189Federal
95- Est. Invitations
- 3–3
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
Life Scientist (nec)
As at September 2026, Life Scientist (nec) (ANZSCO 234599) has 111 EOIs in the subclass 189 pool (39 at 85+ points), 174 in 190 and 126 in 491. Last 189 invitation: 95 points on 4 June 2026. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 95 points (1 May 2026) and 491 at 85 points (8 December 2022). Cut-offs are trending upward across recent rounds.
⬡ Personal report
Checking your access…
⬡ Migration agent
This occupation is highly competitive
Most applicants need a state-nomination strategy or 482/186 employer sponsorship — a registered migration agent can build one.
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01
Latest Life Scientist (nec) invitation rounds & points
Subclass 189
↑ Rising95pts
4 June 2026 · ~10 invited
Up from 85 · 3 rounds so far this FY
85–95 pts over last 6 roundsⓘ
Subclass 190
95pts
1 May 2026
1 round so far this FY
Subclass 491
Stable85pts
8 Dec 2022
Up from 70 · 1 round so far this FY
70–95 pts over last 3 roundsⓘ
189 places this financial year
FY2026-27 · estimatedShared by all 8 occupations in Life Scientists, not just Life Scientist (nec)
500est. ceiling262est. 189 places121–150est. left after 15 Oct
43–54%
238 to 186 / 190 / 491~112–141 invited by 189open
15 Oct cut-off for the whole group: 90 pts · DOE 5 Jan – 23 Apr 2026
Who shares these places · 8 occupationsLife Scientist (nec) used ~17–21
| Occupation | Est. invited this FY | EOIs ≥ 90 pts | In pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Scientist (nec)234599THIS | 17–21 | 31 | 111 |
| Biotechnologist234514 | 35–43 | 79 | 488 |
| Life Scientist (General)234511 | 29–40 | 63 | 301 |
| Biochemist234513 | 13–14 | 17 | 115 |
| Microbiologist234517 | 9–12 | 37 | 331 |
| Marine Biologist234516 | 7–8 | 15 | 58 |
| Zoologist234518 | 2–3 | 7 | 25 |
| Botanist234515 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2345 total | 112–141 | 249 | 1,446 |
ImmiTrend estimate — official figures not yet published. FY2025-26 official: 500 ceiling, 323 remaining · Invited counts from community round reports · EOIs from SkillSelect 9 Oct 2026, before the round · How we estimate · All occupation ceilings →
Subclass 189 wait estimates · September 2026 EOI pool
Life Scientist (nec) shares unit group 2345's 189 places with 7 other occupations — these waits count Life Scientist (nec) invitations only. Check your score for the group view.
80
Points
58
Ahead
about 9 months
0/6
Met the cut-off
85
Points
39
Ahead
about 9 months
1/6
Met the cut-off
90
Points
31
Ahead
about 8 months
3/6
Met the cut-off
95
Points
12
Ahead
about 6 months
6/6
Met the cut-off
These are model averages across the queue — for your personal rank and wait based on your own DOE, jump to Check My Score below.
"Met the cut-off" counts how many of the last 6 subclass-189 rounds your points would have been at or above the round's minimum.
Figures describe observed invitation rounds and the current EOI pool — indicative only, not migration advice.
189 rank can be estimated from points and DOE; 190 and state/territory-nominated 491 are selected by each jurisdiction under its own policy and priorities, so a national EOI queue rank doesn't apply.
02
How this occupation ranks
189
Where it ranks · subclass 189 · last 2 FY
Outside top 50 by volume
of 196 occupations invited
▲ Rising
⋯
This occupation · most invited →least invited
60 invites last 2 FY · busiest 6,052 · typical 48
Most consistently invited
invited 5 of 5 roundsOccasional
oldest → newest · filled = invited
Year over year
10last FY
50this FY
▲ +400%Round to round · last 2 FY
2
8
16
31
3
▲ Rising · invites per round
03
Is 85–95 points enough for Life Scientist (nec)?
Can I get invited for Life Scientist (nec) with my points?
04
189 Invitation Predictions
What points and Date of Effect may be needed for Life Scientist (nec) in the next 189 round?
