SkillSelect · Invitation rounds · Checked 28 October 2026
SkillSelect invitation rounds — results tracker
Short answer: the last round (15 October 2026) issued not published subclass 189 invitations with minimum scores from 65 points by occupation. Not announced. Home Affairs had not published the date of the next Skilled Independent (189) round as at 28 October 2026. Every round is tracked below with counts, cut-offs and what they mean.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 28 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Last round
- 15 October 2026
- 189 invitations
- not published
- Minimum points
- 65
- Next round
- expected by 30 Sept 2026
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →Every tracked round
| Round | Year | 189 invitations | 491 (family) | Min points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | 2026-27 | not published | — | 65 | Full results → |
| 4 June 2026 | 2025-26 | 10,000 | — | 65–100 | Full results → |
| 13 November 2025 | 2025-26 | not published | — | 65–100 | Full results → |
| 21 August 2025 | 2025-26 | 6,887 | 150 | 65–110 | Full results → |
| 7 November 2024 | 2024-25 | 15,000 | 0 | 65 | Full results → |
Counts and cut-offs as published by the Department of Home Affairs on its SkillSelect pages; where the Department has not yet published a round's totals, the row says "not published" rather than guessing. Checked 28 October 2026.
For media & republishing
Journalists and publishers covering Australian skilled migration are welcome to cite these figures. The round outcomes are the Department of Home Affairs' own (SkillSelect); this page tracks them round by round and is updated whenever a round drops. Please attribute to WIDEN Migration Experts and link back to this page so readers reach the current results.
SkillSelect invitation rounds
Latest round — 15 October 2026
| Subclass 189 invitations | not published |
| 491 (family-sponsored) | — |
| Minimum points | 65 |
| Checked | 28 October 2026 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect. Compiled by WIDEN Migration Experts (MARN 1576536) · widen.com.au
Suggested citation
WIDEN Migration Experts, “SkillSelect invitation rounds — 15 October 2026,” widen.com.au/invitation-rounds/ (outcomes published by the Department of Home Affairs).
Media enquiries. Keshab Chapagain, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1576536), is available for comment on SkillSelect rounds, points cut-offs and skilled-migration policy. Contact info@widen.com.au or via our contact page.
How invitation rounds actually work
You lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect with a points claim. In each round the Department invites the highest-scoring EOIs, occupation group by occupation group, until the round's quota is used. Two things decide your fate: your points score against your occupation's cut-off, and — at a contested score — the tie-break: the EOI with the earlier date of effect wins. An invitation gives you 60 days to lodge the visa application.
Three practical consequences: score yourself honestly before banking on a round (points calculator); lodge your EOI early because queue position matters at the margin; and if your occupation cleared at 90+ in the last two rounds, a 65-point claim is not a plan — look at state nomination or the regional 491, which add 5–15 points.
General information only, not migration advice. Round outcomes are historical facts and no indicator of any future round. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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Questions we get asked first
When is the next SkillSelect invitation round?
Not announced. Home Affairs had not published the date of the next Skilled Independent (189) round as at 28 October 2026. Rounds are not pre-announced to the day — the Department runs them when program planning requires. The reliable pattern since 2024-25 is one to three large rounds per program year. Register your interest below and we will email you when the next round's results are out.
What was the last 189 invitation round result?
The 15 October 2026 round issued not published Skilled Independent (subclass 189) invitations, with minimum scores from 65 points depending on occupation.
How many points do I need for a 189 invitation?
The legislative minimum is 65, and in recent rounds many construction and building trades were invited at exactly 65. But most professional occupations cleared at 80-95, and specialist medical roles at up to 100-110. The realistic answer depends on your occupation and the size of the round — check the round pages here for your occupation group, and score yourself with the points calculator.
What is the tie-break rule?
When more EOIs share the cut-off score than there are invitations, SkillSelect invites the EOIs with the earliest date of effect first. That is why lodging a complete EOI early matters: at a contested score, months of queue position decide who gets invited.
Do these rounds include the 190 and 491 state-nominated visas?
No — state and territory 190/491 nominations are issued continuously by each government under their own criteria, not in these rounds. The SkillSelect rounds cover the Skilled Independent 189 and, in some rounds, the family-sponsored stream of the 491. For state nomination, see the state nomination guides.
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