The Department of Home Affairs conducted a major SkillSelect invitation round on 13 November 2025, issuing a significant number of invitations under the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) visa.

This round marked one of the largest invitation allocations of the 2025–26 program year, particularly for the subclass 189 visa.

In this blog, we break down the results, minimum scores, occupational trends, and what these outcomes mean for future applicants.

📌 Overview of Invitations Issued – 13 November 2025

Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa

Total Invitations Issued: 10,000
Tie-break Date: November 2025

This was a highly competitive round, with a large allocation aimed at clearing high-demand occupations and long-pending EOIs.

Subclass 491 – Family Sponsored

Total Invitations Issued: 300
Tie-break Date: October 2025

Compared to previous years, 491 Family Sponsored invitations remained limited and competitive.

📌 Minimum Scores by Occupation – 189 vs 491

The table below provides a clear outline of key occupations and their minimum invitation scores.

High-level summary of trends

🔹 High-demand health & STEM occupations invited at 75–85 points:

Psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists, medical imaging professionals, scientists.

🔹 Trades invited at comparatively lower points (65–70):

Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, tilers, fabricators.

🔹 Engineering and IT occupations largely at 85–90 points:

Telecommunications engineers, civil engineering technicians, ICT-related roles.

🔹 Certain occupations reached peak scores (95–100):

Dermatologist, Osteopath, Electronic Instrument Trades Worker, Metal Machinist, Carpenter and Joiner (491 – 95 points).

📌 Detailed Minimum Invitation Scores by Occupation

(N/A indicates the occupation was not invited under that subclass.)

I can format this as a downloadable table for your website if you’d like – let me know.

📊 Invitation Trends for 2025–26 Program Year

Total Invitations Issued So Far

Program Year (2025–26)	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec–Jun
Subclass 189	0	6,887	0	0	10,000	0
Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored)	0	150	0	0	300	0

This round alone accounts for:

59% of all 189 invitations issued in the program year so far.
67% of all 491 (Family Sponsored) invitations issued to date.

📌 What This Means for Applicants

1. Competition remains high despite large numbers

While 10,000 invitations appears extensive, many occupations still required 80–90+ points, especially in medicine, engineering, and telecommunications.

2. Trades continue to perform strongly

Skilled trades again received invitations at 65–70 points, reflecting Australia’s ongoing labour shortages in construction and infrastructure.

3. Health and allied health remain priority

Nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, radiographers, and occupational therapists consistently received invitations across 75–85 points.

4. 491 Family Sponsored remains highly selective

With only 300 invitations in November, applicants need strong points, often between 80–95, depending on occupation.

📌 Key Observations from This Round

The tie-break date of November 2025 for 189 suggests the Department invited EOIs very close to the date of the round.
High-scoring STEM occupations (90–95 points) reflect strong demand for highly skilled professionals.
Many “NEC” occupations (not elsewhere classified) were invited at 85 points, showing consistent demand across specialised professional fields.
The government may be targeting critical skill shortages ahead of the 2026 migration reform rollout.

