# Environmental Research Scientist (ANZSCO 234313)

Source: Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results; per-occupation invitation counts are ImmiTrend estimates (the Department publishes totals and cut-offs, not per-occupation counts)  
Data as at: 2 November 2026 (EOI pool: October 2026)  
Page: https://immitrend.com.au/occupations/environmental-research-scientist-234313

## Summary

As at November 2026, Environmental Research Scientist (ANZSCO 234313) is still invited through the subclass 189: the 15 October 2026 round invited it at 65 points, for EOIs with a date of effect up to 6 October 2026 (an estimated 125–135 invitations, 100% of its 125 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 30 EOIs (1 at 85+ points), with 163 in 190 and 154 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 491 at 80 points (6 December 2024), community reported. Three states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 65–95 over the last 6 rounds, easing.

## Pathways

| Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 189 | Skilled Independent | 65 (15 October 2026, DOE 6 October 2026) | official | Every round | 33–39 (2025-26*) |
| 190 | State nominated | no round recorded | – | 2 states list it | 8–32 (2025-26*) |
| 491 | Regional, state or family | 80 (6 December 2024) | community-reported | 3 states list it | 4–16 (2025-26*) |
| 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Employer | 10 (2024-25) |

## Will I get a 189 invitation as an Environmental Research Scientist?

Likely at 65 points or more. Environmental Research Scientist was invited in 6 recent 189 rounds, most recently at 65 on 15 Oct 2026.

### Last 189 round (15 October 2026)

| Cut-off | Date of effect | Est. invited | Queue invited |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 65 | on or before 6 October 2026 | 125–135 | 100% (125 of 125 EOIs at 65+) |

Cut-off and date of effect: Home Affairs. Invitations and queue share: ImmiTrend estimates from the 1 October 2026 EOI pool.

ImmiTrend's frozen prediction for this round was 85 points; every occupation's prediction and result: https://immitrend.com.au/189-prediction/2026-10-15.

Next 189 round: date not announced; forecast pending.

## Which state could nominate an Environmental Research Scientist?

Three states list Environmental Research Scientist for 2026-27: NSW, VIC and WA are open.

## All states as a table

| State | Status | Listed | 190 queue | 491 queue | 85+ | Last cut-off | State places 190 / 491 (all occupations) | 190 + 491 grants |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSW New South Wales | open | 491 | 62 | 44 | 29 | – | – / – | 2 |
| VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 38 | 24 | 13 | – | 900 / – | 0 |
| QLD Queensland | open | Not listed | 21 | 16 | 9 | – | – / – | 2 |
| SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 30 | 27 | 11 | – | – / – | 3 |
| WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 43 | 39 | 31 | – | – / – | 4 |
| TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 9 | 9 | 4 | – | 1,250 / 800 | 2 |
| NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 11 | 16 | 8 | 491 · 80 · 6 December 2024 | – / – | 3 |
| ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 29 | 19 | 11 | – | – / – | 2 |

## How many Environmental Research Scientist visas are actually granted?

2025-26, provisional: 33–39 × 189, 8–32 × 190, 4–16 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 40 skilled visas for Environmental Research Scientist in 2024-25, the 169th most of 581 occupations: 12 × 189, 10 × 186, 10 × 491, 8 × 190.

| Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 186 | 5 | 10 | – | – |
| 190 | 8 | 8 | – | 8–32 |
| 491 | 0 | 10 | – | 4–16 |
| 189 | 9 | 12 | – | 33–39 |
| 494 | 0 | 0 | – | – |

## Cut-off history

### 189 rounds, latest 8

Where it ranks (last 2 FY): #40 of 170 occupations by 189 invitations (top 23%); invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round +240% this FY so far (135 in 1 round) against last FY (119 in 3 rounds).

| Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15 October 2026 | 65 | 6 October 2026 | 125–135 | official |
| 4 June 2026 | 80 | – | 49–57 | official |
| 13 November 2025 | 85 | – | 35–41 | official |
| 21 August 2025 | 90 | – | 18–21 | official |
| 7 November 2024 | 90 | – | 10–16 | official |
| 5 September 2024 | 95 | – | 3–4 | official |
| 13 June 2024 | 95 | – | 7–9 | official |
| 8 December 2022 | 85 | – | – | official |

### State rounds, latest 8

| Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 6 December 2024 | 491 | NT | 80 | community-reported |

## Frequently asked questions

### What points do you need for Environmental Research Scientist subclass 189?

Environmental Research Scientist last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 65 points; ranged 65–95 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 65 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 6 October 2026 were invited.

### Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Environmental Research Scientist?

In the 15 October 2026 round, Environmental Research Scientist EOIs at 70 points or more were invited; at 65 points, those with a date of effect on or before 6 October 2026; at 60 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 125–135 invitations to this occupation (572–612 to unit group 2343), 100% of its 125 EOIs at 65+ points.

### Is the Environmental Research Scientist subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing?

Easing: across the last 6 189 rounds the Environmental Research Scientist cut-off ranged 65–95, from 95 (5 September 2024) to 65 (15 October 2026).

### Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Environmental Research Scientist (subclass 189)?

Over Environmental Research Scientist's last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 65–95. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 5 of 6, 85: 3 of 6, 80: 2 of 6, 75: 1 of 6, 70: 1 of 6. At 65 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 6 October 2026 were invited.

### What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Environmental Research Scientist?

For Environmental Research Scientist: subclass 491 was last invited at 80 points (6 December 2024).

### How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Environmental Research Scientist?

States and territories issue 190 and 491 invitations under their own policies, not national EOI queue order. Check My Score compares your profile with community-reported invited samples for Environmental Research Scientist; samples may be incomplete.

### Which states nominate Environmental Research Scientist for 190/491?

Environmental Research Scientist is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: NSW, VIC, WA. State lists and quotas change each program year — check each state's official list.

### How many subclass 189 places are likely left this FY2026-27 for Environmental Research Scientist?

About 0 subclass 189 places are estimated left in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round for Environmental Scientists, the unit group's 3 occupations together, Environmental Research Scientist included, of 379 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate.

### How often are Environmental Research Scientist invitation rounds held?

Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Environmental Research Scientist received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2024-25: subclass 190 invitations on no round dates and subclass 491 on 1 round date (NT; 80–80 points).

### How many Environmental Research Scientist visas were granted in 2024-25?

40 main applicants: 12 through 189, 10 through 186, 10 through 491 and 8 through 190.

## Sources

- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results (189 cut-offs)
- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect EOI data dashboard (EOI pool)
- State and territory nomination program pages (lists, program status, places)
- Department of Home Affairs — BP0068 visa grants by occupation (CC BY 4.0)
- 190 and 491 cut-offs are reported by ImmiTrend users unless marked official

Figures are from the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect EOI data dashboard and invitation round results, compiled by ImmiTrend (CC BY 4.0: cite ImmiTrend and link to the page).