189 Invitation Round November 2025
If you are waiting for news about Australia's skilled migration, the 13 November 2025 invitation round has brought massive updates. The Department of Home Affairs has issued 10,000 invitations for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa.
The government’s clear focus is on fixing the housing shortage. To achieve this, they are making it significantly easier for trade workers to secure a visa, while entry standards for other professionals remain high.
Here is our simple analysis of who won, the surprises, and who missed out.
Current Round: 13 November 2025
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) - 10,000 invitations issued.
- Subclass 491 (Family Stream) - 300 invitations issued.
- Total Occupations Invited - 144.
You can view the official invitation round data on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Construction Sector
Australia needs to build more houses. Because of this, the Department is inviting Carpenters, Bricklayers, and many other trades with just 65 points.
Some other occupations invited with 65 points were:
- Plumber (General) - 65 points
- Joiner - 65 points
- Electrician (General) - 65 points
- Solid Plasterer - 65 points
- Wall and Floor Tiler - 65 points
65 points is the minimum score. This means if you are a qualified tradesperson with the right age and English skills, you have a very good chance of being invited.
Health & Education
Healthcare and Education remain vital parts of the migration program. Nurses, Doctors, and Teachers are being invited regularly, though the point requirements are slightly higher than for construction.
Key Health & Education Occupations Invited:
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) - 75 points
- Registered Nurse (Medical) - 75 points
- Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher - 85 points
- Secondary School Teacher - 75 points
- Special Needs Teacher - 75 points
- Special Education Teachers nec - 75 points
- Physiotherapist - 75 points
While there are many invitations in these sectors, there is also more competition. You generally need a competitive score of at least 75 points to secure an invite.
Some others occupations invited
Most invitations went to the major sectors mentioned above, but there were some interesting surprises in this round.
Other notable occupations Invited:
- Economist - 85 points
- Multimedia Specialist - 90 points
- Musician (Instrumental) - 90 points
- Marine Biologist - 85 points
- Botanist - 85 points
- Tennis Coach - 85 points
Tennis Coaches: Surprisingly, Tennis Coaches received invites again. This is the second round this year that Tennis Coaches have been invited, showing that specific niche jobs are sometimes needed unexpectedly.
Who Missed Out
Even though Education is a priority, University Lecturers were not invited in the November 2025 round. The Department is currently focusing on schools for children (Primary and Secondary), rather than universities.
If you are a University Lecturer, the 189 visa may be difficult to secure right now. You should consider other options, such as the Subclass 190 or 491 visas (State Nomination), or employer sponsorship through the 482 or 186 visas.
Other occupations that didn’t receive any invitations were Accountants and Chefs.
Subclass 491: Family Stream
The 491 Family Stream is still small and competitive.
- Invitations Issued - 300
- Occupations - 36
This visa is designed to help people with eligible family members living in regional Australia.
When will the next 189 invitation round happen?
Invitation rounds are expected to happen quarterly.
If you did not get an invite, don’t panic. The next 189 visa invitation round is expected to be in February or March.
What You Should Do:
- Trades - If you have 65 points, submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) now.
- Professionals - If your job is not on a priority list, try to increase your points. You can improve your English score, add partner points, or gain more work experience.
Need Help?
Visa rules change often. If you are not sure what to do—or if you want to switch from a 189 to a 190 or 491 visa—our team can help you.
