🚨🚨 Instant Visa Recommendations 🚨🚨 Just answers a few simple questions and get Australian visa recommendations instantly.

Skilled Migration Invitation Round – August 2025

Updated

Skilled Migration Visa Invitation Round August 2025 Update

The invitation round for the subclass 189 Visa was unexpectedly held early on 21 August 2025. The latest invitation round for the Skilled Migration visa subclasses 189 and 491, specifically the Family Sponsored stream, is a significant update. The invitation round shows:

  • 6,887 invitations were issued for the 189 Visa, and
  • 150 invitations were issued for the 491 Visa – Family Sponsored stream.

The high competition in August’s skilled migration invitation round is evident from the minimum score required. With 65 points likely not enough, it’s clear that potential applicants need to aim higher and work harder to secure an invitation. This challenge should motivate you to put in your best efforts.

We have summarised the latest skilled migration invitation round below and provided expert tips on improving your score to get an invitation as soon as possible. These tips are designed to give you a competitive edge in the migration process.

SkillSelect Invitation Round on 21 August 2025

Until 21 August 2025, 6,887 invitations were issued for 189 Visa applications and 150 invitations were issued for the 491 Visa – Family Sponsored stream. However, no invitations have been issued for the 190 Visa and 491 Visa – State or Territory nomination stream, as there’s no state nomination allocation announced yet.

Read more: Why Work in Australia in 2025? Here’s 7 Top Reasons

Invitation Issued by Occupation and Minimum Score Invited

The following table shows the invitations issued by occupation and the minimum score invited in the latest invitation round. Since the invitations were issued for 189 visa applications only, the data shows the minimum score for 189 visa applications.

