Australia's Next 189 PR Invitation Round Is on 4 June 2026: Here's Everything You Need to Know
If permanent residency through the Skilled Independent pathway is on your radar, this week matters.
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed on its official SkillSelect invitation rounds page that the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) will be held on 4 June 2026 — that is five days from now.
This is not a minor administrative update. The 4 June round is almost certainly the final invitation round of the 2025–26 program year. The new program year opens in late July or August 2026. If you are in the SkillSelect pool and your score is competitive, this round could be the one that changes everything. If you have been sitting on an outdated EOI or a score that needs updating, you have a very narrow window to act.
Here is everything you need to know — what this round means, what cutoff scores to expect based on the most recent published results, what to check in your EOI right now, and what your options are if you do not receive an invitation this time.
What Is the 189 Visa and Why Does This Round Matter?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is Australia's most sought-after permanent residency pathway — and for good reason. It grants direct, unconditional permanent residency without requiring an employer to sponsor you, a state or territory to nominate you, or any commitment to live in a particular region.
You apply based entirely on your own profile — your occupation, your points score, your English language ability, and your work experience. If you receive an invitation and your application is granted, you become a permanent resident of Australia immediately.
Because of this, demand is enormous. The 189 visa is points-tested and invitation-only — you cannot simply apply. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, enter a ranked pool, and wait for the Department to run an invitation round. The highest-scoring applicants in each occupation receive invitations first.
Why the 4 June round is particularly significant:
The 2025–26 program year runs from July 2025 to June 2026. The Department moved to a quarterly invitation cycle this year — approximately four major rounds per year, replacing the unpredictable ad-hoc system that previously left applicants waiting indefinitely.
In practice, only two rounds have run in the 2025–26 year so far:
- August 2025 — 6,887 invitations issued
- November 2025 — 10,000 invitations issued
- January–March 2026 — no round ran during this window
- 4 June 2026 — confirmed as the next round
This means the June round is likely only the third round of the year, not the fourth — and is expected to be the final round before the 2026–27 program year opens. Any places remaining in the 2025–26 annual allocation that have not been filled in earlier rounds may be issued here. End-of-year rounds have historically run larger invitation batches as the Department works to meet its annual target before the program year closes — though the exact number is never announced in advance.
SettleMate's Tip: The last round issued 10,000 invitations. With one fewer round than expected this year and program places to fill before July, there is a reasonable case that the June round runs a larger batch. That is not guaranteed — but if you are sitting close to the cutoff for your occupation, it is worth being optimistic and making sure your EOI is in order.
What Points Score Do You Need? The Reality of Cutoffs in 2026
This is the question every applicant asks — and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on your occupation.
The official minimum to lodge an EOI is 65 points. But the realistic cutoff to receive an invitation in 2026 is significantly higher for most professional occupations. The Department does not publish per-occupation cutoffs before or after rounds run — the figures below are based on third-party analysis of the 13 November 2025 round results, the most recently published round. Treat them as indicative benchmarks, not confirmed thresholds.
🔵 Tier 1 — Critical shortage trades and care roles
Australia has acute shortages in foundational construction and trades roles. These occupations have been receiving invitations at or near the minimum eligibility score, reflecting urgent workforce demand.
Indicative cutoff range: 65–75 points
Examples: Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Plasterer, Bricklayer, Cook, Early Childhood Educator, some nursing specialisations
🟡 Tier 2 — Healthcare, education, and allied health
Healthcare and education remain high-priority occupations. Cutoffs in this tier vary significantly by specialisation — some clearing lower than others depending on workforce demand.
Indicative cutoff range: 75–90 points
Examples: Registered Nurse (specialty-dependent), Secondary School Teacher, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
🟠 Tier 3 — Engineering, STEM, and technical professionals
Engineering and STEM roles sit in the mid-to-high range. Competition has intensified as applicant volume in these fields has grown.
Indicative cutoff range: 85–95 points
Examples: Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Telecommunications Engineer, Civil Engineering Technician
🔴 Tier 4 — ICT, accounting, business, and professional services
These are the most oversubscribed occupations in the SkillSelect pool. Competition is fierce and the gap between the official 65-point minimum and the realistic invitation threshold is the widest in this tier.
Indicative cutoff range: 90–110 points
Examples: Software Engineer, ICT Business Analyst, Accountant, Management Consultant
Important: These figures come from third-party analysis of the November 2025 round, not official Department of Home Affairs data. The Department does not publish per-occupation cutoffs. Actual cutoffs for the June 2026 round will only be known after the round runs. Your occupation's specific ANZSCO code, the number of active EOIs in your occupation, and the invitation allocation for this round will all influence where the cutoff lands.
The tie-breaker rule — why your EOI submission date matters:
When multiple applicants share the same points score in the same occupation, the Department breaks the tie using the Date of Effect (DOE) — the date and time when your EOI reached its current points score. An earlier date is better. If you are at the cutoff score, an EOI that reached that score one day before a competitor's will receive the invitation first.
