For many applicants, invitation day means refreshing the inbox again and again, hoping for good news. After the 15 October Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) round, successful candidates have been posting their results online, and the numbers reveal something worth understanding before your next EOI decision.
Note: every score below was shared by applicants themselves. None of it comes from Home Affairs, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a promise.
One Visa, a Wide Range of Cut-Offs
The lowest reported invitations came in at 65 points, mostly in trades, while the highest was 95 points for an agricultural consultant. That 30-point difference within a single visa subclass shows what really drives the 189: your nominated occupation shapes the score you need far more than the official minimum does.
The 65-point threshold only makes you eligible to be in the queue. It does not predict when you’ll be invited. The earlier large round on 4 June 2026 sent out 10,000 invitations, with occupation-level scores falling anywhere from 65 to 100. October’s results look very similar.
Trades: Realistic for Many Applicants
Most of the shared results came from tradespeople, and a good share of them were invited at 65 to 75 points. Here is what people reported:
- Carpenters: 65, 70 and 75 (the carpenter and joiner reports were at 75)
- Painters: 70 and 75
- Solid plasterers: 65, 70 and 75
- Wall and floor tilers: 65 and 70
- Electricians and panel beaters: 65 each
The more technical trades tell a different story. Electronic Instrument Trades Workers (General) were invited at 65, yet Electronics Equipment Trades Workers needed 85, and Electrical Engineering Draftspersons were reported at 80 and 85.
Notice too that scores vary by as much as 10 points inside the same trade. The date your EOI took effect, how many invitations the round offered and how crowded your occupation is all influence where you land.
Expert guidance tailored to your unique journey. Get a personalized roadmap from a Registered Migration Agent today.Navigate Your Migration
With Confidence.
Nursing: Needed, Yet Still Points-Driven
Registered Nurses (NEC) were reported at 75 and 80, while Registered Nurses (Critical Care) were reported at 75. There is real workforce demand for nurses, but a modest points claim will not carry you. An EOI is ranked on points, not on how badly the country needs your profession.
Teaching: Early Childhood Stands Out
Early Childhood Teachers reported 90 points, among the highest of the whole round. A Secondary Teacher holding a Master of Teaching reported 80, and that figure included points for a partner. Applicants without a partner would have to find those extra points elsewhere.
Engineering and Science: The Top End of the Scale
Occupations in this group produced the biggest numbers:
- Chemical Engineer and Telecommunications Engineer: 85
- Food Technologist and Agricultural Scientist: 85
- Agricultural Consultant: 85 and 95 (the round’s highest report)
- Materials Scientist: 90
When many people compete for the same occupation, scores rise quickly. For these fields, excellent English, a higher qualification and well-documented skilled work experience can decide who is invited.
Five Things Shaping the 189 Today
1. Treat 65 as a starting line. Several migration practices point out that EOIs are ordered mainly by points, with occupation demand and similar factors coming after. Holding only the minimum seldom leads to an invitation.
2. Round sizes are unpredictable. In August 2025, 6,887 invitations were issued, which is under half of the 15,000 offered in the round before it. Fewer invitations tend to lift cut-offs, while larger rounds can relax them. A single round tells you little about the overall direction.
3. A fresh program year is underway. Home Affairs said the first round of 2026–27 would take place by 30 September 2026. New planning levels bring new competition, so refresh your EOI now instead of waiting for the next announcement.
4. Look at the alternatives. If you’ve been sitting at 65 to 75 points, compare the state-nominated routes. The 190 gives you 5 extra points and the 491 gives you 15, though each carries location obligations. The 190 expects you to stay in the nominating state for at least two years. The 491 means living and working in a regional area, and generally three years of that before you can apply for the subclass 191. The 189 gives you the most flexibility, which explains why it is the most competitive.
5. Documentation is non-negotiable. Each point on your EOI must be supported by proof. With the scrutiny applied today, even one unverified claim can damage an otherwise solid application.
How to Improve Your Position
- Research your own occupation. What counts as a strong score for a carpenter is very different from a materials scientist.
- Add points the right way. Superior English is worth 20 points. Consider a Professional Year or a NAATI credential if you qualify, and see whether your partner can contribute points.
- Update your EOI whenever something changes. New work experience, a better English result or a new qualification only counts once it is recorded on your EOI.
- Collect your paperwork ahead of time. Skills assessment, employment references, payslips and English test results should be ready before any invitation arrives.
- Keep perspective. Outcomes differ from one round to the next, so one result is not a final judgement on your chances.
Received an Invitation?
Congratulations! You will normally have 60 days to submit your visa application. Get going immediately on your documents, health examinations, police clearances and proof for every point you claimed. An unsupported claim can put the entire application in jeopardy.
Missed Out This Time?
You are not falling behind. Plenty of people who were eventually invited went through several rounds first. Spend the time boosting your score, weighing up the 190 and 491 pathways, and following changes to occupation lists and policy.
Not sure how your EOI measures up? A points health-check before the next round could save you months.
