The 189 invitation rounds are now quarterly, not monthly

For years, SkillSelect invitation rounds for the subclass 189 ran monthly, often with only a few hundred invitations and unpredictable cut-offs. That has changed.

For the 2025-26 program year, the Department of Home Affairs has moved 189 rounds to a roughly quarterly cadence. The first round of the year, on 21 August 2025, issued 6,887 invitations for the 189 and 150 for the Family Sponsored 491 stream. A second, larger round followed on 13 November 2025.

What it means for candidates

Fewer, bigger rounds means longer waits between chances, but a more predictable planning horizon. If you miss a round by a few points, the next one is months away rather than weeks. That raises the value of getting your points as high as possible before a round rather than submitting an Expression of Interest and hoping.

Cut-offs are still occupation-specific

The August and November rounds invited trades occupations close to the 65-point floor while ICT and accounting needed 90 or more. The quarterly change does not alter that split. State nomination through the 190 and 491 remains the more accessible route for high-competition occupations.

We track every round on the invitation rounds page.