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Insights

Australian skilled migration in charts

The big picture from official data: how many people are invited, how many are waiting, which fields need the most points, where states are nominating and how long visas take. Updated automatically with the data.

Latest 189 round10,000invited, Jun 2026
189 EOIs waiting183,747end of Sep 2026
2026–27 nominations531190 and 491, to Aug 2026
Median 189 cut-off80ptslatest round, 139 occupations

Invitations

How big are 189 invitation rounds?

The last three rounds issued 26,887 invitations in total. The largest round was 35,000 in Dec 2022; the latest, Jun 2026, invited 10,000.

010k20k30k40kAug ’22: 12,20012.2kAug’22Oct ’22: 11,71411.7kOct’22Dec ’22: 35,00035kDec’22May ’23: 7,3537.4kMay’23Dec ’23: 8,3008.3kDec’23Jun ’24: 5,2925.3kJun’24Sep ’24: 7,9738kSep’24Nov ’24: 15,00015kNov’24Aug ’25: 6,8876.9kAug’25Nov ’25: 10,00010kNov’25Jun ’26: 10,00010kJun’26010k20k30k40kAug ’22: 12,200Aug’22Oct ’22: 11,714Oct’22Dec ’22: 35,000Dec’22May ’23: 7,353May’23Dec ’23: 8,300Dec’23Jun ’24: 5,292Jun’24Sep ’24: 7,973Sep’24Nov ’24: 15,000Nov’24Aug ’25: 6,887Aug’25Nov ’25: 10,000Nov’25Jun ’26: 10,000Jun’26
See the numbers
Round189 invitationsTie-break date
22 August 202212,200–
6 October 202211,714–
8 December 202235,000–
25 May 20237,353–
18 December 20238,300Nov 2023
13 June 20245,292–
5 September 20247,973Sep 2022
7 November 202415,000Dec 2022
21 August 20256,887Aug 2025
13 November 202510,000Nov 2025
4 June 202610,00024 April 2026

Source: Home Affairs · Every round →

Invitations

How many points did the latest round need?

In Jun 2026, 139 occupations were invited. Half needed 80 points or more; 15 were invited at the 65-point minimum, including 14 trades.

02040608065 : 15156570 : 117075 : 23237580 : 71718085 : 16168590 : 229095 : 101095100 : 1110002040608065 : 15156570 : 117075 : 23237580 : 71718085 : 16168590 : 229095 : 101095100 : 11100

Number of occupations by the lowest score invited.

See the numbers
Cut-offOccupations
65 points15
70 points1
75 points23
80 points71
85 points16
90 points2
95 points10
100 points1

Source: Home Affairs, 4 June 2026 round · Cut-offs by occupation →

Invitations

Which fields need the most points?

Median 189 cut-off for invited occupations in each field. In the latest round: ICT 95, Engineering 80, Health 80, Trades 80, Teaching 75.

60708090100Aug ’22Oct ’22Dec ’22May ’23Dec ’23Jun ’24Sep ’24Nov ’24Aug ’25Nov ’25Jun ’2660708090100Aug ’22May ’23Sep ’24Jun ’26

ICTEngineeringHealthTradesTeaching

See the numbers
FieldAug 2022Oct 2022Dec 2022May 2023Dec 2023Jun 2024Sep 2024Nov 2024Aug 2025Nov 2025Jun 2026
ICT––85––1009595–9095
Engineering–6585––959085908580
Health6565656565858075807580
Trades65–65––656570658580
Teaching65656565658577.570857575

Source: Home Affairs rounds. Gaps: fewer than 2 occupations invited in that field. ICT: ANZSCO 261–263; Engineering: 233; Health: 25; Trades: 3; Teaching: 241. · Compare occupations →

The queue

How many EOIs are waiting for each invitation?

183,747 EOIs were waiting for the 189 at the end of Sep 2026: about 18 for every invitation in the latest round (10,000).

