Australia Immigration Update: Subclass 189 Invitation Round Expected by September 30 as Graduate Visa Surge Threatens Reform Agenda
Updated: 33 minutes ago
CANBERRA, September 10, 2026 — The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that the next SkillSelect invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is expected to be held by September 30, 2026, while new data reveals a dramatic 170% surge in temporary graduate visa holders that is complicating the government's migration reform agenda.
Subclass 189 Invitation Round: What Applicants Need to Know
The Department of Home Affairs has updated its SkillSelect page, advising that the next invitation round for the subclass 189 visa will be conducted by the end of September. Applicants are urged to ensure their Expression of Interest (EOI) is accurate and up to date before the round. The Department notes that "not everyone who submits an EOI through SkillSelect will receive an invitation to apply for a visa" and that "the number of invitations and occupations in each invitation round varies depending on the needs of the Australian economy" .
Previous Round: 10,000 Invitations Issued
The most recent invitation round was held on June 4, 2026, with 10,000 EOIs invited. The tie-break date for that round was April 24, 2026 . Analysis of that round shows that healthcare, education, social work, and certain construction trades performed relatively well, with some registered nurses, teachers, and social workers receiving invitations at around 75 points, and some construction trades at 65 points .
Competitive Occupations
Not all traditional high-demand occupations featured prominently in the June round. Several ICT, accounting, quantity surveying, and engineering-related occupations did not appear significantly in the official invitation results, highlighting that a high points score alone does not guarantee an invitation .
Preparing for the Next Round
Applicants are advised to review their SkillSelect EOI before the next invitation round, checking:
Whether their nominated occupation still aligns with recent invitation trends
Whether points claims are accurate and supported by documentation
Whether skills assessments, English test scores, and work experience remain valid
Whether alternative pathways such as state-nominated subclass 190, regional subclass 491, or employer sponsorship should be considered as backup options
Occupation ceilings apply to the subclass 189 visa, meaning there may be an upper limit on how many EOIs with a specific occupation can be invited from an occupation group .
Graduate Visa Numbers Surge 170%: A Challenge for Migration Reform
New data from the Department of Home Affairs reveals that the number of people living in Australia on temporary graduate visas (subclass 485) has surged 170% since March 2021 — triple the 56% rise in the number of student visa holders over the same period .
Record Numbers of Graduate Visa Holders
As of June 30, 2026, there were 271,191 temporary graduate visa holders in Australia, up from 228,909 a year earlier — an increase of over 18% . Of these, nearly 73,900 were secondary applicants (spouses and children of primary visa holders), representing close to 30% of all graduate visa holders .
Secondary Applicant Growth Outpaces Primary Applicants
The growth in secondary applicants has been even more dramatic. Between June 2022 and June 2026, the number of secondary applicants on subclass 485 visas jumped from approximately 24,200 to 73,897 — a 204% increase, far outpacing the growth in primary applicants .
Why This Matters for Migration Reform
The surge in graduate visa holders presents a significant challenge for the government's efforts to reduce net overseas migration. The wave of international students who arrived after the pandemic and are now transitioning to temporary graduate visas — often as a step toward permanent residency — is complicating the government's attempts to bring migration numbers down .
The Albanese government is targeting a reduction in net overseas migration from 295,000 in 2025-26 to 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 by 2027-28 . However, the graduate visa surge — which stems from the post-pandemic student intake of 2022-2023 — is an unavoidable consequence of earlier policy settings, and adjusting student visa policy now cannot immediately curb the rise in graduate visa numbers .
Expert Warnings
Former Department of Immigration Deputy Secretary Abul Rizvi has warned that the surge leaves thousands of temporary visa holders in an uncertain position regarding their future in Australia, making them more vulnerable to exploitation. He noted that many temporary graduates are enrolled in courses that are not aligned with long-term labour market demand and will ultimately end up in low-value, low-paid work .
Policy Measures Already in Place
The government has already taken several steps to tighten the graduate visa pathway, including:
Doubling the subclass 485 visa application fee from AUD $2,300 to $4,600 from March 1, 2026, with a further increase to $5,750 from July 1, 2026
Introducing a ban on "visa-hopping" , preventing people on visitor visas or subclass 485 visas from applying for student visas while in Australia
Reducing the age limit for most graduate visa applicants to 35 years
The Opposition has also signalled that it will seek to tighten the graduate visa program, with One Nation calling for the removal of secondary applicant eligibility for subclass 485 visas .
Read Also
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