NEXT 189 ROUND · FROZEN 9 Oct 2026projected cutoff 85 pts · DOE 25 Jan 2026this group 301 invitationsthis occupation est. 34Get your verdict →
Calculate invitation predictions
Compare all occupationsSee the predicted cutoff score and Date of Effect for Life Scientist (nec) if a given number of 189 invitations are issued in the next round.
At a glance — by round size
If 10 invited
95DOE ≤ June 26
If 20 invited
90DOE ≤ Feb 26
If 50 invited
80DOE ≤ July 26
If 100 invited
65DOE ≤ Aug 26
If 200 invited
All invited (111)
If 500 invited
All invited (111)
If 1000 invited
All invited (111)
Or calculate a custom number
189 prediction — full row
This occupation's complete row from the 189 invitation-prediction table: latest cutoff, this financial year's estimated round sizes, spots left, and predicted cutoffs at each scenario.
| Last round | Cutoff | Aug 25 | Nov 25 | June 26 | Spots left (FY) | If floor invited | If anchored invited | Active EOIs | At/above | Ceiling remaining | If 10 invited | If 20 invited | If 50 invited | If 100 invited | If 200 invited | If 500 invited | If 1000 invited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 26 | 95 | 14–16 | 26–31 | 3–3 | 0 | 100DOE ≤ Sept 26 | 100DOE ≤ Sept 26 | 111 | 12 | 323 | 95DOE ≤ June 26 | 90DOE ≤ Feb 26 | 80DOE ≤ July 26 | 65DOE ≤ Aug 26 | All invited (111) | All invited (111) | All invited (111) |
05
Cut-offs & capacity
189 Occupation CeilingTier 3
2025-26 · Life Scientists (2345xx)
Ceiling
500
1.0% multiplier
Grants (190/491/ENS)
177
Remaining for 189
323
Spots left (FY)
Exhausted
Minimum Points Invited
All sources · 12 data points
Est. Invitations Per Round
Federal SkillSelect · 11 rounds
Estimated based on this occupation's share of invited EOIs in the backlog. Not official data.
Point Reality Gauge
EOI minimum vs actual invited
Minimum (65)Actual (95)
Key Insights for Life Scientist (nec)
- ↑
Points are rising. Recent invited scores for Life Scientist (nec) are rising, which suggests competition may be increasing. Higher points generally improve 189 ranking; 190/491 outcomes still depend on each state and territory's policy and priorities.
- ⚠
Still 30 points above the EOI minimum. Despite current trends, Life Scientist (nec) remains competitive. Applicants significantly below 95 points are unlikely to receive invitations soon.
- ℹ
4 rounds so far in FY25-26. Life Scientist (nec) has been invited in 4 invitation rounds this financial year. The round count alone doesn't indicate future demand or guarantee invitations.
06
A profile of the invited
07
Life Scientist (nec) EOI queue & points distribution
How many people are ahead of me in the EOI pool for Life Scientist (nec)?
EOI Pool Distribution (All Subclasses)
09/2026 snapshot · 411 submitted EOIs in queue
Peak Points
75
At 95+ pts
75
Below Cutoff
336
EOI Submission Trends
Feb 24 – Sep 26
Latest
411
MoM Change
+8 (2.0%)
Peak Month
Sep 26 (411)
EOI Queue Age
Backlog by submission month — 09/2026 snapshot
Counts may differ from the EOI pool total. "Month Submitted" reflects the last submission date, and the Qlik data model may distribute EOIs across multiple months. Use this chart for relative distribution, not absolute queue sizes.
≥
In Queue
411
Oldest Waiting
Sep 24
Total Invited
106
Likelyⓘ
~17 mo ~ ~17 mo
Mar 2028~17 mo
Mar 2028Likely
Apr 2028~18 mo
Estimated wait based on monthly invitation rate variance. By the 25th percentile mark, there's a 25% chance you'll have been invited. By the 75th percentile, 75% likely.
