SkillSelect June 2026:
Invitation Round

Yes, if your occupation appears on the invited list and you have an active EOI with a points score at or above the cutoff. Being on a student, Graduate (subclass 485), or other temporary visa in Australia doesn't exclude you — in fact, time spent studying and working here can boost your points score. Check your occupation against the list below and speak to GIEC Global to confirm where you currently stand.

The baseline is 65 points, but competitive occupations often need 80 or more to receive an invitation. The advantage of applying onshore is that you may already hold points for Australian study, and skilled work completed in Australia in your nominated occupation earns more points than the same experience gained overseas. GIEC Global can calculate your live score and identify the fastest ways to lift it.

In most cases, yes. You still need a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority — such as Engineers Australia, ACS, AHPRA, or TRA — before you can claim points for your occupation, even with an Australian qualification. That said, having studied in Australia can simplify the assessment process compared with having overseas credentials assessed from scratch.

Yes. You can apply for Subclass 189 onshore while holding a substantive visa, such as a student or 485 visa, or an eligible bridging visa granted because you lodged a further application before your previous visa expired. Keeping your visa status valid throughout the process matters, so timing your EOI and invitation response correctly is important. GIEC Global helps onshore applicants manage this sequencing.

The next Subclass 189 round is expected before 30 September 2026. If your current visa has an expiry date approaching, this gives you a window to finish your skills assessment, check your English test validity, and get your EOI in order before then.

Processing typically takes 6 to 18 months depending on individual circumstances and how complete the application is at lodgement. Onshore applicants should also factor in their current visa's expiry date when planning, since a complete, well-prepared application processes faster and reduces the risk of a status gap. GIEC Global checks your application for completeness before it's lodged.

Yes. If your partner or dependent children are already in Australia with you on your current visa, they can usually be included as secondary applicants on your Subclass 189 application and will receive the same permanent residency status.

Subclass 189 isn't tied to any state, so you can live and work anywhere in Australia. Subclass 190 requires nomination from a specific state or territory, adds 5 points, and commits you to living there for at least two years. If you're already settled and working in a particular state, securing that state's nomination can sometimes be more achievable than reaching the purely points-based 189 cutoff.

Yes. Skilled employment in Australia in your nominated occupation earns more points per year than equivalent experience overseas. If you've been working in your field since finishing your course or during your graduate visa period, this onshore experience is often one of the fastest ways to lift your score.

Generally yes, provided it's still within its validity period, usually three years. The IELTS, PTE, or other accepted test result used for your earlier visa can typically be applied to the points test as well. If it has expired, or you want to claim more points with a higher band score, you'll need to resit before submitting your EOI.

Applicants aged 25 to 32 receive the maximum 30 points for age at the time of invitation. Those aged 18 to 24 or 33 to 39 receive fewer points on a sliding scale, and applicants 45 or older are not eligible for age points. If you're approaching 33, it's worth acting while you're still in the higher bracket.

An EOI is an online profile created through your ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. You enter your nominated occupation, qualifications, work history, English scores, and other points factors. Submitting an EOI is free. It's ranked by points score, and if you meet the cutoff in a future round, you'll receive an Invitation to Apply. GIEC Global can help you complete it accurately so you don't miss claimable points.

Yes, as long as you hold a valid skills assessment for the new occupation. However, changing your occupation resets your EOI submission date, which can affect invitation priority since ties between equal scores are broken by submission date. Always check with a registered migration agent before changing your EOI.

You'll need a positive skills assessment, valid English test results, identity documents, employment references covering your skilled work, educational certificates, a health examination through an approved panel clinic, and police clearance certificates from your home country and any other country you've lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years — even though you're applying from within Australia. GIEC Global provides a personalised checklist based on your visa history.

The assessing bodies are the same — Engineers Australia, ACS, AHPRA, TRA, and others — but applicants with Australian qualifications can sometimes submit local transcripts and placement records directly, which is often faster than having overseas credentials independently verified. Assessment timeframes still typically run from 4 to 16 weeks. GIEC Global can confirm the right pathway for your specific occupation.