Australia continues to strengthen its skilled migration system through regular Rounds of Australia Invitation under the SkillSelect program. These invitation rounds determine which skilled workers receive invitations to apply for a Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189, Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190, and Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491). The latest round has attracted significant attention from skilled applicants worldwide, especially due to rising demand for occupations in engineering, IT, healthcare, and trades. Here are the key highlights from the most recent invitation round.
1. Increase in Invitations for High-Demand Occupations
The latest round focused strongly on occupations that Australia urgently needs to fill due to workforce shortages. This includes roles in:
Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, structural)
Health & Nursing (registered nurses, aged care workers, medical laboratory scientists)
Information Technology (software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, ICT business analysts)
Trade Occupations (carpenters, electricians, welders)
These priority occupations saw higher invitation numbers compared to previous rounds, highlighting the government's commitment to filling critical skill gaps quickly.
2. Higher Points Requirement for Subclass 189
The Subclass 189 Visa continues to remain competitive, with many candidates needing 90+ points to receive an invitation. This increase reflects both the limited number of invitations issued for this visa and the high calibre of applicants worldwide.
While the government has issued more invitations than earlier months, the demand still exceeds supply, keeping the cut-off high.
Key trends:
STEM professionals were among the top recipients.
Invitations for medical and healthcare roles were issued at relatively lower points compared to IT and engineering.
Offshore candidates also received a good number of invitations, showing Australia’s openness to global talent.
3. Strong Focus on State & Regional Migration (Subclass 190 & 491)
States and territories played a major role in this round by nominating skilled workers for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.
Highlights include:
New South Wales (NSW) invited candidates primarily in nursing, engineering, and ICT.
Victoria focused on STEM, healthcare, and research-related occupations.
Queensland and South Australia issued significant invitations to trades and regional occupation list applicants.
Tasmania and ACT continued to prioritise long-term residents and critical skills.
The 491 visa remains especially attractive due to faster processing and higher nomination numbers.
4. Offshore Candidates Receive More Invitations
A major positive highlight from the latest round is the increased invitations for offshore applicants. With Australia expanding its workforce strategy for 2025–2029, offshore skilled workers are essential to meet labour shortages.
Occupations like nursing, software engineering, and civil engineering saw strong offshore selection.
5. Overall Cut-off Points & EOI Trends
Trends from the latest round show:
Highly competitive scores for 189 (90+ points)
Moderate cut-offs for 190 depending on state
491 invitations issued at comparatively lower points
Faster EOI processing for priority sectors
Applicants with strong English scores, relevant experience, and early lodging of their EOI had higher chances of receiving invitations.
Conclusion
The latest Round of Invitation Australia reflects the nation’s continued emphasis on attracting worldwide talent to support economic growth increase and address ongoing skill shortages. While Subclass 189 remains competitive, the rise in invitations for Subclass 190 and 491 indicates that states and regional areas are playing a crucial role in Australia’s migration strategy. Skilled professionals—especially in healthcare, engineering, IT, and trades—stand an excellent chance of securing an invitation by ensuring a strong EOI profile and exploring state nomination opportunities.
