 75 |
| Occupational Therapist | 75 |
| Physiotherapist | 75 |
| Speech Pathologist | 75 |
| Carpenter | 65 |
| Electrician (General) | 65 |
| Plumber (General) | 65 |
| Bricklayer | 65 |
| Wall and Floor Tiler | 65 |
| Gasfitter | 70 |
| Architect | 85 |
| Surveyor | 80 |
| Construction Project Manager | 80 |
| Engineering Manager | 80 |
| Electronics Engineer | 95 |
| Telecommunications Engineer | 95 |
| Statistician | 90 |
| Actuary | 90 |
| Economist | 80 |
| Management Consultant | 80 |
| Solicitor | 80 |
| Chemist | 85 |
| General Practitioner | 75 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 80 |
See all 140 occupations and the official minimum scores (4 June 2026 round)
| Occupation | Minimum score invited |
| Actuary | 90 |
| Agricultural Consultant | 80 |
| Agricultural Scientist | 80 |
| Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber | 65 |
| Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic | 80 |
| Architect | 85 |
| Arts Administrator or Manager | 80 |
| Audiologist | 75 |
| Automotive Electrician | 80 |
| Barrister | 80 |
| Biotechnologist | 95 |
| Boat Builder and Repairer | 80 |
| Bricklayer | 65 |
| Cabinetmaker | 80 |
| Cardiologist | 80 |
| Carpenter | 65 |
| Carpenter and Joiner | 65 |
| Cartographer | 85 |
| Chemist | 85 |
| Child Care Centre Manager | 80 |
| Chiropractor | 80 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 75 |
| Construction Project Manager | 80 |
| Dancer or Choreographer | 80 |
| Dermatologist | 85 |
| Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist | 85 |
| Drainer | 65 |
| Economist | 80 |
| Electrical Engineering Draftsperson | 80 |
| Electrical Engineering Technician | 80 |
| Electrician (General) | 65 |
| Electrician (Special Class) | 65 |
| Electronic Equipment Trades Worker | 80 |
| Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) | 80 |
| Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) | 80 |
| Electronics Engineer | 95 |
| Emergency Medicine Specialist | 75 |
| Endocrinologist | 80 |
| Engineering Manager | 80 |
| Environmental Consultant | 80 |
| Environmental Manager | 80 |
| Environmental Research Scientist | 80 |
| Environmental Scientists nec | 80 |
| Fibrous Plasterer | 65 |
| Fitter (General) | 80 |
| Fitter and Turner | 80 |
| Food Technologist | 85 |
| Footballer | 80 |
| Forester | 80 |
| Gasfitter | 70 |
| Gastroenterologist | 85 |
| General Practitioner | 75 |
| Geophysicist | 80 |
| Glazier | 65 |
| Hydrogeologist | 80 |
| Intensive Care Specialist | 80 |
| Joiner | 65 |
| Land Economist | 80 |
| Landscape Architect | 85 |
| Life Scientist (General) | 95 |
| Life Scientists nec | 95 |
| Lift mechanic | 80 |
| Management Consultant | 80 |
| Marine Biologist | 95 |
| Medical Diagnostic Radiographer | 80 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 80 |
| Medical Practitioners nec | 75 |
| Medical Radiation Therapist | 80 |
| Metal Fabricator | 80 |
| Metal Machinist (First Class) | 85 |
| Metallurgist | 80 |
| Meteorologist | 85 |
| Microbiologist | 95 |
| Midwife | 75 |
| Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) | 80 |
| Multimedia Specialist | 95 |
| Music Director | 80 |
| Musician (Instrumental) | 80 |
| Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec | 80 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 80 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 80 |
| Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | 85 |
| Occupational Therapist | 75 |
| Ophthalmologist | 80 |
| Optometrist | 80 |
| Organisational Psychologist | 80 |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon | 85 |
| Orthotist or Prosthetist | 80 |
| Osteopath | 80 |
| Other Spatial Scientist | 80 |
| Paediatrician | 75 |
| Panelbeater | 80 |
| Petroleum Engineer | 80 |
| Physicist | 80 |
| Physiotherapist | 75 |
| Plumber (General) | 65 |
| Podiatrist | 75 |
| Primary Health Organisation Manager | 80 |
| Psychiatrist | 80 |
| Psychologists nec | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) | 80 |
| Registered Nurse (Community Health) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) | 80 |
| Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) | 80 |
| Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Medical) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) | 80 |
| Registered Nurse (Perioperative) | 75 |
| Registered Nurse (Surgical) | 75 |
| Registered Nurses nec | 75 |
| Roof Plumber | 65 |
| Secondary School Teacher | 75 |
| Sheetmetal Trades Worker | 80 |
| Shipwright | 80 |
| Social Worker | 75 |
