Subclass 189 invitation round, 15 October 2026: is your EOI ready?

The next Subclass 189 invitation round is expected on 15 October 2026.

If you have an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, it will be looked at exactly as it stands on the day of the round. Not as it should be. As it is.

So if you've had a birthday, sat a new English test or clocked up another year of work since you last logged in, your EOI might be underselling you. Or it might be claiming something that has since expired. Either one can cost you.

Here's what to do this week.

What to do before the 189 round on 15 October

Log in to SkillSelect. Read your EOI line by line. Fix anything that has changed. Then make sure you can prove every point you're claiming.

That's the whole job. The rest of this page shows you how.

1. Recount your points

Most people set up their EOI once and never look at it again. But points move. Go through these one at a time:

• Your age. A birthday can drop you into a lower bracket. This one catches a lot of people out.
• Your English. A better score than the one on file is worth adding.
• Your work experience. Points go up at set milestones, so one more year can matter.
• Your study. Finished a degree, a Professional Year or study in a regional area?
• Your partner. A change in relationship status, or a partner with their own skills assessment or competent English, changes your score.
• NAATI CCL. If you passed it after you lodged your EOI, it isn't in there yet.

Not sure where you land? Our free PR points assessment takes about two minutes.

2. Check nothing has expired

Your skills assessment and your English test both have validity periods. If either has run out, or is about to, deal with it now.

While you're there, check that the job dates in your EOI match your references and payslips. A small mismatch is easy to fix today. It's much harder once you've been invited and have to prove it.

3. Know what updating does to your date of effect

Invitations generally go out from the highest points score down. If two people have the same score, the one who reached it first is usually invited first. That moment is called your date of effect.

When your score changes, your date of effect usually changes with it. So:

• If an update raises your points, it's usually worth doing.
• If it doesn't change your points, think twice.
• If it lowers them (an age change, for example), get advice before you touch anything.

Only claim what you can prove. If you're invited, you'll need documents for every point in your EOI.

4. On the day of the round

Invitations come through SkillSelect, along with an email to the address on your EOI. Check your inbox, your spam folder and your SkillSelect account.

Cut-off scores are usually published after the round on the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds page, not before. So there's no way to know in advance whether you'll make it. The best you can do is make sure your EOI is right.

If you get invited

You have 60 days from the date of the invitation to lodge your visa application. That sounds like plenty. It isn't, once you're waiting on a police certificate from overseas.

Start pulling these together now, before the round:

• Passport and identity documents
• Your skills assessment outcome
• English test results
• Employment references, contracts and payslips
• Degrees, certificates and transcripts
• Police certificates (some countries take weeks)
• Partner and family documents, if they're on your application

If you don't get invited this time

Your EOI stays in SkillSelect for up to two years, so you're still in the running for later rounds.

Use the gap. A better English score, another year of work, partner points or a NAATI CCL can all lift your score. Depending on your occupation, a state-nominated visa like the 190 or 491 might also be worth a look.

189 invitation round FAQs

When is the next 189 invitation round?

The next 189 round is expected on 15 October 2026. Results are published on the Department of Home Affairs website after each round.

Should I lodge a new EOI or update my existing one?

In most cases, update the one you have. Starting again can reset your date of effect for no good reason.

Can updating my EOI lower my chances?

Yes, if the change lowers your points or claims something you can't prove. A genuine increase in points is usually worth updating.

How long do I have to apply after a 189 invitation?

60 days from the date of the invitation.

What happens if I'm not invited in this round?

Your EOI stays active for up to two years, so you can still be invited in a later round.