189 EOIs waiting189 EOIs waiting: 183,747183,747189 invitations, latest round189 invitations, latest round: 10,00010,000189 EOIs waiting189 EOIs waiting: 183,747183,747189 invitations, latest round189 invitations, latest round: 10,00010,000
See the numbers
Count
189 EOIs waiting183,747
189 invitations (Jun 2026)10,000

Sources: SkillSelect EOI data, Home Affairs rounds. EOIs, not people. · Your place in the queue →

The queue

Where do waiting EOIs sit on points?

54% of waiting 189 EOIs have 65 to 75 points. Only 36% have 80 or more, the median cut-off in the latest round (dark bars).

010k20k30k40k50 : 1,6435055 : 5,1915560 : 10,8936065 : 29,9916570 : 33,2847075 : 33,2817580 : 24,5718085 : 19,3568590 : 12,7329095 : 5,71595100 : 1,909100105 : 117105010k20k30k40k50 : 1,6435055 : 5,1915560 : 10,8936065 : 29,9916570 : 33,2847075 : 33,2817580 : 24,5718085 : 19,3568590 : 12,7329095 : 5,71595100 : 1,909100105 : 117105
See the numbers
PointsWaiting 189 EOIs
501,643
555,191
6010,893
6529,991
7033,284
7533,281
8024,571
8519,356
9012,732
955,715
1001,909
105117

Source: SkillSelect EOI data, Sep 2026. Counts under 20 are hidden by the source and left out. · Check your points →

The queue

Is the queue growing?

In the 12 months to Sep 2026, waiting EOIs grew by 55,511 for the 189, 122,774 for the 190 and 147,518 for the 491. One EOI can select several visas.

0100k200k300k400k500kSep ’25Oct ’25Nov ’25Dec ’25Jan ’26Feb ’26Mar ’26Apr ’26May ’26Jun ’26Jul ’26Aug ’26Sep ’260100k200k300k400k500kSep ’25Dec ’25Mar ’26Jun ’26Sep ’26

189190491

See the numbers
Month189190491
Sep 2025128,236286,721298,786
Oct 2025139,346311,922325,953
Nov 2025140,390324,967346,925
Dec 2025144,579336,734361,496
Jan 2026152,280348,452375,091
Feb 2026157,727360,098387,345
Mar 2026162,254369,984399,381
Apr 2026167,085380,456413,558
May 2026171,608387,875423,497
Jun 2026167,583391,488430,986
Jul 2026170,897397,833436,557
Aug 2026176,729401,672438,982
Sep 2026183,747409,495446,304

Source: SkillSelect EOI data. · EOI queue →

The queue

Which occupations have the most EOIs waiting?

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher has the most 189 EOIs waiting (13,463). 9 of these 10 had no 189 invitations in the latest round.

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) TeacherEarly Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher: 13,46313,463ChefChef: 10,83810,838Software EngineerSoftware Engineer: 9,5829,582Civil EngineerCivil Engineer: 8,7628,762ICT Business AnalystICT Business Analyst: 7,8547,854Mechanical EngineerMechanical Engineer: 7,5487,548Registered Nurses necRegistered Nurses nec: 7,5327,532 · cut-off 75Accountant (General)Accountant (General): 7,0757,075Developer ProgrammerDeveloper Programmer: 6,8216,821Engineering TechnologistEngineering Technologist: 5,9185,918Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) TeacherEarly Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher: 13,46313,463ChefChef: 10,83810,838Software EngineerSoftware Engineer: 9,5829,582Civil EngineerCivil Engineer: 8,7628,762ICT Business AnalystICT Business Analyst: 7,8547,854Mechanical EngineerMechanical Engineer: 7,5487,548Registered Nurses necRegistered Nurses nec: 7,5327,532 · cut-off 75Accountant (General)Accountant (General): 7,0757,075Developer ProgrammerDeveloper Programmer: 6,8216,821Engineering TechnologistEngineering Technologist: 5,9185,918
See the numbers
OccupationWaiting 189 EOIsLatest cut-off
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher13,463–
Chef10,838–
Software Engineer9,582–
Civil Engineer8,762–
ICT Business Analyst7,854–
Mechanical Engineer7,548–
Registered Nurses nec7,53275
Accountant (General)7,075–
Developer Programmer6,821–
Engineering Technologist5,918–

Source: SkillSelect EOI data, Sep 2026. · EOI queue →

States

Which states are nominating in 2026–27?