| Solicitor | 80 |
| Solid Plasterer | 65 |
| Sonographer | 85 |
| Special Education Teachers nec | 85 |
| Special Needs Teacher | 75 |
| Specialist Physician (General Medicine) | 80 |
| Specialist Physicians nec | 80 |
| Speech Pathologist | 75 |
| Statistician | 90 |
| Stonemason | 65 |
| Surgeon (General) | 85 |
| Surveyor | 80 |
| Telecommunications Engineer | 95 |
| Telecommunications Network Engineer | 95 |
| Tennis Coach | 80 |
| Thoracic Medicine Specialist | 95 |
| Urologist | 100 |
| Valuer | 80 |
| Veterinarian | 80 |
| Wall and Floor Tiler | 65 |
| Welder (First Class) | 80 |
| Welfare Centre Manager | 85 |
Source: Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds page (read 15 October 2026).
Planning to lodge an EOI?
Send us the occupation you plan to nominate and your current points. A registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment and tell you what to work on first.
Same score, who is invited first: ranking by the date the score was reached
SkillSelect invites by nominated occupation and by points from highest to lowest; applicants on the same score are ranked by the date their EOI reached that score (the date of effect), with the earliest first. Home Affairs publishes one tie-break date per round (24 April 2026 for the 4 June 2026 round). It is a round-level summary figure, not published per occupation, and it cannot be used to work out an individual cut-off for a given occupation.
Date first lodged and date the score was reached are two different things
Someone who lodged an EOI in January and only reached 85 points in September ranks behind someone who was already on 85 when they lodged in May. When comparing outcomes, ask “how many points, which occupation and when did you reach that score”, not just “when did you lodge”.
What to watch when updating an EOI
A new English test result, more claimable work experience or a higher qualification all need to be entered in the EOI; a change in points also changes the date the score was reached. Do not leave a claim that is no longer accurate in place to protect your ranking, because every point claimed must be proven at the visa application stage.
An EOI is valid for two years
An EOI is valid for two years from lodgement and must be lodged again after that. If you have not logged in for a long time, first check that the EOI is still valid and that the contact email still works.
After a 189 invitation: lodge within 60 days, with evidence for every point
An invitation is not a grant. From the date of invitation you have 60 calendar days to lodge the visa application; the period cannot be extended and the invitation lapses after it.
Check the invitation first
Confirm the invitation date, the lodgement deadline, the nominated occupation and the points score the invitation is based on, then plan the documents.
Assemble evidence for the invited score
At the visa application stage every point claimed in the EOI needs documentary support: a skills assessment that is still valid, an English test result within its validity period, work experience evidence (employer references, payslips, tax records) matching the claimed period, qualification certificates and evidence for any partner points. If one claim cannot be supported, the application may be refused; it does not work to reason that “the remaining points are still above 65”.
Lodgement and payment
Lodge online through ImmiAccount and pay the government application charge; after lodgement, complete the health examination and character documents (police clearances) as requested.
Not invited this round: find the gap first, then decide whether to wait or change path
Not being invited does not mean the pathway is closed. But if neither your score nor your occupation changes and you simply wait for the next round, it is hard to form a clear plan. Consider the following.
Newstars’ reading is that an occupation not invited in this round very likely has no subclass 189 quota left this program year under the way the quota is allocated. If your score has reached its ceiling, move quickly to employer sponsorship or state nomination; if you are still on a student visa or early in a subclass 485 visa, consider a construction trades course alongside.
Is there room to raise the score?
English (PTE or IELTS), a Professional Year, NAATI community language, partner points, Australian study and work experience: which of these can you realistically obtain within a year? Run the numbers first with the EOI points calculator on this site.
