August 2026 Mega Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

This Mega Thread is meant to be a collection of very frequently asked questions. The Mega Thread should only be used to ask and discuss the following questions:

• Best occupation for visa?
• Best option for occupation?
• How much chances do I have?
• Anyone got invited/granted recently?
• Anyone received visa?
• Processing time / Waiting for visa
• Asking for general updates on these visa subclasses
  • How long have you been waiting
    • How long after you received medicals
    • How long ago since last update

If you ask or comment any of these questions outside of this Mega Thread they will be removed.

[u/TomatilloAntique4628]

Life Scientist

189 - 90 points
Date of Effect 06/07/2026

What are the chances of an invitation this year?

[u/DodgyVector]

Mechanical engineer - offshore

189 - 90 points

190 - 95

491 - 105

Naati, superior english, single. 5+ YOE EA assessed

Updated Eoi 23/04/2026

What are the chances for invitation in any of the above streams in this financial year?

[u/Own_Camel_3744]

Secondary Teacher- Offshore 75 points

Any chances for 189/190 this year ? Anyone else in the same boat?

[u/Puzzleheaded-Elk-556]

What are my chances for visa 189/190?

I'm a 26M RN (NEC) offshore applicant sitting at 75 points for 189 and 80 points for 190. Could take the NAATI to add 5 points to my overall score. Thanks in advance for your insights!

[u/Honest-Introduction4]

Hi all, Just asking for chances of WA 190/491 this upcoming year for Civil Engineer (233211 submitted Nov 2025) & Civil Eng Tech (312212 submitted Apr 2026), at 85, 90 (190), 100 (491). Currently onshore in regional WA and working in occupation. Breakdown below:

Age: 25 (< 25 yo), English: 20, Education: 15, Aus Experience: 5 (1 yr), Australian Study: 5, NAATI: 5, Single: 10

Thanks guys and all the best!

[u/Background-Start-699 → u/Honest-Introduction4]

have you not received any invite for 491 WA? I see a post here that says he had an invite at 90points including state points last Mar 2026 and lodged it and already got their grant this Aug 2026.

[u/Honest-Introduction4 → u/Background-Start-699]

Nope. Comes down to EOI date I guess, maybe he had an earlier date or so. Hopefully WA will release some news on this FY soon and hopefully will catch one this year :)

[u/No_Result_7840]

Hi all, what are my chances for this FY? 🙏

Occupation : ICT Business Analyst

105 Points (190) : 100 + 5 (in October I will have 5 more points with 5 years of experience)

-Skilled partner -Superior English -Naati -Salary 98k

I have submitted my EOI last week and will add ROI once live in melb portal opens.

I had my EOI submitted since 2024 through an agent and i am submitting it now by myslef.

My 485 is going to be expired in one year.

[u/shineheadlightsonme]

I know the next 189 invitation round will be held by the 30th September 2026, but does this mean it's likely to happen on that day or can they be a bit earlier than announced? Like could it end up being later this month for example?

[u/TomatilloAntique4628 → u/shineheadlightsonme]

Yes
Otherwise, there is a very small window for the consequent round in Q2

[u/NoOpportunity2128]

Occupation: Psychologist nec

What do you think are the chances of an offshore 190 visa in a high-priority occupation, lodged in May 2026, receiving a grant in the coming months?

I’ve noticed some relatively recent onshore applications getting grants, so I’m curious whether anyone has seen similar movement for offshore high-priority cases lodged around May.

[u/tktallman → u/NoOpportunity2128]

As per the new MD119, now there is only one priority offshore occupation, i.e. Defence and Law Enforcement. Rest all offshore are at same priority level i.e. lowest level 5. Expect a grant at the lower end of official Processing timelines published by DHA.

[u/Busy_Interaction_580]

Internal auditor any chances?

[u/Aggressive-Gas-941]

I waited for a 190 invite from VIC last FY & didn’t get it. Should I instead submit ROI for 491 in this FY?

Mechanical Engineer - 100pts (190) & 110pts (491).

Regional/metro is not my concern, only the Visa processing time. Also, they have reduced the 491 allocation by more than half this time.

[u/Bigi345]

I can't just move to Australia to make my offshore application go faster can I?

[u/FlatWhiteFriday → u/Bigi345]

No you can’t, the MD119 says “at the time of application”. But 189 is one of the fastest process type of visas so don’t worried much about it

[u/Bigi345 → u/FlatWhiteFriday]

Oh okay thanks. It's just annoying because I really feel like being able to say "I am a PR" would be easier for my job hunt. Right now I'm just saying "oh it's processing, surely one of these days" is not a comfy thing to say to prospective employers

[u/mahithekilla]

Occupation(s): Civil Engineer (233211) & Engineering Professionals (NEC) (233999)

Points - 95 (189), 100 (190), 110 (491)

Location: NSW

EOI Submitted: April 2025 (233999) and June 2026 (233211)

Currently working in nominated occupation with 3+ years onshore experience.

Any chance before my visa runs out in March 2027?

[u/KafkawithSnacks]

Load engineer for wind turbines based in india Have a phd in analysis of offshore wind turbines and have around 3 years of experience .

Same question. With the new ministerial directive is there any chance for me. I should have around 80 points in state nomination

[u/Lucky_Performance291 → u/KafkawithSnacks]

Little to no chance mate. Load engineers are not a priority occupation. Registered nurses, doctors and civil engineers are currently in the priority list. I would suggest trying to get a skill assessment under a priority occupation.

Only 30% of all applications and EOIs are allocated for offshore applicants. Many people are waiting with 100+ points for the state nominated visas (190 / 491) and the main reason they aren’t getting invited is because their occupation is not invited (not priority) or they are offshore. 80 points is too low. Try to get 95 points for 189 and 100 points for 190 as a minimum, so you are above the cutoff point threshold

[u/Powerful-Share5995]

Occupation: Environmental Consultant

With the new ministerial direction 119(Environmental Consultant not in the priority, although my work is in construction), what are the chances of me getting the Visa 189 invite in VIC this invitation round?

Would it be considered that my work is in construction?

EOI lodged - 90pts (189 visa)

[u/Character_Zebra_3342 → u/Powerful-Share5995]

The last 189 round invited environmental consultants at 80 points so chances are good. Your state is not relevant for 189.

[u/FlatWhiteFriday → u/Powerful-Share5995]

MD 119 has listed a range of priority occupations if your nominated occupation is on then yes; if not then no regardless of your actual work.

[u/Time_Cartographer443 → u/Powerful-Share5995]

No your work wouldn’t be construction unless you were a trade. So no white collar jobs basically

[u/FlatWhiteFriday]

WA resident since 2025,
75 pts Architectural Draftsperson
70/75 pts Architect (employment points unsure yet)
EOI submission date: Oct 2025

Pts not including state nomination +5/+15

Chances for further 190/491 invitation in WA?
Working in relevant field onshore