The Department of Home Affairs held a major invitation round on 13 November 2025 under its general skilled migration programme, focusing on the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa (points-tested stream) and the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Family-Sponsored) visa. This round reflects Australia’s continued drive to attract skilled workers in occupations of priority.
Key Highlights
Invitations were issued for both Subclass 189 and Subclass 491 (family-sponsored) streams.
The Department emphasised that this round will focus on professions currently in high demand across Australia — including roles in education, trades, and legal services
Among the occupations invited were:
Secondary School Teacher (ANZSCO 241411)
Electrician (General) (ANZSCO 341111)
Solicitor (ANZSCO 271311)
While the official Department list has not yet been publicly posted, these occupations have been identified in commentary on the invitation round.
What This Means for Applicants
If you have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) under either the Subclass 189 or Subclass 491 (Family-Sponsored) stream, this is a critical moment: ensuring your EOI is current, accurate and reflects your maximum points is more important than ever.
The inclusion of trade-and-skills occupations (such as Electrician) alongside professional roles (such as Solicitor, Secondary School Teacher) signals that both higher-skilled professionals and experienced tradespeople are being considered. Applicants across a broad skill spectrum should review their eligibility.
Because the official breakdown of minimum points and occupation-by-occupation invites is not yet publicly confirmed by the Department, prospective applicants and their migration advisers should monitor the Department’s SkillSelect updates and be ready for the official statistics to be published.
Strategic Tips for Potential Applicants
Review your points claim — Make sure all elements contributing to your points (age, English proficiency, study, work experience, partner skills) are correctly recorded and supported by evidence.
Ensure your skills assessment is current — For your nominated occupation you must have a valid skills assessment for the relevant assessing authority and the occupation must remain eligible under the Skilled Occupation List.
Check the occupation list — Even though this round has indicated certain occupations (e.g., Secondary School Teacher, Electrician, Solicitor) are invited, confirm that your specific occupation is still eligible and has not been removed or altered.
Ensure your EOI is up to date — If your circumstances have changed (new qualification, new work experience, partner becomes skilled or non-skilled) update your EOI accordingly.
Position yourself competitively — Given that both high-demand professions and skilled trades are being invited, having strong English, high points, recent work experience in the nominated role, and being prepared for processing will help.
Prepare supporting documentation — When the invitation comes, ensure you are ready to lodge your visa application quickly with all required certified documents, as processing priorities may increase.
Final Thoughts
The 13 November 2025 invitation round under the Department of Home Affairs is a significant step in Australia’s skilled migration programme. It offers real opportunities to qualified applicants in both professional and trade occupations. However, given the competitive nature of the process and the partial publication of invitation details, applicants should be well-prepared, ensure their claims are valid, and keep a close eye on official updates for full disclosure of minimum points and occupation-by-occupation invitation data.