Introduction
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa invitation round finally released on 21 August 2025 after the 9-month pause. The official numbers and threshold scores to receive invitation for this round have not been published by the Department of Home Affairs yet, but we can still see some insights from early reports from migration professionals.
Occupations Invited
For this round, the Australian Government seems to invite more workers in the occupations that Australia is facing a serious shortage. The following four groups were among the most popular invited this time:
- Trades – Carpenters, painters, tilers, chefs, plumbers, electricians
- Healthcare – Registered nurses, general practitioner, aged care and childcare workers
- Education – Early childhood and secondary school teachers
- Social Services – Social workers
Minimum Points Scores for Each Occupation
Although the Department of Home Affairs have not released the official cut-off scores yet, early data suggests the following trends:
- Trades (Carpenters, Painters, Tilers, Chefs, Electricians): 65–75 points
- Nurses, Childcare & Aged Care roles: 75–85 points
- Early Childhood and Secondary Teachers: 85 points
- Social Workers: 85 points
- Other Professionals (e.g., Economists, University Lecturer): 75–90 points
What can you see from the latest invitation round?
Overall, the high point thresholds suggest the competitiveness of the 189 programs. However, when looking at the initial report, some trade roles (for instance carpenters, painters, tilers and electricians) saw invitations from as low as 65 points, which is only the minimum score required for a 189 visa.
This trend reflects the critical shortage of labours in these industries, especially, in the construction industry. Due to the increase in the population and the strong demand for houses, construction is predicted as one of the booming areas in Australia in the coming years. The National Housing Supply & Affordability Council (NHSAC) forecasts around 938,000 dwellings will be built by mid‑2029 while Master Builders Australia projects about 1.03 million home starts. Even Australia is building more houses, the Urban Development Institute of Australia still predicts a severe gap between the houses and the need: around 393,000 fewer homes than needed, especially concentrated in capital cities.
Conclusion
Getting a PR in Australia becomes more competitive, but our analysis suggests that there will be still lots of opportunities for the high demand occupations.
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