An analysis published late on 29 June 2026 by former Immigration deputy secretary Abul Rizvi shows that the Department of Home Affairs invited 10,000 primary applicants in its June skilled-independent visa round – up from 6,887 last August but targeting a narrower band of occupations. Construction trades, nurses and electrical engineers dominated, while early-childhood teachers, civil-engineering technicians and several medical specialties were dropped altogether. The Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa is points-tested, so its invitation list is a real-time barometer of Australia’s workforce priorities. The June round cut the total number of occupations invited to 145 (from 149 in November 2025).
![Latest Skilled-Visa Invitations Reveal Canberra’s Priority Occupations]()
For individuals and HR teams looking to capitalise on these invitations, VisaHQ can help streamline the process of lodging accurate Expressions of Interest and assembling supporting documents. Their dedicated Australia portal provides live checklists, points calculators and concierge support that keep applicants aligned with the Department of Home Affairs’ evolving criteria.
Pass-mark analysis shows construction tradies accepted at the minimum 65 points, general nurses at 75, and specialists such as dermatologists at 100 – evidence of finely tuned demand targeting. Rizvi argues that the renewed focus on construction trades aligns with the government’s housing-supply agenda, while the continued prominence of nurses reflects chronic shortages in aged and acute care. Conversely, the exclusion of finance professionals and chefs signals that employers in those sectors must rely on employer sponsorship rather than the independent stream. For employers, the data suggest an easier pathway to PR for electricians, plumbers and fitters but a tougher slog for accountants and hospitality managers. Mobility teams planning long-term assignments should consider whether prospective transferees line up with invited codes or risk lengthy waits. The next invitation round is pencilled in for 30 September 2026, giving businesses a three-month window to refine Expressions of Interest. The article also notes a planned increase in the 189 program ceiling to 21,090 places for 2026-27, but warns that a softening labour market could see pass marks tighten in future rounds. Staying across the invitation data will therefore remain critical for talent-sourcing strategies.
For individuals and HR teams looking to capitalise on these invitations, VisaHQ can help streamline the process of lodging accurate Expressions of Interest and assembling supporting documents. Their dedicated Australia portal provides live checklists, points calculators and concierge support that keep applicants aligned with the Department of Home Affairs’ evolving criteria.
Pass-mark analysis shows construction tradies accepted at the minimum 65 points, general nurses at 75, and specialists such as dermatologists at 100 – evidence of finely tuned demand targeting. Rizvi argues that the renewed focus on construction trades aligns with the government’s housing-supply agenda, while the continued prominence of nurses reflects chronic shortages in aged and acute care. Conversely, the exclusion of finance professionals and chefs signals that employers in those sectors must rely on employer sponsorship rather than the independent stream. For employers, the data suggest an easier pathway to PR for electricians, plumbers and fitters but a tougher slog for accountants and hospitality managers. Mobility teams planning long-term assignments should consider whether prospective transferees line up with invited codes or risk lengthy waits. The next invitation round is pencilled in for 30 September 2026, giving businesses a three-month window to refine Expressions of Interest. The article also notes a planned increase in the 189 program ceiling to 21,090 places for 2026-27, but warns that a softening labour market could see pass marks tighten in future rounds. Staying across the invitation data will therefore remain critical for talent-sourcing strategies.
