# Life Scientist (nec) (ANZSCO 234599) 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/life-scientist-nec-234599 ## Summary As at November 2026, Life Scientist (nec) (ANZSCO 234599) is still invited through the subclass 189: the 15 October 2026 round invited it at 90 points, for EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 February 2026 (an estimated 19–21 invitations, 18.4% of its 103 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 96 EOIs (21 at 85+ points), with 170 in 190 and 130 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 95 points (1 May 2026), community reported. Three states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 85–95 over the last 6 rounds. ## Pathways | Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 189 | Skilled Independent | 90 (15 October 2026, DOE 3 February 2026) | official | Every round | 21–30 (2025-26*) | | 190 | State nominated | 95 (1 May 2026) | community-reported | 3 states list it | 8–17 (2025-26*) | | 491 | Regional, state or family | no round recorded | – | 3 states list it | 2–8 (2025-26*) | | 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Largest | 49 (2024-25) | ## Will I get a 189 invitation as a Life Scientist (nec)? Likely at 90 points or more. Life Scientist (nec) was invited in 6 recent 189 rounds, most recently at 90 on 15 Oct 2026. ### Last 189 round (15 October 2026) | Cut-off | Date of effect | Est. invited | Queue invited | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 90 | on or before 3 February 2026 | 19–21 | 18.4% (19 of 103 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 a Life Scientist (nec)? Three states list Life Scientist (nec) for 2026-27: VIC, QLD 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 | Not listed | 31 | 17 | 19 | – | – / – | 1 | | VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 73 | 35 | 49 | 190 · 95 · 1 May 2026 | 900 / – | 5 | | QLD Queensland | open | 190, 491 | 33 | 15 | 23 | – | – / – | 2 | | SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 40 | 36 | 28 | – | – / – | 1 | | WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 21 | 18 | 16 | – | – / – | 0 | | TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 10 | 10 | 7 | – | 1,250 / 800 | 0 | | NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 6 | 9 | 5 | – | – / – | 0 | | ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 27 | 21 | 15 | – | – / – | 0 | ## How many Life Scientist (nec) visas are actually granted? 2025-26, provisional: 21–30 × 189, 8–17 × 190, 2–8 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 65 skilled visas for Life Scientist (nec) in 2024-25, the 141st most of 581 occupations: 49 × 186 (+133%), 9 × 190, 7 × 189. | Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 186 | 21 | 49 | +133% | – | | 190 | 1 | 9 | – | 8–17 | | 491 | 0 | 0 | – | 2–8 | | 189 | 2 | 7 | – | 21–30 | | 494 | 0 | 0 | – | – | ## Cut-off history ### 189 rounds, latest 8 Where it ranks (last 2 FY): invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round +26% this FY so far (21 in 1 round) against last FY (50 in 3 rounds). | Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 15 October 2026 | 90 | 3 February 2026 | 19–21 | official | | 4 June 2026 | 95 | – | 3 | official | | 13 November 2025 | 85 | – | 26–31 | official | | 21 August 2025 | 90 | – | 14–16 | official | | 7 November 2024 | 90 | – | 5–8 | official | | 5 September 2024 | 95 | – | 2 | official | | 13 June 2024 | 95 | – | 4–5 | official | | 8 December 2022 | 90 | – | – | official | ### State rounds, latest 8 | Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 May 2026 | 190 | VIC | 95 | community-reported | ## Frequently asked questions ### What points do you need for Life Scientist (nec) subclass 189? Life Scientist (nec) last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 90 points; ranged 85–95 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 90 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 February 2026 were invited. ### Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Life Scientist (nec)? In the 15 October 2026 round, Life Scientist (nec) EOIs at 95 points or more were invited; at 90 points, those with a date of effect on or before 3 February 2026; at 85 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 19–21 invitations to this occupation (106–118 to unit group 2345), 18.4% of its 103 EOIs at 65+ points. ### Is the Life Scientist (nec) subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing? Flat: across the last 6 189 rounds the Life Scientist (nec) cut-off ranged 85–95, from 95 (5 September 2024) to 90 (15 October 2026). ### Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Life Scientist (nec) (subclass 189)? Over Life Scientist (nec)'s last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 85–95. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 4 of 6, 85: 1 of 6. 80 or below: none. At 90 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 February 2026 were invited. ### What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Life Scientist (nec)? For Life Scientist (nec): subclass 190 was last invited at 95 points (1 May 2026). subclass 491 was last invited at 85 points (8 December 2022). ### How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Life Scientist (nec)? 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 Life Scientist (nec); samples may be incomplete. ### Which states nominate Life Scientist (nec) for 190/491? Life Scientist (nec) is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: QLD, 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 Life Scientist (nec)? About 144–156 subclass 189 places are estimated left in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round for Life Scientists, the unit group's 8 occupations together, Life Scientist (nec) included, of 262 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate. ### How often are Life Scientist (nec) invitation rounds held? Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Life Scientist (nec) received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2025-26: subclass 190 invitations on 1 round date and subclass 491 on none (VIC; 95–95 points). ### How many Life Scientist (nec) visas were granted in 2024-25? 65 main applicants: 49 through 186, 9 through 190 and 7 through 189. ## 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).