The 189 invitation round on 15 October 2026
Settledin Team4 min readUpdate, 12 November 2026: the round was held on 15 October 2026 and Home Affairs invited 20,000 subclass 189 EOIs. Every 2026–27 round is on our 189 invitation rounds page. Before the round, Home Affairs announced that the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) would be held on 15 October 2026. Its notice asks people to make sure their Expression of Interest (EOI) is up to date and that the information in it is accurate. Rounds are periodic, and not every EOI is invited.
Notice checked on Home Affairs on 12 October 2026.
When is the next 189 invitation round?
15 October 2026. The date comes from a Home Affairs site notice, updated on 9 October 2026, which says the next round for the 189 "will be held on 15 October 2026". The same notice says: "Please ensure your Expression of Interest is up to date and that all the information you have provided is accurate."
The department's invitation rounds page is where outcomes are published. Settledin doesn't repeat round figures here. They are on that page.
How often are invitation rounds held?
Home Affairs says it runs rounds "periodically during the program year" for two visas:
- the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), Family Sponsored
The page adds that the number of invitations and occupations in each round varies with the needs of the Australian economy and the number of applications the department already has on hand. It also says that not everyone who submits an EOI will receive an invitation.
How does SkillSelect decide who is invited?
For the 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored, the invitation process works in two steps:
- The highest ranked EOI by points score is invited before an EOI with a lower score.
- For EOIs on equal points, Home Affairs looks at the time and date the EOI reached its score for that subclass. This is the "date of effect", also called the tie break. The earlier date of effect is invited first.
Home Affairs also describes occupation ceilings: an upper limit on how many EOIs from one occupation group it can invite. The page says ceilings do not apply to the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or the 491 State and Territory Nominated.
Home Affairs does not publish a guaranteed cut-off score. For how each points category is counted, see the Australian PR points test, explained.
What do state and territory nominations have to do with the round?
Nothing. Home Affairs says nominations for the 190 and the 491 State and Territory Nominated "will not be affected by the departmental invitation rounds". States and territories decide whether to nominate in SkillSelect, and a nomination triggers an invitation.
What can be updated in an EOI before a round?
Home Affairs' after you submit your EOI page says an EOI can be updated at any time before an invitation is received. It lists changes that affect the details in an EOI:
| Change | Listed by Home Affairs |
|---|---|
| New work experience | Yes |
| A higher education qualification | Yes |
| Improved English language proficiency | Yes |
| A new skills assessment | Yes |
| A change in family structure, for example a baby | Yes, the EOI must be updated |
The page says updating matters because changes "may affect your points score". An EOI stays active in SkillSelect for 2 years from when it is submitted.
Other conditions are tested at the time of invitation. The 189 visa page says the applicant must be aged under 45 when invited, and that someone who turns 45 after submitting the EOI but before being invited will not be invited. It also requires at least Competent English at the time of invitation. Dates and results for English tests are in English test requirements for Australian visas, and how a skills assessment fits in is in skills assessment in Australia, explained.
What happens after a 189 invitation?
The invited person has 60 days from the date of the invitation to lodge the visa application online, and the application has to show the points score stated in the invitation. The full list of what must be true on the day, and the documents involved, is in Invited in SkillSelect: what happens next.
What if an EOI is not invited?
An EOI stays in SkillSelect for its 2 year period and can be updated while it waits. What each status means is covered in EOI submitted but not invited yet.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next 189 invitation round?
15 October 2026, according to a Home Affairs site notice updated on 9 October 2026.
Do I need to do anything to be considered?
Home Affairs' notice asks that the EOI be up to date and accurate. Invitations come from the EOIs in SkillSelect, ranked by points score and then date of effect.
Does the round affect state nominations?
No. Home Affairs says state and territory nominations are not affected by the departmental rounds.
Where are the results published?
On Home Affairs' invitation rounds page.
Is the EOI the same as a visa application?
No. The EOI is the first step. An invitation lets the person apply for the visa.
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table, and shows each category for the 189, 190 and 491.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.