📋 Occupation & Points Table – 13 November 2025 Invitation Round

Occupation	Subclass 189 Points	Subclass 491 Points
Actuary	85	N/A
Agricultural Consultant	85	N/A
Agricultural Scientist	85	N/A
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber	65	70
Architect	85	N/A
Artistic Director	85	N/A
Arts Administrator or Manager	85	N/A
Audiologist	75	80
Automotive Electrician	85	N/A
Barrister	90	N/A
Biochemist	85	N/A
Biotechnologist	85	N/A
Boat Builder and Repairer	85	N/A
Botanist	85	N/A
Bricklayer	65	70
Cabinetmaker	85	N/A
Cardiologist	80	80
Carpenter	65	65
Carpenter and Joiner	65	95
Cartographer	90	N/A
Chemical Engineer	85	N/A
Chemist	85	N/A
Child Care Centre Manager	75	N/A
Chiropractor	85	N/A
Civil Engineering Draftsperson	85	N/A
Civil Engineering Technician	85	N/A
Clinical Psychologist	80	N/A
Construction Project Manager	85	N/A
Dermatologist	100	N/A
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist	80	N/A
Drainer	70	N/A
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher	85	90
Economist	85	N/A
Electrical Engineering Draftsperson	85	N/A
Electrical Engineering Technician	85	N/A
Electrician (General)	65	65
Electrician (Special Class)	70	N/A
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker	85	N/A
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)	95	N/A
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)	95	N/A
Emergency Medicine Specialist	75	N/A
Engineering Manager	85	N/A
Environmental Consultant	85	N/A
Environmental Manager	85	N/A
Environmental Research Scientist	85	N/A
Environmental Scientists nec	85	N/A
Fibrous Plasterer	65	65
Fitter (General)	85	N/A
Food Technologist	85	N/A
Forester	85	N/A
Gasfitter	65	80
General Practitioner	75	85
Geophysicist	85	N/A
Glazier	65	N/A
Hydrogeologist	90	N/A
Intensive Care Specialist	80	N/A
Joiner	65	N/A
Land Economist	85	N/A
Landscape Architect	85	N/A
Life Scientist (General)	85	N/A
Life Scientists nec	85	N/A
Management Consultant	85	N/A
Marine Biologist	85	N/A
Materials Engineer	85	N/A
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer	75	85
Medical Laboratory Scientist	85	N/A
Medical Oncologist	80	N/A
Medical Practitioners nec	75	90
Medical Radiation Therapist	75	N/A
Metal Fabricator	85	N/A
Metal Machinist (First Class)	95	N/A
Metallurgist	85	N/A
Microbiologist	85	N/A
Midwife	75	75
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)	85	N/A
Motorcycle Mechanic	85	N/A
Multimedia Specialist	90	N/A
Musician (Instrumental)	90	N/A
Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec	85	N/A
Neurologist	80	N/A
Nurse Practitioner	80	N/A
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist	75	N/A
Occupational Therapist	75	80
Ophthalmologist	80	N/A
Optometrist	75	85
Organisational Psychologist	80	N/A
Orthopaedic Surgeon	85	N/A
Osteopath	100	N/A
Other Spatial Scientist	85	N/A
Paediatrician	75	N/A
Painting Trades Worker	70	70
Pathologist	75	N/A
Petroleum Engineer	85	N/A
Physicist	85	N/A
Physiotherapist	75	75
Plumber (General)	65	70
Podiatrist	75	N/A
Primary Health Organisation Manager	85	N/A
Psychiatrist	75	N/A
Psychologists nec	75	N/A
Radiation Oncologist	N/A	85
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)	75	80
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)	75	N/A
Registered Nurse (Community Health)	75	80
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)	75	75
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)	80	80
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)	75	N/A
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)	75	75
Registered Nurse (Medical)	75	75
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)	75	80
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)	75	75
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)	75	80
Registered Nurse (Surgical)	75	80
Registered Nurses nec	75	75
Roof Plumber	70	N/A
Secondary School Teacher	75	85
Social Worker	75	85
Solicitor	85	N/A
Solid Plasterer	65	65
Sonographer	75	N/A
Special Education Teachers nec	75	N/A
Special Needs Teacher	75	90
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)	80	N/A
Specialist Physicians nec	85	N/A
Speech Pathologist	75	85
Statistician	85	N/A
Stonemason	65	N/A
Surgeon (General)	80	N/A
Surveyor	85	N/A
Telecommunications Engineer	90	N/A
Telecommunications Field Engineer	90	N/A
Telecommunications Network Engineer	90	N/A
Telecommunications Network Planner	90	N/A
Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist	90	N/A
Tennis Coach	85	N/A
Thoracic Medicine Specialist	80	N/A
Urologist	80	N/A
Valuer	85	N/A
Vascular Surgeon	75	N/A
Veterinarian	85	N/A
Wall and Floor Tiler	65	75
Welder (First Class)	85	N/A
Welfare Centre Manager	85	N/A
Zoologist	85	N/A

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