Introduction
After a nine-month pause, the Department of Home Affairs conducted the first SkillSelect invitation round for the 2025-2026 program year on 21 August 2025. This much-anticipated round brought significant news for thousands of skilled visa applicants, issuing invitations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored stream.
For applicants with an active Expression of Interest (EOI), understanding the results of this round is essential for effective migration planning. This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the invitation data, breaking down the key trends, minimum points scores, and prioritised occupations to help you strategically position yourself for future SkillSelect invitation rounds.
Executive Summary of the Recent Invitation Round
Total Invitations & Minimum Points
The Department of Home Affairs conducted a SkillSelect invitation round on 21 August 2025, issuing a significant number of invitations after a nine-month pause. This round marked the first for the 2025-2026 program year and brought welcome news to many applicants with an EOI.
| Visa Subclass | Invitations Issued | Tie-Break Date |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | 6,887 | August 2025 |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored | 150 | May 2025 |
The minimum points score required to receive an invitation for the Subclass 189 visa was 65. However, this score was primarily available for specific trade occupations. For other professions, points requirements ranged significantly higher, in some cases exceeding 100 points.
Top Invited Occupation Groups
The 21 August 2025 invitation round showed a clear and continued focus on specific sectors facing critical skill shortages in Australia, which helps explain why South Australia needs skilled tradespeople and graduates. The invitations were heavily concentrated across three main occupation groups, indicating the government’s top priorities for skilled migration.
The most prominent occupation groups that received invitations were:
- Health and Medical: This sector saw strong activity, with invitations extended to various health professionals, including:
- Registered Nurses
- General Practitioners
- Social Workers
- Physiotherapists
- Education: Professionals in the education sector were also prioritised, with invitations issued to:
- Early Childhood Teachers
- Secondary School Teachers
- University Lecturers
- Construction and Trades: This group represented a major focus of the round, with numerous invitations going to tradespeople such as:
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Bricklayers
Trends Compared to Previous Rounds
When compared to the last invitation round held in November 2024, the August 2025 round shows a notable shift in volume. The previous round was significantly larger, with 15,000 invitations issued for the Subclass 189 visa — more than double the 6,887 invitations issued in this round.
Despite the decrease in the total number of invitations, the overall trend regarding occupation focus remains consistent. Both rounds prioritised applicants in the health, education, and construction sectors.
The minimum points threshold for trade occupations also remained low at 65 points, while the points required for other professional roles continue to be highly competitive.
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August 2025 SkillSelect Data: A Breakdown
Invited Occupations & Minimum Points
The invitation round on 21 August 2025 saw a wide range of occupations receiving invitations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored stream. The minimum points required to be varied significantly depending on the profession, with trades and construction roles invited at lower thresholds compared to more competitive specialist and professional fields.
Below is a summary of the occupations invited, and the minimum points score required for each visa subclass in this round:
- Trades and Construction: The trades sector generally required lower point thresholds, making these pathways more accessible:
- Bricklayer: 65 points (189), 70 points (491)
- Carpenter: 65 points (189)
- Electrician (General): 65 points (189), 75 points (491)
- Plumber (General): 65 points (189), 80 points (491)
- Painting Trades Worker: 70 points (189)
- Wall and Floor Tiler: 65 points (189), 75 points (491)
- Health and Medical: Healthcare professionals faced varying point requirements, with some specialisations in higher demand:
- Registered Nurse (various specialisations): 80 points (189), with some streams like Critical Care and Emergency invited at 65 points (491)
- General Practitioner: 80 points (189)
- Physiotherapist: 80 points (189), 80 points (491)
- Clinical Psychologist: 75 points (189)
- Midwife: 80 points (189), 75 points (491)
- Medical Diagnostic Radiographer: 80 points (189), 90 points (491)
- Education: Education professionals consistently required higher point scores across both visa subclasses:
- Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher: 85 points (189), 80 points (491)
- Secondary School Teacher: 85 points (189), 80 points (491)
- University Lecturer: 85 points (189), 80 points (491)
- Special Needs Teacher: 85 points (189), 80 points (491)
- Specialist and Professional Roles: These occupations typically demanded the highest point thresholds:
- Actuary: 90 points (189)
- Architect: 90 points (189)
- Construction Project Manager: 90 points (189)
- Chemical Engineer: 90 points (189)
- Solicitor: 90 points (189)
- Electronic Equipment Trades Worker: 110 points (189)
Invitation Breakdown by Visa Subclass
The Department of Home Affairs issued a total of 7,037 invitations in the 21 August 2025 SkillSelect invitation round. The vast majority of these were for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), with a smaller number allocated to the family-sponsored stream of the regional visa.
The breakdown of invitations is as follows:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): 6,887 invitations were issued.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored: 150 invitations were issued.
When multiple candidates have the same points score, a tie-break rule is applied based on the date their EOI reached that score. For this round:
- The tie-break date for the subclass 189 visa was August 2025, meaning EOIs submitted with the cut-off score on or before this date were prioritised.
- For the subclass 491 visa, the tie-break date was May 2025.
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August 2025 Round: In-Depth Analysis & Trends
Occupation Focus on Health, Education & Construction
The 21 August 2025 invitation round demonstrated a clear and deliberate focus on priority sectors, with the majority of invitations going to professionals in health, education, and construction. This trend aligns with Australia’s ongoing efforts to address critical labour shortages in these essential industries.
The points required to be varied significantly, highlighting where the demand is most urgent. The government’s emphasis on construction was particularly evident, a move likely driven by the ongoing housing shortage across Australia. This created a valuable opportunity for trade professionals, who received invitations with much lower points scores compared to other sectors.