Occupations Minimum score (subclass 189) Minimum score (subclass 491 – Family Sponsored stream)
Actuary 90 N/A*
Agricultural Scientist 90 N/A*
Agricultural Consultant 90 N/A*
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber 65 70
Architect 90 N/A*
Arts Administrator or Manager 90 N/A*
Audiologist 80 65
Barrister 95 N/A*
Biochemist 90 N/A*
Biotechnologist 90 N/A*
Boat Builder and Repairer 90 N/A*
Bricklayer 65 70
Cardiologist 80 80
Carpenter 65 N/A*
Carpenter and Joiner 65 N/A*
Cartographer 90 N/A*
Chemical Engineer 90 N/A*
Chemist 90 N/A*
Child Care Centre Manager 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Draftsperson 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Technician 90 N/A*
Clinical Psychologist 75 N/A*
Conservator 90 N/A*
Construction Project Manager 90 N/A*
Dermatologist 100 N/A*
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 85 N/A*
Drainer 65 N/A*
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher 85 80
Economist 90 N/A*
Educational Psychologist 85 N/A*
Electrical Engineer Draftperson 90 N/A*
Electrical Engineer Technician 90 N/A*
Electrician (General) 65 75
Electrician (Special Class) 65 N/A*
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker 110 N/A*
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) 95 N/A*
Electronics Engineer 95 N/A*
Emergency Medicine Specialist 80 N/A*
Engineering Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Consultant 90 N/A*
Environmental Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Research Scientist 90 N/A*
Environmental Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Fibrous Plasterer 90 N/A*
Food Technologist 90 N/A*
Forester 90 N/A*
Gasfitter 65 80
Gastroenterologist 80 N/A*
General Practitioner 80 N/A*
Geophysicist 90 N/A*
Glazier 65 N/A*
Intensive Care Specialist 80 N/A*
Joiner 65 N/A*
Land Economist 90 N/A*
Landscape Architect 90 N/A*
Life Scientist (General) 90 N/A*
Life Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Management Consultant 90 N/A*
Marine Biologist 90 N/A*
Materials Engineer 90 N/A*
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 80 90
Medical Laboratory Scientist 90 N/A*
Medical Practitioners nec 80 N/A*
Medical Radiation Therapist 80 N/A*
Metal Fabricator 105 N/A*
Metal Machinist (First Class) 85 N/A*
Metallurgist 90 N/A*
Meteorologist 95 N/A*
Microbiologist 90 N/A*
Midwife 80 75
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 90 N/A*
Musician (Instrumental) 90 N/A*
Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec 90 N/A*
Neurologist 80 N/A*
Nuclear Medicine Technologist 80 N/A*
Nurse Practitioner 80 N/A*
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 80 N/A*
Occupational Therapist 80 N/A*
Ophthalmologist 80 N/A*
Optometrist 80 N/A*
Orthopaedic Surgeon 85 N/A*
Osteopath 100 N/A*
Other Spatial Scientist 90 N/A*
Paediatric Surgeon 85 N/A*
Paediatrician 85 N/A*
Painting Trades Worker 70 N/A*
Panelbeater 90 N/A*
Petroleum Engineer 90 N/A*
Physicist 90 N/A*
Physiotherapist 80 80
Plumber (General) 65 80
Podiatrist 80 N/A*
Primary Health Organisation Manager 90 N/A*
Psychiatrist 80 N/A*
Psychologists nec 85 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 80 80
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Community Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 80 90
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Surgical) 80 80
Registered Nurses nec 80 95
Roof Plumber 65 N/A*
Secondary School Teacher 85 80
Solicitor 90 N/A*
Solid Plasterer 65 N/A*
Sonographer 80 N/A*
Special Needs Teacher 85 80
Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 80 N/A*
Specialist Physician nec 80 N/A*
Speech Pathologist 80 65
Statistician 90 N/A*
Stonemason 65 N/A*
Surveyor 90 N/A*
Tennis Coach 95 N/A*
Thoracic Medicine Specialist 80 N/A*
University Lecturer 85 80
Urologist 80 N/A*
Valuer 90 N/A*
Veterinarian 90 N/A*
Wall and Floor Tiler 65 75
Welder (First Class) 90 N/A*
Zoologist 90 N/A*
Occupations Minimum score (subclass 189) Minimum score (subclass 491 – Family Sponsored stream)
Actuary 90 N/A*
Agricultural Scientist 90 N/A*
Agricultural Consultant 90 N/A*
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber 65 70
Architect 90 N/A*
Arts Administrator or Manager 90 N/A*
Audiologist 80 65
Barrister 95 N/A*
Biochemist 90 N/A*
Biotechnologist 90 N/A*
Boat Builder and Repairer 90 N/A*
Bricklayer 65 70
Cardiologist 80 80
Carpenter 65 N/A*
Carpenter and Joiner 65 N/A*
Cartographer 90 N/A*
Chemical Engineer 90 N/A*
Chemist 90 N/A*
Child Care Centre Manager 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Draftsperson 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Technician 90 N/A*
Clinical Psychologist 75 N/A*
Conservator 90 N/A*
Construction Project Manager 90 N/A*
Dermatologist 100 N/A*
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 85 N/A*
Drainer 65 N/A*
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher 85 80
Economist 90 N/A*
Educational Psychologist 85 N/A*
Electrical Engineer Draftperson 90 N/A*
Electrical Engineer Technician 90 N/A*
Electrician (General) 65 75
Electrician (Special Class) 65 N/A*
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker 110 N/A*
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) 95 N/A*
Electronics Engineer 95 N/A*
Emergency Medicine Specialist 80 N/A*
Engineering Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Consultant 90 N/A*
Environmental Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Research Scientist 90 N/A*
Environmental Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Fibrous Plasterer 90 N/A*
Food Technologist 90 N/A*
Forester 90 N/A*
Gasfitter 65 80
Gastroenterologist 80 N/A*
General Practitioner 80 N/A*
Geophysicist 90 N/A*
Glazier 65 N/A*
Intensive Care Specialist 80 N/A*
Joiner 65 N/A*
Land Economist 90 N/A*
Landscape Architect 90 N/A*
Life Scientist (General) 90 N/A*
Life Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Management Consultant 90 N/A*
Marine Biologist 90 N/A*
Materials Engineer 90 N/A*
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 80 90
Medical Laboratory Scientist 90 N/A*
Medical Practitioners nec 80 N/A*
Medical Radiation Therapist 80 N/A*
Metal Fabricator 105 N/A*
Metal Machinist (First Class) 85 N/A*
Metallurgist 90 N/A*
Meteorologist 95 N/A*
Microbiologist 90 N/A*
Midwife 80 75
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 90 N/A*
Musician (Instrumental) 90 N/A*
Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec 90 N/A*
Neurologist 80 N/A*
Nuclear Medicine Technologist 80 N/A*
Nurse Practitioner 80 N/A*
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 80 N/A*
Occupational Therapist 80 N/A*
Ophthalmologist 80 N/A*
Optometrist 80 N/A*
Orthopaedic Surgeon 85 N/A*
Osteopath 100 N/A*
Other Spatial Scientist 90 N/A*
Paediatric Surgeon 85 N/A*
Paediatrician 85 N/A*
Painting Trades Worker 70 N/A*
Panelbeater 90 N/A*
Petroleum Engineer 90 N/A*
Physicist 90 N/A*
Physiotherapist 80 80
Plumber (General) 65 80
Podiatrist 80 N/A*
Primary Health Organisation Manager 90 N/A*
Psychiatrist 80 N/A*
Psychologists nec 85 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 80 80
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Community Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 80 90
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Surgical) 80 80
Registered Nurses nec 80 95
Roof Plumber 65 N/A*
Secondary School Teacher 85 80
Solicitor 90 N/A*
Solid Plasterer 65 N/A*
Sonographer 80 N/A*
Special Needs Teacher 85 80
Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 80 N/A*
Specialist Physician nec 80 N/A*
Speech Pathologist 80 65
Statistician 90 N/A*
Stonemason 65 N/A*
Surveyor 90 N/A*
Tennis Coach 95 N/A*
Thoracic Medicine Specialist 80 N/A*
University Lecturer 85 80
Urologist 80 N/A*
Valuer 90 N/A*
Veterinarian 90 N/A*
Wall and Floor Tiler 65 75
Welder (First Class) 90 N/A*
Zoologist 90 N/A*