This is why submitting your EOI as early as possible — and avoiding unnecessary updates that reset your DOE — matters as much as your raw points score when you are near the threshold.
What to Check in Your EOI Right Now — Before 4 June
You have five days. Here is the exact checklist.
✅ Check 1: Is your EOI Active and submitted — not in Draft?
Log into your ImmiAccount at online.immi.gov.au and navigate to SkillSelect. Confirm your EOI for the Subclass 189 shows a status of Active with a submitted date. An EOI sitting in Draft does not enter the invitation pool. This is one of the most common and entirely preventable reasons applicants miss rounds.
✅ Check 2: Is your English test result still valid?
English test results must be within three years of the invitation date to be valid. If your test was taken before approximately June 2023, it may no longer be valid for the 4 June round. Check the exact expiry date for your specific test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, OET) against the round date — not your EOI submission date.
✅ Check 3: Has your age bracket changed?
Points for age are assessed at the time of invitation, not at the time you submitted your EOI. If a birthday has recently moved you from one age bracket to a lower one — for example from 25–32 (30 points) to 33–39 (25 points) — your effective points score has dropped and your EOI may not reflect this. Update your age details if they have changed.
✅ Check 4: Is your overall points score still accurate?
Work through every category in your EOI:
- Work experience — Have you accumulated more Australian or overseas work experience since you last updated? More experience means more points.
- Qualifications — Are your education details correctly entered and consistent with your skills assessment?
- Partner details — If your partner has recently obtained a skills assessment or improved their English language score, updating their details can add up to 10 points.
- NAATI credential — If you hold a NAATI community language credential, confirm it is correctly claimed.
✅ Check 5: Is your occupation still on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?
Under the Skills in Demand (SID) visa framework introduced in late 2024, the eligible occupation list is now called the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). While the CSOL covers most previously eligible MLTSSL occupations, confirm your specific ANZSCO code remains on the list at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before the round runs.
⚠️ What NOT to do before 4 June
Do not update your EOI if the update resets your Date of Effect without meaningfully improving your score.
Updating your EOI — even to correct a minor detail — can reset your Date of Effect to today's date. This removes any tie-breaking advantage you have built up from an earlier submission date. If the update you are considering does not increase your points score, and the detail in question is unlikely to cause problems at visa application stage, consider leaving it until after the round runs.
If you are unsure whether to update, this is exactly the kind of question a MARA-registered migration agent can answer in a short consultation — and a 30-minute call before the round is far less costly than missing an invitation because of a misstep.
SettleMate's Tip: Do not leave this until 3 June. SkillSelect updates can take time to process. If you need to make changes, do them today or tomorrow.
What Happens When the Round Runs on 4 June?
The round runs automatically. The Department's system pulls all active EOIs from the SkillSelect pool, ranks them by points score within each occupation and visa subclass, and issues invitations from the top down until the allocated places for the round are filled.
You will receive a notification through your ImmiAccount and the email address registered to your account if you receive an invitation. The Department does not contact applicants by phone.
If you receive an invitation:
You have exactly 60 days from the date the invitation is issued to lodge a complete Subclass 189 visa application through ImmiAccount. This deadline is hard — there are no extensions. If you miss it, the invitation is permanently forfeited and you must re-enter the pool for a future round.
Do not delay. Treat the day you receive your invitation as Day 1 of the most important 60-day window in your migration journey. Gather every document immediately: skills assessment, English test results, police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more, health examination results, and employment references that support every work experience claim in your EOI.
If you have not already engaged a MARA-registered migration agent, do so the same day you receive your invitation.
If you do not receive an invitation:
Your EOI remains active in the pool. You are not removed and do not need to resubmit. You will be considered again in the next round — the first round of the 2026–27 program year, expected in late July or August 2026.
If You Are Below the Cutoff — Your Other Options
If your points score is below the realistic threshold for the 189 in your occupation, the 189 is not the only road to permanent residency.
🗺️ Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated (State or Territory Nomination)
The 190 visa adds 5 bonus points through state or territory nomination. If your occupation is on a state's nomination list and you meet that state's requirements, 5 extra points can meaningfully shift your competitive position — and for many applicants, bridges the gap to the invitation threshold.
Each state and territory runs its own nomination program with its own occupation lists and requirements. The 190 invitation round typically runs on or closely aligned with the 189 round. Check the immigration page for the state or territory you live in or plan to move to.
🌾 Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional
The 491 adds 15 bonus points through state or territory nomination or nomination by an eligible family member. This is the most accessible points-tested pathway to permanent residency for applicants who cannot reach the 189 threshold.
The trade-off is regional living: 491 visa holders must live and work in a designated regional area. After three years, 491 holders can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa. For many applicants, the 491-to-191 pathway delivers permanent residency faster in practice than waiting to clear a competitive 189 cutoff.