States made 531 nominations for the 190 and 491 from 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026. Tasmania made the most (261). South Australia and Victoria haven’t nominated anyone yet.

TasmaniaTasmania: 206Tasmania: 55261Western AustraliaWestern Australia: 17Western Australia: 120137Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory: 91Northern Territory: 25116New South WalesNew South Wales: 11New South Wales: 011QueenslandQueensland: 6Queensland: 06ACTACT: 0ACT: 0fewer than 10South AustraliaSouth Australia: 0South Australia: 00VictoriaVictoria: 0Victoria: 00TasmaniaTasmania: 206Tasmania: 55261Western AustraliaWestern Australia: 17Western Australia: 120137Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory: 91Northern Territory: 25116New South WalesNew South Wales: 11New South Wales: 011QueenslandQueensland: 6Queensland: 06ACTACT: 0ACT: 0fewer than 10South AustraliaSouth Australia: 0South Australia: 00VictoriaVictoria: 0Victoria: 00

190491

See the numbers
State190491
ACT<5<5
New South Wales110
Northern Territory9125
Queensland6<5
South Australia00
Tasmania20655
Victoria00
Western Australia17120

Source: Home Affairs. Home Affairs shows counts under 5 as “<5”; they’re left out of the total. · State allocations →

Processing

How long do skilled visas take?

Half of 189 applications were decided within 61 days, and 90% within 8 months. Dark: 50% of applications decided. Light: 90%.

189189: 61189: 18361 days · 8 months190190: 122190: 3654 months · 16 months491 (state)491 (state): 152491 (state): 3965 months · 18 months186 Direct Entry186 Direct Entry: 639186 Direct Entry: 12221 months · 25 months482 Core Skills482 Core Skills: 122482 Core Skills: 1524 months · 9 months485 graduate485 graduate: 5485 graduate: 505 days · 55 days189189: 61189: 18361 days · 8 months190190: 122190: 3654 months · 16 months491 (state)491 (state): 152491 (state): 3965 months · 18 months186 Direct Entry186 Direct Entry: 639186 Direct Entry: 12221 months · 25 months482 Core Skills482 Core Skills: 122482 Core Skills: 1524 months · 9 months485 graduate485 graduate: 5485 graduate: 505 days · 55 days
See the numbers
Visa50% within90% within
18961 Days8 Months
1904 Months16 Months
491 (state)5 Months18 Months
186 Direct Entry21 Months25 Months
482 Core Skills4 Months9 Months
485 graduate5 Days55 Days

Source: Home Affairs processing times, updated 29 September 2026. · Who is processed first →

Occupations

Are shortage occupations invited more?

Of 189-eligible (MLTSSL) occupations rated in national shortage, 65% were invited in the latest round, against 59% of those with no shortage.

ShortageShortage: 6565%Regional or metro shortageRegional or metro shortage: 8686%No shortageNo shortage: 5959%ShortageShortage: 6565%Regional or metro shortageRegional or metro shortage: 8686%No shortageNo shortage: 5959%
See the numbers
Shortage ratingMLTSSL occupationsInvitedShare
Shortage1358865%
Regional or metro shortage7686%
No shortage684059%

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 Occupation Shortage List, Home Affairs Jun 2026 round. · Browse occupations →

Processing

Which occupations are processed first?

185 of 504 skilled-list occupations are in Direction 122’s priority sectors, led by healthcare (114).

HealthcareHealthcare: 114114ConstructionConstruction: 4545ResourcesResources: 1414TeachingTeaching: 1212HealthcareHealthcare: 114114ConstructionConstruction: 4545ResourcesResources: 1414TeachingTeaching: 1212
See the numbers
SectorOccupations
Healthcare114
Construction45
Resources14
Teaching12

Source: Ministerial Direction 122. Agriculture, law enforcement and defence depend on the role, so they aren’t counted. · Check your group →

Sources and method