THE NOVEMBER ROUND-UP
NOVEMBER’S NUMBERS ARE IN, AND FOR A LOT OF OUR POINTS-TESTED PALS, IT FELT LIKE CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY! grab a coffee (or a wine) and LET’S BREAK DOWN THE WINNERS and - well, the not-so-winners - OF THE BONANZA MONTH THAT WAS NOVEMBER IN THE AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION SPACE.
state and territory nomination allocations released
NOVEMBER KICKED OFF WITH A BANG AS home affairs RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATE AND TERRITORY NOMINATION ALLOCATIONS FOR THE 2025/26 MIGRATION YEAR - and wow, there’s a bit to unpack.
Source: department of home affairs - thanks!
WHAT DID WE SEE?
AN OVERALL DROP IN ALLOCATIONS: The 2024/2025 program totalled 26,260 places. This year? 20,350. That’s a reduction of almost 6,000 places (boo).
MOST STATES FELT THE PINCH: South Australia took the biggest hit, losing 1,750 places across both visa subclasses. WA, NSW, TAS and VIC weren’t far behind, with significantly reduced quotas ranging from 900 to 1,600 places.
THE BIGGEST WINNER: Queensland, of course. The Sunshine State stole the spotlight (unfair!) with an extra 1,250 subclass 190 places and 150 subclass 491 places, the largest program increase across the country. Someone is saying thanks for the excellent holiday spots.
NOTABLE MENTIONS:
NT: Gained a modest 50 subclass 190 places. Small, but notable.
ACT: Only lost 200 places, which, considering the broader bloodshed, we’ll call a win for them.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It means we wish we could read minds. BUt, since we can’t, we’ll stick to data, trends and our (super!) smart analysis to decode migration planning.
THE MYSTERIOUS ALLOCATION DROP: Program planning levels indicate that skilled migration remains a departmental priority, and early plans suggested state nomination allocations would remain relatively unchanged. Could some of the spots earmarked for state nomination have shifted to other skilled visas? It’s too early to tell, but you can bet we’ll be watching closely.
SMALLER PROGRAM, SHARPER FOCUS: Expect states to be strategic with their now-smaller slice of the pie. Think higher points, priority sectors and targeted occupations.
NO GUESSWORK HERE: Picking your state wisely this year is essential. Applicants must understand state eligibility requirements, program focuses, occupations in demand and the points required.
2. STATE AND TERRITORY NOMINATIONS RECEIVED
November also saw state and territory nominations whirling on in, and we love to see it. Perhaps it’s no coincidence. With Home Affairs confirming 2025/26 allocations, states now know their “budget” and can start to spend it. Ka-ching!
source: professional association.
WHAT DID WE SEE?
SOME BIG(GER) MOVES: November was a big month for Vic, NSW, Tas and ACT nominations, with more nominations issued than they had so far in this program year. We’ve included the year-to-date figures below, because we’re helpful like that.
SOME HESITATION: QLD seems to have forgotten they are now kings of the state allocation pond, moving slowly and issuing small numbers of invitations. SA is also taking it slow, but perhaps wisely. After losing a chunk of their quota, they appear to be strategically and cautiously picking their ROIs.
MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT: Even with November’s boost, states are still well below the halfway mark of their 2025/26 allocation, and we are almost halfway through the planning year.
Source: department of home affairs - again!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
STRATEGIC PACING: we loved the flurry of invites in November - but they were still low. States look to be holding back nominations and being super selective.
BIG MONTHS AHEAD? With most states well below halfway of their allocations, we’re hoping to see spikes, bursts and inundations (or just a greater volume of invites, please) after the holiday season!
WE SPY OPPORTUNITY! Timing is everything in migration. Being ready and strategic with State Nomination applications could be your golden ticket - especially if bigger rounds are on the way!
3. INVITATION ROUND - 13 NOVEMBER 2025
And to round out our Wrap-Up, the very welcome 13 November 2025 EOIround landed with a bang! With a hefty 10, 300 invitations dropping, it was a seriously solid round (not record-breaking, but one we will happily take!)
Source: department of home affairs - surprise!
WHAT DID WE SEE
SKILLS, SKILLS, SKILLS: Home Affairs says skilled migration is a priority, and with 10,000+ invites in a single round, we believe them.
FAMILY SPONSORED IS BACK: The subclass 491 Family-Sponsored stream has officially re-entered the chat, with 300 invitations in the third round, double the August round. This is the biggest activity we’ve seen in the stream since 2023, where only 74 and 79 invites were issued across two rounds.
TRADIES ARE IN FASHION: Boots, belts and high-vis, trades are having their moment. Thirteen construction occupations (plasterers, tilers, plumbers, sparkies, brickies, carpenters, etc.) were invited at the minimum points threshold of 65.
HEALTH AND EDUCATION CLEAN UP: A huge indicator of our health and education workforce gaps:
Registered nurses (most specialisations): 75 points
GPs: 75 points
Secondary school, special education and special needs teachers: 75 points
Social workers: 75 points
Early childhood teachers: 85 points
AAAND ANOTHER SURPRISE TENNIS COACH: We love a wildcard. August gave us a tennis coach at 95. This round? Another tennis coach, but at 85 points. Just in time for the Aussie Open.
WHAT DIDN’T WE SEE?
Zero invitations for:
Accountants
ICT
Chefs.
We know these occupations remain deeply competitive, but it’s always a bit disappointing to see no movements this round.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
TWO ROUNDS THIS YEAR = LOOKS QUARTERLY TO US: Home Affairs has said they are aiming for quarterly invitation rounds throughout 2025/26, and we appear to be on track. All eyes are now on February 2026.
COMPETITION IS RIFE. Over half of occupations invited required 85+ points, with some occupations reaching very high scores:
Osteopaths: 100 points
Multimedia specialists: 95 points
Metal machinists and electronic instrument trades workers: 90 points
THERE IS JUST NO ROOM FOR DIY DISASTERS. Invitations are hot commodities, and when the stakes are this high, getting it right matters. From the documents you need, including skills assessments, to claiming the correct points in the correct categories, precision and preparation matter more than ever.
A QUICK REMINDER BEFORE WE GO
Our blog is here to educate and inform, not replace personalised advice. If you are unsure how it applies to you, or you want to make sure your EOI and ROI are airtight, book a chat with us HERE!
AND REMEMBER
just because a number of invitations or nominations are issued does not mean a visa grant, like those quoted in the Migration Program planning levels, is guaranteed. Mistakes in EOIs, missing documents or points errors can lead to refusals, so double-check, dot your i’s and cross your t’s to avoid migration mayhem.
