# Physicist (ANZSCO 234914) 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/physicist-234914 ## Summary As at November 2026, Physicist (ANZSCO 234914) is still invited through the subclass 189: the 15 October 2026 round invited it at 80 points, for EOIs with a date of effect up to 28 August 2026 (an estimated 26 invitations, 36.1% of its 72 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 49 EOIs (1 at 85+ points), with 97 in 190 and 99 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 75 points (5 March 2026), community reported. Two states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 80–95 over the last 6 rounds, easing. ## Pathways | Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 189 | Skilled Independent | 80 (15 October 2026, DOE 28 August 2026) | official | Every round | 25–37 (2025-26*) | | 190 | State nominated | 75 (5 March 2026) | official | 2 states list it | 3–12 (2025-26*) | | 491 | Regional, state or family | no round recorded | – | 2 states list it | 2–8 (2025-26*) | | 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Employer | 7 (2024-25) | ## Will I get a 189 invitation as a Physicist? Likely at 80 points or more. Physicist was invited in 6 recent 189 rounds, most recently at 80 on 15 Oct 2026. ### Last 189 round (15 October 2026) | Cut-off | Date of effect | Est. invited | Queue invited | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 80 | on or before 28 August 2026 | 26 | 36.1% (26 of 72 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 Physicist? Two states list Physicist for 2026-27: 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 | Not listed | 30 | 15 | 14 | – | – / – | 2 | | VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 37 | 19 | 19 | – | 900 / – | 1 | | QLD Queensland | open | Not listed | 10 | 10 | 8 | – | – / – | 0 | | SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 19 | 20 | 14 | – | – / – | 2 | | WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 23 | 28 | 19 | 190 · 75 · 5 March 2026 | – / – | 2 | | TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 6 | 7 | 3 | – | 1,250 / 800 | 1 | | NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 3 | 7 | 3 | – | – / – | 0 | | ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 23 | 21 | 15 | – | – / – | 2 | ## How many Physicist visas are actually granted? 2025-26, provisional: 25–37 × 189, 3–12 × 190, 2–8 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 29 skilled visas for Physicist in 2024-25, the 191st most of 581 occupations: 11 × 189, 7 × 186, 7 × 491, 3 × 190, 1 × 494. | Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 186 | 7 | 7 | – | – | | 190 | 2 | 3 | – | 3–12 | | 491 | 3 | 7 | – | 2–8 | | 189 | 4 | 11 | – | 25–37 | | 494 | 1 | 1 | – | – | ## Cut-off history ### 189 rounds, latest 8 Where it ranks (last 2 FY): invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round −13% this FY so far (26 in 1 round) against last FY (90 in 3 rounds). | Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 15 October 2026 | 80 | 28 August 2026 | 26 | official | | 4 June 2026 | 80 | – | 38–44 | official | | 13 November 2025 | 85 | – | 24–28 | official | | 21 August 2025 | 90 | – | 15–18 | official | | 7 November 2024 | 90 | – | 7–11 | official | | 5 September 2024 | 95 | – | 5–6 | official | | 13 June 2024 | 95 | – | 6–7 | official | | 8 December 2022 | 90 | – | – | official | ### State rounds, latest 8 | Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 March 2026 | 190 | WA | 75 | official | | 1 February 2026 | 190 | WA | 80 | official | ## Frequently asked questions ### What points do you need for Physicist subclass 189? Physicist last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 80 points; ranged 80–95 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 28 August 2026 were invited. ### Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Physicist? In the 15 October 2026 round, Physicist EOIs at 85 points or more were invited; at 80 points, those with a date of effect on or before 28 August 2026; at 75 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 26 invitations to this occupation (49–51 to unit group 2349), 36.1% of its 72 EOIs at 65+ points. ### Is the Physicist subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing? Easing: across the last 6 189 rounds the Physicist cut-off ranged 80–95, from 95 (5 September 2024) to 80 (15 October 2026). ### Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Physicist (subclass 189)? Over Physicist's last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 80–95. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 5 of 6, 85: 3 of 6, 80: 2 of 6. 75 or below: none. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 28 August 2026 were invited. ### What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Physicist? For Physicist: subclass 190 was last invited at 75 points (5 March 2026). subclass 491 was last invited at 85 points (8 December 2022). ### How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Physicist? 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 Physicist; samples may be incomplete. ### Which states nominate Physicist for 190/491? Physicist is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: 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 Physicist? About 390–392 subclass 189 places are estimated left in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round for Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals, the unit group's 5 occupations together, Physicist included, of 441 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate. ### How often are Physicist invitation rounds held? Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Physicist received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2025-26: subclass 190 invitations on 2 round dates and subclass 491 on none (WA; 75–80 points). ### How many Physicist visas were granted in 2024-25? 29 main applicants: 11 through 189, 7 through 186, 7 through 491, 3 through 190 and 1 through 494. ## 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).