Key trends by occupation group include:
- Construction and Trades: These occupations were the clear winners in this round. Many tradespeople received invitations with points between 65 and 75, including:
- Carpenters
- Bricklayers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
Some trades were invited at the minimum threshold of 65 points, signalling an urgent need for these skills.
- Health and Medical: Healthcare professionals remained a top priority, with most invitations for roles like Registered Nurses, General Practitioners, and Physiotherapists issued to applicants with scores between 80 and 90 points.
- Education: Teachers were also in high demand. Invitations for Early Childhood Teachers and Secondary School Teachers were generally issued to candidates in the 80 to 90-point range, while University Lecturers required a minimum of 85 points.
Invitation Volume & Program Quotas for 2025-26
The August 2025 invitation round was the first to be held for the 2025-26 financial year, marking a restart of the skilled migration program after a nine-month pause. The Department of Home Affairs issued a significant number of invitations, signalling renewed activity.
A total of 6,887 invitations were issued for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), and another 150 were sent for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored stream.
While the Australian government has not yet announced the full visa allocation quotas for the 2025-26 program year, the Department has indicated a shift to a more predictable schedule. It has been suggested that invitation rounds will now be held quarterly, which means applicants can likely expect at least one more round before the end of 2025.
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Strategic Visa Advice for EOI Applicants
What Your Points Score Means for You
Your current points score is the most critical factor in determining your chances of receiving a subclass 189 visa invitation. Based on the trends from the 21 August 2025 invitation round, your strategy should adapt to where you stand.
For applicants with different point scores, the outlook varies considerably:
| Points Score | Strategic Outlook & Advice |
|---|---|
| 85+ points | You are in a strong position, especially in health, education, or specialised fields. Ensure your EOI is accurate and up-to-date. |
| 75–80 points | Your chances depend on your occupation. Actively pursue strategies to increase your points rather than waiting. |
| 65–70 points | An invitation is highly unlikely unless you are in a trade or construction occupation. Realistically, consider alternative visa pathways. |
Checklist: How to Boost Your EOI Points
If your current score is not competitive enough for a subclass 189 visa invitation, there are several ways to increase it. Even a small boost can significantly improve your ranking in the SkillSelect pool.
Consider the following strategies to maximise your points:
- Achieve a Superior English Score: Attaining a higher score on an English language test like IELTS or PTE is one of the most effective ways to gain points. A superior score can add up to 20 points to your EOI.
- Complete a Professional Year Program: Undertaking a Professional Year in Australia in your nominated occupation (or a closely related one) can provide valuable work experience and add points to your total.
- Claim Partner Skills Points: If your partner, who may also be eligible for various partner visas, meets the age, English language, and skills assessment requirements for a relevant occupation, you may be able to claim additional points.
- Gain More Skilled Employment Experience: Accruing more years of relevant work experience, either in Australia or overseas, can increase your points score.
- Become NAATI Accredited: Obtaining accreditation as a translator or interpreter from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) can provide extra points.
Considering State Nomination as a 189 Alternative
While waiting for a highly competitive subclass 189 invitation, it is strategic to explore other visa options, which can often involve complex migration matters, particularly state nomination. For applicants in Adelaide and across South Australia, the state-nominated pathways offer a viable alternative, and it’s worth exploring the various Australian visa options & subclass pathways available in South Australia.
State-nominated visas, such as the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), can provide a significant advantage. A nomination from a state or territory government grants you additional points, making your EOI more competitive.
The benefits of state nomination include:
- The subclass 190 visa provides 5 extra points
- The subclass 491 visa offers 15 points
These pathways often have different occupation lists and criteria, opening up more opportunities for skilled workers whose professions may not be prioritised in the 189 invitation rounds.
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Outlook & Predictions for Future Rounds
What to Expect in the Next SkillSelect Round
Following the 21 August 2025 invitation round, the Department of Home Affairs has indicated a shift towards a more predictable schedule. It is expected that invitation rounds will now be held on a quarterly basis, which suggests that applicants can anticipate at least one more round before the end of 2025.
Based on current trends, future rounds will likely maintain a strong focus on priority sectors to address Australia’s critical labour shortages. This means that occupations in health, education, and construction will probably continue to dominate the invitations issued. For applicants in these fields, the outlook remains positive, though points requirements will vary.
Predictions for points thresholds in upcoming rounds include:
- Trade and construction occupations may continue to receive invitations with lower scores, potentially around the 65-point mark, due to urgent demand
- Professional roles in health, education, and engineering will likely require high scores of 85 points or more to be competitive
Furthermore, state nomination programs for the Subclass 190 and 491 visas are anticipated to reopen soon, making it a good time to understand guides like the one for South Australia’s skilled nominated visa. The commencement of these programs will provide significant alternative pathways for skilled migrants, particularly for those whose occupations are not prioritised for the Subclass 189 visa or who need additional points to become competitive.
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Conclusion
The 21 August 2025 SkillSelect invitation round confirmed a strong focus on health, education, and construction occupations, with points scores varying from 65 for trades to over 90 for professional roles. This outcome underscores the importance for applicants to maintain a competitive EOI and strategically explore all pathways, including state-nominated visas like the subclass 190 and 491.
To effectively navigate these competitive requirements and strengthen your migration strategy, securing professional guidance is essential. Contact Moya Migration Law’s experienced migration lawyers in Adelaide for trusted experiencedise on complex migration matters and receive tailored advice that will position you for the best possible outcome in future invitation rounds.