As shown above, the invitations primarily target professions such as construction trades, healthcare, and education.

Note that some occupations have occupation ceilings that limit the invitations even if you meet the points. So, if your occupation is most likely to be on the ceilings, it’s strongly advised to plan strategically to continue your migration journey. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with our Registered Migration Agent here.

invitation round 2022 -ONE Derland Consulting

Total Invitation Issued During 2025-26 Program Year

The total number of invitations issued during the 2025-26 program year was 6,887 for the 189 Visa and 150 for the 491 Visa—Family Sponsored stream. These numbers don’t include invitations issued for the state and territory government-nominated visa subclasses.

Visa subclass Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
189 Visa 0 6,887 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
491 Visa – Family Sponsored 0 150 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Visa subclass Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
189 Visa 0 6,887 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
491 Visa – Family Sponsored 0 150 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Compared to the 2025-26 migration planning levels, where 16,900 places were given for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), so 10,013 places are still available. This should give you hope and optimism about your chances.

Read more: 2025-26 Migration Program Planning Levels

State and Territory Nominations in 2025-26 Program Year

As of September 2025, the Australian government hasn’t announced the allocation for state and territory nominations. This forces the Australian state and territory governments to close and postpone their migration program.

Read more: Skilled Migration Crisis in Australia & Other Options to Explore

What does it mean to you?

Here are some notes you should understand:

1. Invitation doesn’t mean an automatic visa grant

Getting invited means your EOI ranked high enough (based on points, occupation demand, and submission timing) to be picked in the invitation round. You now have 60 days to lodge your complete visa application. If you miss this deadline, the invitation lapses.

2. Points are about competitiveness, not just eligibility

Scoring 65 points is only the minimum. In reality, most invitations go to applicants with much higher scores that range 85-95+, depending on the occupation. So this means even if you’re eligible, you might not get invited unless your score is competitive.

3. Occupation matters

Even if two people both have 90 points, if one’s occupation is on a high-demand list, like nursing or teaching, they are more likely to get invited. If your occupation is in oversupplied fields, like IT or accounting, you may often face higher cut-offs.

4. Timing is critical

If two EOIs have the same score, the tie-breaker is the date the applicant reached that score. You should update your EOIs quickly when you gain extra points, for example, after taking the English test or work experience.

