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How many points do you need for a 189 invitation in 2026?
Checked 3 November 2026
You need at least 65 points to lodge an EOI, but the score that actually gets invited depends on your occupation. In the latest 189 round (15 October 2026, 20,000 invitations) cut-offs ran from 65 to 100 points: 44 occupations at 65, 36 at 70, and the middle occupation needed 70. As at 31 October 2026, 166,964 EOIs were waiting for 189; 36,340 of them had 85 points or more.
189 cut-offs in the 15 October 2026 round
| Cut-off | Occupations | Largest by EOIs waiting |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 44 | Carpenter, Electrician (General), Solicitor, Wall and Floor Tiler |
| 70 | 36 | Registered Nurses nec, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency), Registered Nurse (Medical) |
| 75 | 9 | Specialist Physician (General Medicine), Sonographer, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist, Cardiologist |
| 80 | 36 | Secondary School Teacher, Construction Project Manager, Social Worker, Agricultural Consultant |
| 85 | 19 | Chemical Engineer, Architect, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications Network Planner |
| 90 | 10 | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, University Lecturer, Biotechnologist, Multimedia Specialist |
| 95 | 3 | Electronics Engineer, Marine Biologist, Zoologist |
| 100 | 2 | ICT Security Specialist, Urologist |
How many 189 EOIs are waiting at each score (31 October 2026)
| Points | 189 EOIs at or above | Share of pool |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 146,329 | 88% |
| 70+ | 117,016 | 70% |
| 75+ | 85,499 | 51% |
| 80+ | 57,574 | 34% |
| 85+ | 36,340 | 22% |
| 90+ | 19,080 | 11% |
| 95+ | 7,686 | 5% |
| 100+ | 2,142 | 1% |
| 105+ | 219 | 0% |
| 110+ | 25 | 0% |
Questions
Is 65 points enough for 189?
Only for some occupations. In the 15 October 2026 round 44 occupations were invited at 65, mostly trades. For most professional occupations it was 70 to 100.
How do I get more points?
The usual ways are better English (Proficient +10, Superior +20), NAATI CCL (+5), a Professional Year (+5), more skilled work, partner points (+5 or +10), and state nomination (190 +5, 491 +15).
Calculate my points → Find my occupation
General information, not migration advice. Check the Home Affairs invitation rounds page for the official figures.