Invited in SkillSelect: what happens next
Settledin Team4 min readAn invitation in SkillSelect means you can now apply for the visa. Home Affairs gives 60 calendar days from the date of the invitation to lodge the application online, and it can't extend that time. The application then has to show the points score stated in the invitation, with evidence for every claim in the EOI.
Rules checked against Home Affairs on 5 October 2026.
How long do I have to apply after a SkillSelect invitation?
60 calendar days from the date of the invitation. The Skilled Independent visa page says Home Affairs can't extend this time, and the Skilled Nominated visa page says the same.
The invitation arrives by email from SkillSelect. The application itself is lodged online in ImmiAccount, the Home Affairs account for visa applications. Home Affairs' Expression of Interest page asks applicants to get the application in on time.
How the invitation came about depends on the visa:
| Visa | Who triggers the invitation |
|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Home Affairs, in its invitation rounds |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | A state or territory nomination, which triggers the invitation |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), State or Territory Nominated | A state or territory nomination |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), Family Sponsored | Home Affairs, in its invitation rounds |
Source: Home Affairs' invitation rounds page.
What must be true on the day of the invitation?
Several requirements are tested at the time of invitation, not when the EOI was submitted or when the application is lodged. From the 189 visa page and the 190 visa page:
| Requirement | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Points | The invitation states the points score you must meet. It may be higher than 65, depending on the claims in the EOI. |
| Age | Under 45 when invited. Turning 45 after the invitation doesn't stop the application. |
| Skills assessment | A suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation, obtained in the 3 years before the invitation date, or a shorter period if the assessment says so. Home Affairs also accepts one obtained within the 60 day invitation period. |
| English | At least Competent English at the time of invitation |
| Nomination | For the 190 and the State or Territory Nominated 491, a nomination by a state or territory government agency |
How each points category is counted, and why points can change while an EOI waits, is in the Australian PR points test, explained.
What documents does the visa application need?
Evidence for every claim made in the EOI. The 189 visa page lists evidence that, depending on the claims, can cover:
- the skills assessment
- English language results
- skilled employment in Australia or overseas
- educational qualifications
- the Australian study requirement, specialist education or study in regional Australia
- an accredited community language
- partner skills
- a Professional Year in Australia
For work experience, the evidence has to relate to employment before the date of invitation. Home Affairs lists employment references, contracts, payslips, tax statements and superannuation information as examples.
The same page also covers identity and relationship documents, and character documents. An Australian police certificate is needed from anyone who has spent 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16. Home Affairs says it prefers health checks to be done before the application is lodged.
What if my points have changed since the invitation?
Home Affairs' own instruction is not to apply if you can't show the points score on the invitation or the other criteria (189 visa page). The EOI is frozen while the invitation is open. Once the 60 day period has passed, the EOI can be updated again, and a new EOI can also be submitted.
For the 190, Home Affairs adds that a nomination withdrawn by the state after the application is lodged makes the application invalid (190 visa page).
What happens if I don't apply within 60 days?
Home Affairs' after you submit your EOI page says you then wait until you are invited again, and a second invitation is not certain.
| Situation | What Home Affairs says happens |
|---|---|
| First invitation not used | The EOI can be updated after the 60 days and may be invited again |
| Second invitation not used | The EOI is removed from SkillSelect. For the 190, a new EOI is needed. |
| Visa granted after an invitation | The EOI is removed from SkillSelect |
| No invitation within 2 years | EOIs are archived after 2 years |
What each EOI status means, including Invited and Lodged, is in SkillSelect EOI statuses, explained.
Does an invitation mean the visa will be granted?
No. Home Affairs says an invitation does not mean the visa will be granted (189 visa page). The application is assessed on the evidence, and the applicant and family members applying with them also have to meet the health and character requirements.
Applications can be lodged from inside or outside Australia. Someone applying in Australia must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa, or the application will not be processed. An EOI on its own does not lead to a bridging visa.
Since 19 September 2026, Home Affairs processes 189, 190 and 491 applications in a published order under Ministerial Direction 122:
- Applications relating to construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests
- Applicants who were in Australia when they applied
- Applicants outside Australia whose application is not combined with another person's
- All other applications
Current processing times are on Home Affairs' processing times guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a SkillSelect invitation valid?
60 calendar days from the date of the invitation. Home Affairs says it can't extend this.
Can I update my EOI after an invitation?
Not while the invitation is open. The EOI is frozen, and it can be updated once the 60 day period has passed.
Do I need a skills assessment before the invitation?
Home Affairs requires a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation, and also accepts one obtained within the 60 day invitation period.
What if I turn 45 after I'm invited?
Home Affairs says you can still apply. The age limit is under 45 at the time of invitation.
How many times can I be invited?
Home Affairs invites an EOI twice at most. If neither invitation is used, the EOI is removed from SkillSelect.
When is the next 189 round?
Home Affairs' site notice, updated on 9 October 2026, says the next 189 round will be held on 15 October 2026.
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 5 October 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.