5. Uncertainty still exists

Invitation rounds are not monthly anymore. It can be irregular, surprise rounds like the one announced in August 2025. You cannot predict precisely when you will be picked, as it depends on government planning, quotas, and labour demand.

6. For those not invited

It doesn’t mean your application is over, but it means:

  • Your score is currently not competitive enough.
  • You may need to boost points, such as through English, state nomination or regional pathways.
  • Consider alternative visas while waiting.

We understand it’s challenging, but the following tips on improving your points will help you!

Tips to Improve Your Points

Our Managing Director and Principal Migration Agent, Indah Melindasari, always suggests these tips to our clients to improve their points and ensure they receive an invitation in the next skilled migration invitation round.

Tip #1: Train Your English Every Day

We all know that competent English is the minimum requirement for all skilled visas. But don’t stop right there! Reaching Competent English only gives you the lowest score in your Expression of Interest.

So, train your English every day. Enrol in a regular English course to earn higher points. If you’ve reached the Competent level, try reaching Proficient English, or even better, the Superior English level, to get the highest point possible from English proficiency!

Tip #2: Enrich Yourself with Related Work Experience

The key is to focus on your skills and nominated occupation. If you’re offshore, you’ll have more benefits and chances to enrich yourself with related work experience, as you will not have any limitations in work hours or work permits. But if you’re currently onshore, you must pay close attention to the work permit in your visa and ensure that you have enough time to enrich yourself with work experience.

Feel free to contact us if you have any concerns about meeting the work experience criteria.

Tip #3: Get Additional Points from Your Partner

Yes, your partner can give you additional points. You must declare and include your partner in your Expression of Interest to get the extra points. After that, your partner must complete the English test and get the highest score possible. It’d be best if your partner could reach at least proficient English.

Please note that you can only include your spouse or de facto partner in the application.

Tip #4: Get a Test with NAATI/CCL

Next, consider taking a test with NAATI or CCL. The test result will give you an additional point in your Expression of Interest application.

Tip #5: Get Certification

It’s vital if your nominated occupation requires a certification or registration. The certification or registration will give you an additional point of 5 in your Expression of Interest.

Read more: Skill Select Requirements for Skilled Migrants

What can ONEderland Consulting do to improve your chances of being invited to the next invitation round?

ONEderland Consulting can significantly enhance your prospects of receiving an invitation in the next skilled migration invitation round by leveraging our deep expertise in immigration policies, personalised guidance on visa application strategies, and meticulous attention to detail in preparing your application. Our proven track record and commitment to client success ensure that every aspect of your visa journey is optimised for maximum chances of success.

ONEderland Consulting is your trusted partner in this journey. Our team of experts is ready to provide professional assistance in preparing new nominations or visa applications. No matter your situation, our Registered Migration Agent is here to help. We stand by our service with a 100% money-back guarantee:

Book Your Consultation - 100% Money Back Guarantee 2

ONE derland Consulting is ready to assist you

The skilled migration invitation round implies significant competition among skilled workers worldwide. It’s your time to take proactive action and prepare the best of you to join the next invitation round!

Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will assist you with a skilled migration visa in Australia. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.

We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.

Get in touch with us today to start your journey towards permanent residency in Australia with confidence. You can reach us by email at visa@onederland.com.au, by phone at 1300 827 159, via WhatsApp at +61494372414, or by booking an online consultation.

Share This Article, Choose Your Platform!

Take the First Step Toward Your Skilled Migration Journey Today

Australia needs skilled professionals like you, and the General Skilled Migration program could be your gateway to a new life down under.

But eligibility can be complex, and every point matters.

Let our registered migration consultants help you understand your options and craft the strongest application possible.

Complete the form below to receive a personalised assessment and expert guidance, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.


“Massive thanks to all the team specially Indah and Jamie. My visa conditions was very complicated but they did a great job. Definitely one of the best.”

Maria Helen De Guzman

Bridging Visa E

Indah Melindasari MARN 0961 448

Indah Melindasari, B.Com

Lead Migration Agent - MARN 0961 448

1300 827 159

Form AU for GSM 2025

By submitting my data I agree to be contacted.