189 Invitation Round October 2026: SkillSelect Results, Minimum Points and What Changed

By Shreyy Duggal, November 02 2026

Home Affairs has published the official results of the 189 invitation round in October 2026. The round was held on 15 October 2026 and issued 20,000 invitations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), double the 10,000 issued on 4 June 2026.

It was the first SkillSelect invitation round of the 2026–27 program year. Here is what changed, which occupations moved, and what it means for your EOI.

SkillSelect Invitation Round October 2026 at a Glance

WeAbide Clients Invited in the 189 Invitation Round October 2026

Thirteen WeAbide clients received subclass 189 visa invitations on 15 October 2026, across 13 different occupations. Each invitation gives the client until 14 December 2026 to lodge their visa application.

The spread tells the real story of this round. A Carpenter was invited at 70 points, while a Multimedia Specialist and a Chemical Engineer needed 95. Your occupation decides the bar, not just your total score.

189 Visa Minimum Points Score: Where Cut-Offs Dropped

Most of the movement in this round was downward. Many occupations that needed 80 points in June were invited at 65 or 70 points in October.

Registered Nurses and GPs: 189 Minimum Points Down to 70

All Registered Nurse categories were invited at 70 points, down from 75–80 in June. General Practitioner, Midwife, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist also came down to 70.

Subclass 189 Visa Occupations Invited at 65 Points

Trades such as Carpenter, Electrician (General), Bricklayer, Plumber (General) and Wall and Floor Tiler were invited at the 65-point minimum. Several professional occupations also dropped sharply:

Where Subclass 189 Points Went Up

Not every occupation became easier. A few cut-offs rose in this round:

Newly Listed Occupations With High Minimum Points

Some occupations appeared with no June figure. ICT Security Specialist was invited at 100 points, Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher and University Lecturer at 90, and Chemical Engineer, Materials Engineer and several telecommunications occupations at 85.

Tie Break Date: Why It Matters for Your EOI

When two EOIs have the same points, the one that reached that score first is invited first. Home Affairs calls this the tie break date, or date of effect.

For example, Registered Nurse (Medical) at 70 points had a tie-break date of 19/11/2025, while Carpenter at 65 points had 21/09/2026. If your EOI reached its score after your occupation's tie-break date, it was not reached in this round.

190 State Nomination and 491 Visa Invitation Update

No subclass 491 Family Sponsored invitations were issued in this round. Subclass 190 and 491 State and Territory Nominated visas sit outside federal rounds, as states and territories select candidates through their own processes.

Home Affairs has updated its state and territory nomination figures to cover 1 July to 30 September 2026. Check your target state's current criteria before planning around a nomination.

What to Do Next With Your EOI

1. Find your occupation in the official results and compare its minimum points score and tie-break date with your EOI.
   

2. If you were invited on 15 October 2026, lodge your visa application within 60 days, by 14 December 2026.
   

3. Review Australia PR points you may be leaving unclaimed: English test score, Professional Year, partner skills, NAATI CCL or regional study.
   

4. If your occupation was not invited, assess whether a 190 or 491 nomination fits your profile.
   

5. Keep your EOI accurate. Every point claimed must be backed by evidence at the visa stage.
   

One round does not predict the next. Occupations, points and invitation numbers can shift each time.

At WeAbide, we review every profile against the latest official data before suggesting a pathway. Not sure where your occupation stands after the 189 invitation round October 2026? Book a consultation with WeAbide at consult@theweabide.com