Proposal For Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) Invitation Rounds For Program Year 2025-26 ​

Written by Claude Haiku 4.5 from the extracted text on 28 Feb 2026. It can miss or misread redacted and scanned pages. Check the source before relying on it.

The Department of Home Affairs proposes a redesigned invitation round process for Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visas in 2025-26, moving away from pandemic-era targeted approaches to a new evidence-based, agile model. The proposal emphasises that subclass 189 migrants are the largest per capita GDP contributors among skilled visa programs, with median primary visa holder income of $106,800 compared to the national median of $58,260. The points-tested selection mechanism assesses applicants on human capital indicators including education, age, English language ability, and work experience, with occupation strongly influencing lifetime earnings potential. The document indicates involvement of State and Territory governments, which conduct their own invitation rounds through SkillSelect EOI access according to annual Skilled Nominated visa allocations. The proposal signals a shift toward occupation-based selection prioritisation designed to capitalise on economic opportunities while maintaining transparency and accountability in invitation processes.