Australia Subclass 189 Visa Round Expected by 31 October

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Update — October 23, 2026: Australia’s Department of Home Affairs says the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is expected by October 31. It has not announced an exact day, invitation total or score cut-off for that upcoming round. The date is an expectation, not a guaranteed invitation for every applicant.

The subclass 189 is a points-tested permanent visa for eligible skilled workers. It does not require state or territory nomination. Australia’s subclass 190 is another permanent skilled visa, but it does require a state or territory nomination. Both routes require applicants to meet the relevant rules and receive an invitation before applying.

What is confirmed about the next subclass 189 round?

The Department’s SkillSelect page lists October 31, 2026 as the expected date by which the next subclass 189 invitation round will be held. The most recent published round shown on the page took place on June 4, 2026, when 10,000 subclass 189 invitations were issued. The published tie-break date was April 24, 2026.

That earlier round is not a forecast for the next one. Home Affairs says invitations are ranked by points, with earlier tie-break dates favoured where applicants have equal scores. The number of invitations and occupations selected can vary with programme needs and the number of applications already held. A submitted Expression of Interest (EOI), even one scoring at least 65 points, does not guarantee an invitation.

Who can seek a subclass 189 invitation?

Applicants must first check that their nominated occupation is on the current skilled occupation list for the visa. They need a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and must meet the points-test threshold of at least 65 points. Home Affairs says an applicant must be under 45 when invited; turning 45 after receiving an invitation does not prevent applying, but turning 45 before an invitation means they will not be invited.

The 65-point figure is a minimum eligibility threshold, not the score that guarantees selection. Invitation competitiveness can differ by occupation and round. Points are based on factors including age, English ability, skilled employment and qualifications. Applicants must be able to support every claim in their EOI with evidence.

What applicants in SkillSelect should check now

Before the expected round, EOI holders can review whether their occupation, skills assessment, English test results, work history and points claims are accurate and current. Home Affairs says applicants can update an EOI before receiving an invitation. A skills assessment generally must have been obtained within the three years before invitation, unless it was issued for a shorter period, in which case that period must still be valid.

An EOI is not a visa application. If Home Affairs invites a candidate, the Department’s published process gives 60 days from the invitation to lodge the visa application online and provide supporting documents. Candidates should check the invitation notice and live Home Affairs instructions rather than rely on an old points estimate or third-party prediction.

How subclass 189 differs from subclass 190

Subclass 189 does not require nomination by a state or territory. Subclass 190 does. State and territory governments set their own nomination priorities and processes; they are separate from the Department’s subclass 189 invitation round. Applicants considering subclass 190 should check the rules and occupation priorities of the state or territory where they seek nomination.

Eligible applicants may include qualifying family members in an application, subject to the visa’s requirements, including health and character checks. A permanent visa is not Australian citizenship; citizenship has separate eligibility and residence rules.

What Nigerians should know

Nigerian citizens can seek a subclass 189 visa if they meet the same occupation, skills assessment, age, points and invitation requirements. Nationality alone does not provide extra points or guarantee selection. Before spending money on assessments or migration advice, confirm that the nominated occupation is eligible, check the assessing authority’s requirements and calculate points using the Department’s official tool.

Read the current official guidance before making a decision. Invitation dates and selection outcomes can change, and only an invitation from Home Affairs allows a candidate to proceed to the visa application stage.

Official sources

Visa requirements and invitation-round information can change. Confirm current details with Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.