By Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619467. Checked against the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds, expression of interest and Migration Program planning level pages on 1 October 2026. We will update this article as soon as the round results are published.
If you have an Expression of Interest (EOI) sitting in SkillSelect for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, you have probably been checking your inbox all week. You are not alone. Thousands of skilled workers, graduates and tradies in Australia and overseas are waiting on the first 189 round of the 2026-27 program year, and it has been a long wait since June.
When is the next 189 invitation round?
The Department of Home Affairs says the next 189 invitation round is expected to be held by 30 September 2026. That is a target, not a fixed date, and there is no set day of the year when rounds happen. The first round of 2025-26 was held on 21 August 2025, and the first round of 2024-25 on 5 September 2024.
As of today, 1 October 2026, Home Affairs has not published any results. Its SkillSelect page still lists 4 June 2026 as the most recent round, and the 2026-27 tally shows no 189 invitations issued yet. Results tables usually go up a little after a round runs, so if invitations went out on or around 30 September, some people may hear from SkillSelect before the official figures appear. Either way, a round is due, and we will update this page the moment Home Affairs confirms it. You can also follow every round on our invitation rounds page.
The good news: more 189 places this year
The 2026-27 Permanent Migration Program sets aside 21,090 places for the Skilled Independent category, up from 16,900 in each of the last two years. That is 4,190 extra places, an increase of close to 25 per cent. The Government has linked the increase to the 189 visa's strong record of skilled employment and positive fiscal outcomes.
More places across the year gives more room for invitations, although Home Affairs has not said how many invitations the next round will carry.
What the last round tells us
The 4 June 2026 round invited 10,000 EOIs for the 189 visa, with a tie-break date of 24 April 2026. Minimum scores varied widely by occupation:
- 65 points for many construction trades, including Carpenter, Bricklayer, Electrician (General), Plumber (General), Glazier, Wall and Floor Tiler, Solid Plasterer and Stonemason
- 75 points for many health and education occupations, including General Practitioner, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Secondary School Teacher and several Registered Nurse specialisations
- 95 points or more for occupations such as Telecommunications Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Microbiologist and Multimedia Specialist, with Urologist at 100
Past cut-offs are a guide only. Each round depends on the places available, occupation ceilings and the EOIs in the pool at the time, so the next round could look quite different.
What to do while you wait
- Check your EOI is accurate. Home Affairs has asked everyone to make sure their EOI is up to date and correct. Only claim points you can prove with documents, because an invitation based on a wrong claim can lead to a refusal. Our SkillSelect EOI guide walks through each section.
- Recheck your points score. A better English result, another year of skilled work or your partner's skills can lift your score, while moving into an older age bracket can lower it. Update your EOI as soon as anything changes. Use our points calculator or read the points test explained.
- Know how ties are broken. When two EOIs have the same score, the one that reached that score earlier is invited first. This is why keeping your EOI current matters.
- Keep your skills assessment and English test valid. An expired result can cost you points at the moment you need them.
- Get your documents ready now. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application in ImmiAccount. Police certificates, identity documents and employment references can take weeks to gather.
- Keep 190 and 491 in view. State and territory nominations run separately and are not affected by the 189 rounds. State nomination may suit your occupation better. Our 189 vs 190 vs 491 comparison sets out the differences.
A note for anyone feeling anxious
We know how hard the waiting is, especially when a visa expiry date, a job or family plans depend on the outcome. A slow start to the year does not mean the 189 program has stopped. This year's planning level is higher than last year's, and Home Affairs has confirmed a round is due. If your current visa is close to expiring, talk to us early about your options so you are not left without a plan.
How we can help
Our team can review your points claims, check your EOI for errors that could cost you an invitation, and map out a backup route through state nomination or employer sponsorship. Call 1300 644 728, email visa@nanakmigration.com.au or book your consultation online.
This article is general information only and is not immigration advice for your circumstances. Migration law and policy change frequently; confirm the current position with a registered migration agent before acting. Nanak Migration Group, 1313 Success Group Pty Ltd, ABN 54 674 937 476. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467.