EOI Invitation Rounds: How SkillSelect Invitations Work
What Is an Invitation Round?
An invitation round is the mechanism DHA uses to select and send invitations (Invitation to Apply — ITA) to applicants who have lodged an EOI in SkillSelect. Rather than processing each application continuously one at a time, DHA runs periodic rounds in which the system automatically selects the eligible EOIs with the highest scores to send an ITA.
Understanding how invitation rounds work is essential so you can manage your expectations and plan an effective EOI strategy.
Frequency of Invitation Rounds
DHA runs invitation rounds on a separate schedule for each visa type and usually does not announce the specific date in advance. The frequency can vary from one financial year to the next and depends on a number of factors:
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): Rounds usually take place monthly or irregularly during the Australian financial year (July to June). In some years DHA runs more rounds, in others fewer.
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): Invitation rounds for the 190 depend on each state. Each state manages its own EOI list and runs invitation rounds on its own schedule. Some states invite regularly each month, others only when there is quota.
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): As with the 190, each state or territory manages its own invitation rounds for the 491.
Who Is Invited First? Selection Criteria
In each invitation round, DHA applies a clear order of priority:
Criterion 1 — The highest scores are invited first. Within the same occupation (ANZSCO code), the EOIs with the highest total scores are selected first. This is the core principle of the points system — the higher your score, the greater your chance of being invited.
Criterion 2 — Earlier lodgement date when scores are equal. When several EOIs have the same score and there is not enough quota to invite them all, DHA gives priority to the EOI lodged earlier. This is why, at the same score, someone who lodged their EOI earlier still has an advantage.
Criterion 3 — Occupation ceiling not yet reached. DHA only sends ITAs for occupations that still have quota remaining in the financial year. If an occupation has reached its occupation ceiling, no ITA is sent for that occupation in that round, no matter how high your score is.
The Cutoff Score in Each Round
Each invitation round has a “cutoff score” — the minimum score needed to be invited in that round. DHA does not publish the cutoff in advance; only after the round ends is information about the number of people invited and the lowest score in that round published on the DHA website.
The cutoff is not fixed — it changes from round to round depending on:
- The total quota remaining in the financial year
- The number of high-scoring EOIs in the queue
- The status of each specific occupation
What Is an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?
When you are selected in an invitation round, DHA sends you an Invitation to Apply (ITA) — the official invitation to lodge a visa application. The ITA is sent through your ImmiAccount, not through ordinary email.
The ITA includes information about:
- The visa type you are invited for (189, 190, or 491)
- The ITA expiry date
- Guidance on the next steps
The 60-Day Deadline After Receiving an ITA
This is one of the strictest rules in the entire SkillSelect process: after receiving an ITA, you have exactly 60 days to lodge your formal visa application with all supporting documents.
The 60 days runs from the date the ITA is issued, not from the date you read the notification email. For this reason, it is extremely important to check your ImmiAccount regularly (at least weekly) so you do not miss the ITA notification.
If you do not lodge your visa application within 60 days, the ITA expires. You will need to return to the EOI queue and wait for the next invitation round — there are no exceptions or extensions.
Preparing Before You Receive an ITA
Because 60 days is a fairly short period to gather all your documents, you should prepare your application before you receive the ITA. This includes:
- Work experience references from employers (especially former companies overseas)
- Translations of documents into English (by a recognised translator)
- Immigration health examination results from a DHA-appointed doctor
- Police clearances from every country you have lived in since the age of 16
Being prepared in advance helps you lodge your visa application within the deadline without pressure.