Invitation Trends
Feb 24 – Sep 26
Latest
29
MoM Change
0 (0.0%)
Peak Month
Nov 25 (70)
08
Life Scientist (nec) round history
Round History
Source:
| Date | Subclass | Source | Points | Est. Invitations | Salary | DOE / EOI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | 189 | Federal | 95 | 3–3 | — | — | |
| 1 May 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | 95 | — | 💰80000 | onshore | |
| 13 Nov 2025 | 189 | Federal | 85 | 26–31 | — | — | |
| 21 Aug 2025 | 189 | Federal | 90 | 14–16 | — | — | |
| 7 Nov 2024 | 189 | Federal | 90 | 5–8 | — | — | |
| 5 Sep 2024 | 189 | Federal | 95 | 2–2 | — | — | |
| 13 Jun 2024 | 189 | Federal | 95 | 4–5 | — | — | |
| 8 Dec 2022 | 491 | Federal | 85 | — | — | — | |
| 8 Dec 2022 | 189 | Federal | 90 | ~34Est. | — | — | |
| 6 Oct 2022 | 189 | Federal | 65 | ~11Est. | — | — | |
| 21 Apr 2022 | 491 | Federal | 70 | — | — | — | |
| 21 Jan 2022 | 491 | Federal | 95 | — | — | — |
- ··
- 190VICCommunity95
- Est. Invitations
- —
- Salary
- 💰80000
- DOE / EOI
- onshore
·· - 189Federal85
- Est. Invitations
- 26–31
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal90
- Est. Invitations
- 14–16
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal90
- Est. Invitations
- 5–8
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal95
- Est. Invitations
- 2–2
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal95
- Est. Invitations
- 4–5
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 491Federal85
- Est. Invitations
- —
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal90
- Est. Invitations
- ~34Est.
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 189Federal65
- Est. Invitations
- ~11Est.
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 491Federal70
- Est. Invitations
- —
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
·· - 491Federal95
- Est. Invitations
- —
- Salary
- —
- DOE / EOI
- —
··
FederalSkillSelectOfficialState governmentCommunityCrowdsourced
09
Life Scientist (nec) 190 / 491 state nominations
Which states nominate Life Scientist (nec) for 190 or 491?
190/491 State Nominations
EOI queue & eligibility per state for this occupation
51EOIs
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
13(25%)
31M Trend
↑ 1125%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
104EOIs
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
22(21%)
31M Trend
↑ 4800%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
49EOIs
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
14(29%)
31M Trend
↑ 950%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
72EOIs
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
10(14%)
31M Trend
↑ 3150%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
40EOIs
Graduate stream only
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
8(20%)
31M Trend
↑ 3900%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
19EOIs
Peak Bracket
75pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
5(26%)
31M Trend
↑ 1800%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
16EOIs
Peak Bracket
75pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
2(13%)
31M Trend
↑ 1500%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
48EOIs
Peak Bracket
90+pts
Above Cutoff ≥95
5(10%)
31M Trend
↑ 3900%
Points Distribution
Queue Trend (31M)
Invited & Lodged (31M)
EOI counts may include multi-state nominations.
10
Life Scientist (nec) visa grants
How many Life Scientist (nec) visas were actually granted, and through which visa?
In 2024-25, 65 skilled visas went to Life Scientist (nec) main applicants, the 141st most of 581 occupations. Most came through employer sponsorship (186: 49).
25-26* is provisional: the full year to June 2026 from a Home Affairs data release. Hover for the figures; the official release is expected in late 2026.
| Visa | Share of total | 2024-25 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | +171% | ||
75% | 49 | +133% | |
14% | 9 | — | |
11% | 7 | — | |
0% | 0 | — | |
0% | 0 | — |
— means last year had fewer than 20 grants. Tap a colour to show or hide its line. The grey area is the total.
Show the numbers for every year
| Year | Total | 186 | 190 | 491 | 189 | 494 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 116 | 18 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 143 | 28 | 113 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 67 | 32 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 49 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | 37 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 37 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 44 | 26 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 76 | 54 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 24 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 65 | 49 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Where they were granted
Employer location, 2024-25. Coloured by how each state's share of Life Scientist (nec) 186 grants compares with its usual share of all 186 grants.
