Q1 2026 Ended With No 189 Round: Your Next Move if You're Still Waiting

If you've been refreshing your SkillSelect inbox every morning, you're not alone. Here's what's actually happening, what the data tells us, and - most importantly - what you should be doing right now.

What Happened: Why Q1 2026 Had Zero Rounds

The Department moved from irregular, unpredictable rounds to a quarterly invitation schedule starting in 2025-26. Here's what we've seen so far:

With 16,900 places allocated for the 189 stream in 2025-26, and roughly 16,887 invitations already issued across the August and November rounds, the remaining allocation for the rest of the financial year is extremely limited. This is the most likely reason Q1 2026 was skipped entirely - the quota is nearly exhausted.

The 4-Tier Priority System: Where Does Your Occupation Stand?

Even when a round does happen, not all occupations are treated equally. The Department now uses a 4-tier priority system that determines which occupations receive invitations first:

If you're an ICT professional, accountant, or in another Tier 3-4 occupation, the reality is stark: even when rounds do occur, your occupation may receive zero or very few invitations at the 189 level. In the November 2025 round, construction trades received invitations at 65 points, while ICT and accounting required 95+ points - and some received none at all. For a deeper breakdown of how the tiering works, read our guide on how SkillSelect's 4-tier priority system ranks your occupation.

Your Three Options Right Now

Option 1: Hold and Wait for Q2

If you have a strong points score (90+) and your occupation is in Tier 1 or 2, staying in the 189 queue may still make sense. A Q2 round (April-June 2026) is expected. But understand the risks:

• The round may issue very few invitations (potentially under 1,000)
• Tier 3-4 occupations may be deprioritised again
• Your points can decrease if you age out of a bracket or your English score expires

Action: Keep your EOI updated. If your circumstances change (new English test, new employment, partner skills), update your EOI immediately - your date of effect resets, but a higher score outweighs an older date.

Option 2: Diversify to 190 State Nomination

The Subclass 190 visa is your strongest alternative. Unlike the 189, state nomination rounds have been running consistently throughout 2025-26:

The 190 gives you +5 nomination points and, critically, your occupation may be on a state list even if it's Tier 3-4 on the 189 priority system.

Option 3: Go Regional with 491

The Subclass 491 offers +15 points for state or family nomination, which can push borderline candidates over the line. With 33,000 regional places allocated for 2025-26 (double the 189 allocation), this is where the government is directing skilled migration.

Key advantages:

• Lower points requirement (many states invite at 65-75)
• Broader occupation lists
• Regional areas now include cities like Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Geelong
• Clear pathway to permanent residency via Subclass 191 after 3 years

Should You Update Your EOI or Just Wait?

Always keep your EOI current. Here's why:

• If you've gained new work experience, passed a new English test, or your partner has completed a skills assessment, updating your EOI can increase your points
• A higher score always outranks an older date of effect - so even though updating resets your date, a 95-point EOI submitted today will be invited before a 90-point EOI from 2024
• If your circumstances haven't changed, don't update for the sake of it - you'll lose your queue position for no benefit

Use our GSM Points Calculator to check your current score and see if there are easy wins you're missing.

What Happens to Unused 189 Places?

If the Department doesn't issue all 16,900 places by 30 June 2026, unused places can be reallocated within the programme. This typically means they flow to other skilled streams (190, 491) or to the employer-sponsored category. They do not automatically roll over to the next financial year.

This is another reason to diversify - the 190 and 491 streams may actually benefit from leftover 189 allocation. For a full analysis of the quota situation and your alternative pathways, see our earlier guide: 189 Visa Quota Exhausted for 2025-26: Your Best Skilled Migration Options Right Now.

How First Migration Can Help

Waiting for a 189 round that may not come - or may come with only a handful of invitations - is a risky strategy. At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents can:

• Review your points breakdown and identify opportunities to increase your score
• Advise on the best state nomination strategy based on your occupation, experience, and preferences
• Help you check if your occupation qualifies for 189, 190, and 491 visas
• Manage multiple EOIs across different visa subclasses simultaneously

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice.