Background: Australia's Final 189 Invitation Round for FY2025-26

The Department of Home Affairs has conducted the final Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) invitation round for the 2025-26 financial year on 4 June 2026.

As the last invitation round of the program year, the results provide valuable insight into the Australian Government's current skilled migration priorities and the occupations most likely to benefit from future invitation rounds.

Based on available invitation data and industry reporting, a number of trade and healthcare occupations received invitations, with some trade occupations invited at as little as 65 points. Meanwhile, healthcare occupations continued to receive invitations in the 80 to 85-point range.

At the same time, traditionally popular occupations such as accounting, some IT occupations and early childhood teaching appeared to receive significantly fewer invitations than many applicants had expected.

What Does This Invitation Round Tell Us?

The latest results suggest that Australia's skilled migration program continues to prioritise occupations facing genuine labour shortages, particularly in the construction, infrastructure and healthcare sectors.

Occupations reported to have received invitations include:

• Electricians
• Carpenters
• Wall and Floor Tilers
• Painters
• Bricklayers
• Registered Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech Pathologists
• Midwives

Several trade occupations were invited at 65 points, reinforcing the ongoing demand for skilled tradespeople across Australia.

Healthcare occupations also remained highly competitive but continued to receive consistent invitations, reflecting Australia's ageing population, workforce shortages and growing demand for healthcare services.

Why Are Trade Occupations Continuing to Perform Strongly?

Australia continues to face significant housing supply challenges and infrastructure workforce shortages.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to large-scale housing construction and infrastructure investment through the 2026-27 Federal Budget. However, domestic labour supply remains insufficient to meet projected demand.

As a result, many construction and trade occupations continue to feature prominently on national skills shortage lists.

For qualified tradespeople, pathways through skilled migration, state nomination and employer sponsorship remain among the most accessible routes to permanent residency.

What Happened to Accounting, IT and Early Childhood Teaching?

One of the most discussed outcomes of this invitation round has been the relatively weak performance of several traditionally popular occupations.

Current invitation data suggests:

• Accounting occupations were largely absent from the round.
• Many common IT occupations received limited invitations.
• No confirmed invitation cases for Early Childhood Teachers have been widely reported in this round.

Importantly, this does not mean these occupations no longer provide migration opportunities.

The Subclass 189 visa is only one component of Australia's skilled migration framework. Many applicants continue to receive invitations through:

• Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
• Employer Sponsored pathways including Subclass 482 and Subclass 186

Applicants should therefore avoid making major migration decisions based solely on the outcome of a single invitation round.

A Major Development: Increased 189 Visa Allocation for 2026-27

Beyond the invitation results themselves, perhaps the most significant announcement is the increase in the Skilled Independent Visa allocation for the upcoming program year.

The Australian Government has confirmed that the Subclass 189 allocation for 2026-27 will increase from 16,900 places to 21,090 places.

This represents:

• Total 2026-27 allocation: 21,090 places
• Increase from previous year: 4,190 places
• Approximate increase: 24.8%

This is one of the most substantial increases to the 189 program in recent years.

A larger allocation may lead to:

• More invitation rounds
• Increased invitation volumes
• Improved opportunities for applicants in some occupations
• Reduced competition in certain sectors

However, outcomes will still depend on EOI volumes, occupation demand and future invitation policies.

What Does This Mean for Hong Kong Applicants?

For Hong Kong applicants considering Australian migration, three key messages emerge from this invitation round.

First, construction and trade occupations remain among Australia's most critical workforce priorities.

Second, healthcare occupations continue to perform strongly and remain highly valued by the migration program.

Third, pursuing a traditionally popular white-collar occupation is not always the most effective migration strategy. Choosing an occupation that aligns with both your background and Australia's labour market needs may significantly improve your prospects.

Successful migration planning is not simply about achieving a higher points score. It is about understanding long-term labour market demand and selecting the right pathway.

Key Takeaways

• Australia conducted its final 189 invitation round for FY2025-26 on 4 June 2026.
• Multiple trade occupations received invitations at 65 points, including electricians, carpenters, tilers, painters and bricklayers.
• Healthcare occupations continued to perform strongly, with invitations issued to registered nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
• Accounting, some IT occupations and early childhood teaching appeared less competitive in this round.
• The 2026-27 Subclass 189 allocation will increase to 21,090 places, an increase of 4,190 places compared to the previous year.
• Construction, engineering trades and healthcare occupations are likely to remain key beneficiaries of Australia's skilled migration program in the years ahead.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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