- 1NSWMore than usual45% · usually 33%22
- 2VICAbout usual24% · usually 25%12
- 3QLDToo few to saytoo few to compare7
- 4SAToo few to saytoo few to compare5
- 5WAToo few to saytoo few to compare3
- 6TASToo few to saytoo few to compare0
- 7ACTToo few to saytoo few to compare0
- 8NTToo few to saytoo few to compare0
- More than usual (1.3× or more)
- About usual
- Less than usual (under 0.75×)
- Too few to say (under 10)
Who was granted
Country of citizenship, 2022-23 to 2024-25 combined.
- 1India17.6%
- 2Philippines12.7%
- 3United Kingdom8.5%
- 4South Africa7.3%
- 5Brazil6.7%
Data: July 2015 to June 2025, main applicants only. Occupation is recorded only for main applicants in the Skill stream, so partner, parent, business and 858 visas can't appear here, and temporary visas such as 482 aren't in this data. Source: Department of Home Affairs, BP0068 (CC BY). The views expressed are those of ImmiTrend and not necessarily those of the Department.
11
Common questions about Life Scientist (nec)
What points do you need for Life Scientist (nec) subclass 189?
Life Scientist (nec) was last invited for subclass 189 on 4 June 2026 at 95 points. In the last 6 rounds in which it was invited, the cut-off ranged 85–95 points.
Is the Life Scientist (nec) subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing?
The subclass 189 cut-off for Life Scientist (nec) has been trending upward across recent rounds — competition is increasing.
Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Life Scientist (nec) (subclass 189)?
In the last 6 subclass 189 rounds in which Life Scientist (nec) was invited (most recently on 4 June 2026), the cut-off ranged 85–95 points. Your points would have met the cut-off in: 95 points in 6 of 6, 90 points in 3 of 6, 85 points in 1 of 6. At 80 points or below, none of the last 6 rounds would have been met. Meeting a previous cut-off does not guarantee a future invitation — invitations also depend on your Date of Effect, the round size and other applicants.
Check how your own points and Date of Effect rank →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)?
Subclass 190 and state/territory-nominated 491 invitations are issued by each state and territory under its own policy and priorities — not by national EOI queue order. ImmiTrend's Check My Score compares your points, English, salary, partner status, onshore/offshore status and NAATI against community-reported invited samples for Life Scientist (nec). Samples may be incomplete — for reference only, not a guarantee.
Which states nominate Life Scientist (nec) for 190/491?
Life Scientist (nec) has state-nomination activity in: 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)?
Around 262 subclass 189 places are projected for Life Scientist (nec) in FY2026-27. The Department of Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so this is an ImmiTrend estimate based on prior-year ceilings and current pool data.
How long is the wait for Life Scientist (nec) at 80 points (subclass 189)?
At 80 points, the estimated subclass 189 wait for Life Scientist (nec) is about 9 months, based on the September 2026 EOI pool.
How long is the wait for Life Scientist (nec) at 85 points (subclass 189)?
At 85 points, the estimated subclass 189 wait for Life Scientist (nec) is about 9 months, based on the September 2026 EOI pool.
How long is the wait for Life Scientist (nec) at 90 points (subclass 189)?
At 90 points, the estimated subclass 189 wait for Life Scientist (nec) is about 8 months, based on the September 2026 EOI pool.
How long is the wait for Life Scientist (nec) at 95 points (subclass 189)?
At 95 points, the estimated subclass 189 wait for Life Scientist (nec) is about 6 months, based on the September 2026 EOI pool.
How often are Life Scientist (nec) invitation rounds held?
Subclass 189: no federal rounds have been held yet in FY2026-27; the most recent was on 4 June 2026, and in FY2025-26 there were 3 federal rounds (21 August 2025, 13 November 2025 and 4 June 2026), with Life Scientist (nec) invited in 3 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.
Related occupations
Life Scientists 2345
Related:Guide: check your 189 invitation chancesFirst 189 round of 2026-27, October update: every occupation’s projected cutoff189 invitation chances
Last updated 30 September 2026Sources:OfficialEstimated
Community-reported and estimated figures are indicative and may be incomplete — treat them as a guide, not a guarantee. Official figures come from Home Affairs / SkillSelect.
General information only — not migration advice.
Compiled by ImmiTrend from official SkillSelect data.