Subclass 190 state nomination and subclass 491 regional
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated visa) and the state-nominated subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional visa, state and territory nominated) are selected by each state and territory under its own occupation list and criteria. They are not affected by the 189 invitation round and have no occupation ceilings. They suit applicants whose occupation is on a state list or who are willing to live and work in a designated regional area.
An employer willing to sponsor
If you already hold a stable job in Australia and your employer is willing to sponsor you, the subclass 482 or 186 employer-sponsored pathway may be worth assessing. Having a job is not the same as being eligible for sponsorship; both the employer and the position must meet the requirements.
Your current visa’s expiry date
Lodging an EOI does not create a bridging visa and does not extend your current visa. If you are onshore and your visa is close to expiry, arrange lawful stay first, then wait for the next round.
How Newstars helps: a registered migration agent assesses your EOI
Newstars Education & Migration has its own migration department, where registered migration agents provide migration advice and lodge visa applications. We can help you check whether your EOI points and your evidence match, whether your skills assessment and English result are still valid, where your chances lie in this round or the next, and whether subclass 190, 491 or employer sponsorship applies beyond subclass 189. If you have already been invited, we plan the document list and the lodgement around the 60-day deadline.
Does my EOI have a chance in this round?
Book a free initial assessment →Related pages
- Australia Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa: EOI points-tested stream
- Australia PR & EOI Points Calculator 2026 (Subclass 189, 190 and 491)
- Australian Skilled Migration Points Table (Subclass 189, 190 and 491)
- State-nominated migration (Subclass 190 and 491)
- Skills assessment
- Employer-sponsored migration (Subclass 482 and 186)
- Australian visa fees 2026-27
- Article: Subclass 189 invitations postponed until the end of October
- Article: Subclass 189 EOI official round report, June round issued 10,000 invitations
- Article: Australia’s migration points reform takes effect March 2027
Common questions about 189 invitation rounds
How often are 189 invitation rounds held?
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed calendar of rounds. The last round was on 4 June 2026 and this one is on 15 October 2026, a gap of a little over four months; earlier gaps have varied widely. The date of the next round is announced on the SkillSelect page.
Is 65 points enough for an invitation?
65 points is the minimum points requirement for an invitation, and reaching it does not guarantee one. In the last round only a few occupations, mainly construction trades, were invited at 65; most occupations were invited at 75 or above. Whether it is enough depends on the nominated occupation, the number of invitations in the round and the tie-break ranking.
When will the cut-off scores for this round be published?
Home Affairs publishes them on the SkillSelect “Invitation rounds” page after the round; no publication date is announced in advance. This page is updated as soon as they appear; until then, see the Newstars client summary on this page (unofficial).
How long do I have to lodge the visa after an invitation?
60 calendar days from the date the invitation is issued. The period cannot be extended.
What happens to my EOI if I am not invited?
The EOI stays in the system until the end of its two-year validity and is ranked again in the next round. You can update your points and details in the meantime.
Does updating my EOI reset my place in the queue?
A change in points updates the date the score was reached; changes that do not affect points, such as contact details, do not affect the ranking. After an update, go by the date of effect shown in SkillSelect.
Can I lodge one EOI for subclass 189, 190 and 491 at the same time?
Yes, several visa subclasses can be selected in the same EOI. State nomination also needs a separate application to the state government, and some states require you to select that state in the EOI first.
How many invitations were issued in the 15 October round?
Not yet published officially. From its clients’ invitations Newstars estimates about 15,000 to 20,000, comparable to the November 2024 round; this page is updated when the official figure is published.
Was anyone in my occupation invited in this round?
Check the Newstars client summary table on this page first (58 occupations and scores, unofficial). An occupation missing from the table does not mean nobody was invited, only that no Newstars client was; once Home Affairs publishes the minimum score by occupation, the official figures take precedence.
How do I know whether I have been invited?
Invited applicants receive an email from SkillSelect, and the invitation and lodgement deadline also show in the SkillSelect account. If no email has arrived, log in first and check the spam folder.
If I lodge an EOI now, will it be considered in this round?
Home Affairs has not published whether an EOI lodged on the day of the round is included in it. An accurate, valid EOI stays in the system and is considered in later rounds.
Already lodged an EOI? See where you sit in the 15 October round
Send us your nominated occupation, points breakdown, English result and skills assessment. A registered migration agent will give you a free initial assessment: your chances this round, the evidence to fix, and the pathways beyond subclass 189.
