The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has published the results of the March 2026 SkillSelect invitation round, revealing encouraging trends for skilled visa applicants.
A total of 2,400 invitations were issued for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa, with the minimum score dropping to 65 points for several ICT and engineering occupations. This marks the lowest cutoff since October 2024.
For the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa, 1,800 invitations were issued. The family-sponsored stream saw consistent demand with scores ranging from 65 to 75 points across most occupations.
Key highlights from this round include:
- •Software Engineers: 450 invitations, minimum 70 points
- •Registered Nurses: 380 invitations, minimum 65 points
- •Civil Engineers: 220 invitations, minimum 65 points
- •Accountants: 180 invitations, minimum 85 points
Applicants are encouraged to submit their EOIs as early as possible, as invitation order is determined by points score first and then date of effect. The next round is expected in mid-April 2026.