You can hold active EOIs for the 189, 190, and 491 simultaneously — there is no penalty and no additional fee for maintaining multiple EOIs.
⏳ Wait for the 2026–27 program year
The 2026–27 program year opens in late July or August 2026. A new annual allocation means a fresh set of program places. If you are close to the cutoff, use the intervening weeks to push your score higher: improving your English result to Superior (IELTS 8.0 or equivalent, worth 20 points compared to 10 for Proficient), accumulating additional Australian work experience, or exploring the NAATI community language credential for an extra 5 points.
Points test reform has also been consulted on as part of recent migration reviews. If legislative changes to point weightings come into effect for 2026–27, your score under the new system may shift — positively or negatively. Watch this space.
SettleMate's Take
The 4 June invitation round is the most important date on the PR calendar right now for every skilled migrant with an active EOI in SkillSelect.
Five days is not much time — but it is enough to log in and verify your EOI is Active, confirm your English test has not expired, check your age bracket is still correct, and make sure your points score accurately reflects your current situation.
If you receive an invitation on 4 June, treat the 60-day window as the most critical deadline of your migration journey. Move fast, gather every document, and verify that every claim in your EOI can be backed by evidence. The invitation is the door — your application is what determines whether you walk through it.
If you do not receive one, you are not starting over. Your EOI stays active. The 2026–27 program year opens in July. Use the time well.
SettleMate will publish an update the moment the official results of the 4 June round are published by the Department of Home Affairs. Follow us to be the first to know — and share this with anyone in your network who has a 189 EOI sitting in SkillSelect right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next 189 PR invitation round in Australia? The Department of Home Affairs has officially confirmed the next Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) invitation round will be held on 4 June 2026. This is confirmed on the official SkillSelect invitation rounds page at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds.
Is this the last 189 invitation round for 2025–26? Yes — based on the quarterly invitation cycle the Department has followed in 2025–26, with rounds in August 2025, November 2025, and now June 2026, the 4 June round is expected to be the final round of the 2025–26 program year. The new 2026–27 program year is expected to open with its first round in late July or August 2026. Note that no round ran in the January–March 2026 window, making June only the third round of the year rather than the fourth.
How many invitations will be issued on 4 June 2026? The Department does not pre-announce the number of invitations per round. The previous round on 13 November 2025 issued 10,000 invitations. As this is expected to be the final round of the program year — and no round ran in the January–March 2026 window — the Department may issue a larger batch to fill remaining 2025–26 program places before the year closes. This is not guaranteed.
What points score do I need to receive an invitation in the June 2026 round? It depends entirely on your occupation. Based on third-party analysis of the November 2025 round — the most recently published round — indicative cutoffs were: trades (65–75 points), healthcare and education (75–90 points), engineering and STEM (85–95 points), and ICT, accounting, and professional services (90–110 points). These are estimates only. The Department does not publish official per-occupation cutoffs. Actual cutoffs for June will only be known after the round runs.
Should I update my EOI before 4 June? Only if the update increases your score or corrects a genuine inaccuracy that would cause problems at visa application stage. Updating your EOI can reset your Date of Effect — which affects your tie-breaking position if multiple applicants share the same score in your occupation. If you are unsure, speak with a MARA-registered migration agent before making any changes.
How long do I have to lodge my application after receiving an invitation? 60 days from the date your invitation is issued. This is a hard deadline — no extensions. If you miss it, the invitation is permanently forfeited and you must re-enter the SkillSelect pool for a future round.
What if I don't get an invitation on 4 June? Your EOI remains active. You do not need to resubmit. The next round will be in the 2026–27 program year — expected late July or August 2026. Use the time to maximise your score and also explore the Subclass 190 (state nominated, +5 points) and Subclass 491 (regional, +15 points) pathways, which typically run concurrently with the 189 round.
Will the 190 and 491 rounds also run on or around 4 June? The Department typically runs 189, 190, and 491 rounds on the same or closely aligned dates. Check SkillSelect and relevant state and territory nomination websites for confirmation. You can hold active EOIs for all three visa subclasses simultaneously with no penalty and no additional fee.
Where can I see the official confirmation of the 4 June round? The official source is the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds page at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds. The page confirms the 4 June 2026 date and advises applicants to ensure their Expression of Interest is up to date and accurate.
Official and Trusted Resources
- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect Invitation Rounds (official): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds
- Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189
- Department of Home Affairs — Points table: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- ImmiAccount (to check and update your EOI): online.immi.gov.au
- Fair Work Ombudsman — for work rights enquiries: 13 13 94
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. SettleMate is not a registered migration agent. Information is sourced from the official Department of Home Affairs website as of 30 May 2026. Indicative points cutoff figures are based on third-party analysis of the November 2025 invitation round and are not official Department of Home Affairs data — actual cutoffs for the June 2026 round will only be known after the round runs. For personalised advice on your EOI, points score, and PR pathway, consult a MARA-registered migration agent.
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