SkillSelect round of 4 June 2026: occupations invited, points cut-offs, and what the prospective skilled migrants must do now
The Department of Home Affairs conducted a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa invitation round through the SkillSelect system on 4 June 2026. This is the final invitation round of the 2025–26 migration program year, and it is one of the most significant rounds of the year for skilled migrants seeking Australian permanent residency (PR) without requiring employer sponsorship, state nomination, or family sponsorship.
Invitations were issued across a wide range of occupations, including healthcare, education, engineering, social services, and legal professions. This round confirms the Department’s ongoing focus on addressing Australia’s critical workforce shortages as the program year draws to a close.
What is the Subclass 189 Visa?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa is a points-tested permanent residency visa. Unlike employer-sponsored or state-nominated pathways, it requires no support from an employer, state or territory government, or family member. Applicants compete purely on the strength of their SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.
Key features of the Subclass 189 visa include:
- Becomes a permanent resident from the date of the grant
- Allows the holder to live and work anywhere in Australia
- Does not require state nomination or employer sponsorship
- Minimum 65 points required, but actual cut-offs are typically much higher
- Processing time varies, but the visa is granted for an indefinite period
June 2026 Round: Occupations Invited
Based on reported invitation data from across the profession pool, invitations in this round were received across multiple occupation categories. Healthcare occupations accounted for the largest share of invitations. Reported occupations included:
- Social Worker (75 points, among the lowest-point occupations reported this round)
- Registered Nurse
- General Practitioner
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist NEC
- Secondary School Teacher
- Solicitor
- Petroleum Engineer
- Various other skilled occupations across education, engineering, and legal professions
Points Cut-Offs by Occupation Category
The following table summarises the indicative points cut-off ranges observed across occupation tiers in the June 2026 round and recent rounds. Actual cut-offs vary by occupation, demand, and the number of competing EOIs in the pool.
| Occupation Category | Typical Points Cut-Off (June 2026) | Key Occupations |
| Trades & Construction | 65 – 75 points | Carpenter, Bricklayer, Plumber, Electrician |
| Healthcare | 75 – 85 points | Registered Nurse, GP, Social Worker, Physiotherapist, Psychologist |
| Education | 80 – 90 points | Secondary School Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher |
| Engineering | 85 – 95 points | Various engineering disciplines |
| ICT & Accounting | 90 – 110+ points | Software Engineer, IT professionals, Accountants |
The gap between trade occupations (65 points) and ICT/professional occupations (95–110+ points) now exceeds 30 points — the widest divergence on record. For ICT and accounting professionals, the competition remains extremely intense due to a large number of active EOIs in the pool relative to the number of available invitation places.
Why This Round Matters: The Last Round of 2025–26
This is the final SkillSelect invitation round before the end of the 2025–26 migration program year on 30 June 2026. Once the year closes, no further Subclass 189 or Subclass 491 Family Sponsored invitations will be issued until the new program year commences after 1 July 2026.
Final rounds of the program year historically issue a larger volume of invitations as the Department works to exhaust its annual visa cap allocation. This means that applicants with strong, well-prepared EOIs had a better chance of receiving an invitation in this round than in earlier rounds of the year.
Did Not Receive an Invitation? What You Should Do Now
If you hold an active EOI and did not receive an invitation in this round, it is important not to be discouraged. The program year reset on 1 July 2026 will bring fresh invitation rounds under the new 2026–27 annual program. Here is what you should focus on in the lead-up to the new year:
- Review and update your EOI — ensure all details are current and accurate, including work experience dates, English test scores, and skills assessment details
- Do not change your nominated occupation unless absolutely necessary — changing your occupation resets your EOI submission date, which is used as a tie-breaker between applicants with equal points scores
- Maximise your points identify the highest-value levers available for your profile, including Superior English, partner skills, Professional Year completion, or additional work experience
- Consider parallel pathways submitting separate EOIs for Subclass 190 (state nomination, +5 points) and Subclass 491 (regional, +15 points), which gives you additional chances at an invitation without affecting your Subclass 189 EOI
- Act quickly on health and police clearances. If you receive an invitation in a future round, you will have only 60 days to lodge a complete visa application.
- Sri Lankan Applicants: Points Optimisation Tips
For Sri Lankan skilled migrants, the June 2026 round reinforces several key strategic priorities:
- English score is critical: achieving an IELTS score that qualifies for Superior English (8 bands each in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, or equivalent in IELTS/PTE) adds 20 points and is the single highest-value lever available
- NAATI CCL: Sri Lankan language speakers may be eligible to claim 5 bonus points through the NAATI Credentialled Community Language test in Sinhala or Tamil
- Professional Year: ICT and engineering graduates (onshore) who have completed an Australian Professional Year program can claim an additional 5 points
- Partner skills: if your partner holds a skills assessment and meets the English requirement, you may claim an additional 10 points, and your partner’s points score reduces to 0 (which can be advantageous)
- Occupation selection: healthcare, trade, and education occupations continue to be invited at significantly lower points than ICT and accounting; if your qualifications and experience support a move to a high-demand occupation, this should be carefully evaluated
Alternative Pathways: If the 189 Is Out of Reach
For applicants who cannot reach the 189 cut-off in their occupation, two strong alternatives exist. They are subclass 190 and 491. If you need further information on these pathways, we can provide comprehensive migration advice.
If You Were Invited: Act Immediately
If you received an invitation in the 4 June 2026 round, you have 60 days from the date of issue to lodge a complete Subclass 189 visa application through ImmiAccount. This deadline is strict. Extensions are not granted, and a lapsed invitation cannot be reinstated.
How Trans Aus Migration Can Help
As a registered Migration Agent (MARA), Trans Aus Migration Pty Ltd provides professional advice and visa lodgement services for the full range of General Skilled Migration pathways, including the Subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas.
Whether you received an invitation today and need urgent assistance with your application, or you are planning your migration strategy for the 2026–27 program year, our team can assess your profile, identify your highest-impact points and opportunities, and prepare a decision-ready visa application on your behalf.
Contact us today for a consultation.
Trans Aus Migration Pty Ltd | Keysborough VIC | 76/2/1 Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo
Nimal Weeratunga — Principal Migration Consultant (MARN1384192)
Disclaimer: This blog is prepared for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Individual circumstances vary. Please seek professional migration advice from a registered migration agent before making decisions about your visa pathway.
