189 Visa Invitation Round August 2025
After nine months, a new Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) invitation round was held on 21 August 2025. The previous round took place in November 2024.
This round brought positive news for many applicants, with invitations issued across the construction, health, and teaching sectors. Occupations invited included carpenters, painters, engineers, nurses, doctors, and teachers.
At a time when the Australian Government has not yet announced the 2025–26 allocations for the 189, 190, and 491 visas, the August 2025 invitation round came as a welcome news.
We hope the new allocations will be released soon and that state nominations will reopen shortly.
Invitation Round Overview
The Department of Home Affairs released the full list of invited occupations and points.
Key Outcomes:
- 6,887 invitations
- Invitations were issued across more than 130 occupations
- Construction trades such as carpenters, electricians, and bricklayers were invited at only 65 points
- Health roles were also strong — many doctors and nurses were invited around 80 points
- Education professionals included university lecturers at 85 points and childcare managers at 90 points
- Unfortunately, accountants and chefs did not receive invitations in this round
The Department has indicated that invitation rounds will be held quarterly, with the next expected before December 2025.
Prior Reference: November 2024 Round
The 7 November 2024 invitation round numbers:
- Invitations issued: 15,000
- Points threshold: Ranged from 65 for many trades and general roles, up to 95 for high-demand professions
You can read our blog on the November 2024 189 invitation round for more information.
What You Can Do Now
If you are waiting for an invitation, it’s important to keep your Expression of Interest (EOI) and documents up to date. Make sure that your English test results, skills assessments, and all declarations are current, as outdated information could affect your eligibility.
You should also look for opportunities to maximise your points. This may include claiming partner skills, completing a professional year, or retaking an English test to achieve a higher score. Even a small increase in points can improve your position in SkillSelect.
Finally, consider alternative visa pathways if the subclass 189 visa remains highly competitive and state nomination programs for the 190 and 491 visas are still closed. Employer-sponsored visas such as the 482 visa, 186 visa or 494 visa may offer a more practical route to securing permanent residency in Australia.
Contact us if you need assistance with applying for an Australian visa.
