# Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313)

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/welder-first-class-322313

## Summary

As at November 2026, Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313) 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 1 September 2026 (an estimated 71–73 invitations, 16.3% of its 435 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 473 EOIs (1 at 85+ points), with 923 in 190 and 1,130 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 70 points (16 April 2026) and 491 at 80 points (5 March 2025), community reported. Four states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 70–90 over the last 6 rounds, rising.

## Pathways

| Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 189 | Skilled Independent | 80 (15 October 2026, DOE 1 September 2026) | official | Every round | 22–31 (2025-26*) |
| 190 | State nominated | 70 (16 April 2026) | community-reported | 4 states list it | 91–97 (2025-26*) |
| 491 | Regional, state or family | 80 (5 March 2025) | community-reported | 4 states list it | 19–31 (2025-26*) |
| 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Largest | 117 (2024-25) |

## Will I get a 189 invitation as a Welder (First Class)?

Likely at 80 points or more. Welder (First Class) 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 1 September 2026 | 71–73 | 16.3% (71 of 435 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 Welder (First Class)?

Four states list Welder (First Class) for 2026-27: NSW, 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 | 190, 491 | 241 | 220 | 62 | 190 · 70 · 16 April 2026 | – / – | 6 |
| VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 322 | 245 | 122 | 190 · 80 · 17 March 2026 | 900 / – | 2 |
| QLD Queensland | open | 190, 491 | 98 | 111 | 19 | 190 · 65 · 20 March 2026 | – / – | 1 |
| SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 102 | 132 | 24 | 190 · 70 · 2 February 2026 | – / – | 7 |
| WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 235 | 326 | 132 | – | – / – | 0 |
| TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 36 | 49 | 6 | 190 · 65 · 20 March 2025 | 1,250 / 800 | 3 |
| NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 31 | 71 | 8 | – | – / – | 0 |
| ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 18 | 40 | 8 | – | – / – | 0 |

## How many Welder (First Class) visas are actually granted?

2025-26, provisional: 91–97 × 190, 22–31 × 189, 19–31 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 186 skilled visas for Welder (First Class) in 2024-25, the 68th most of 581 occupations: 117 × 186 (+17%), 35 × 189, 15 × 494 (-42%), 10 × 491, 9 × 190.

| Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 186 | 100 | 117 | +17% | – |
| 190 | 11 | 9 | – | 91–97 |
| 491 | 11 | 10 | – | 19–31 |
| 189 | 13 | 35 | – | 22–31 |
| 494 | 26 | 15 | -42% | – |

## Cut-off history

### 189 rounds, latest 8

Where it ranks (last 2 FY): invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round +155% this FY so far (73 in 1 round) against last FY (86 in 3 rounds).

| Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15 October 2026 | 80 | 1 September 2026 | 71–73 | official |
| 4 June 2026 | 80 | – | 60–70 | official |
| 13 November 2025 | 85 | – | 9–11 | official |
| 21 August 2025 | 90 | – | 4–5 | official |
| 7 November 2024 | 70 | – | 50–80 | official |
| 5 September 2024 | 75 | – | 33–40 | official |
| 13 June 2024 | 85 | – | 5–6 | official |
| 8 December 2022 | 65 | – | – | official |

### State rounds, latest 8

| Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 16 April 2026 | 190 | NSW | 70 | community-reported |
| 20 March 2026 | 190 | QLD | 65 | community-reported |
| 17 March 2026 | 190 | VIC | 80 | community-reported |
| 2 February 2026 | 190 | SA | 70 | community-reported |
| 18 November 2025 | 190 | VIC | 85 | community-reported |
| 19 September 2025 | 190 | SA | 65 | community-reported |
| 14 May 2025 | 190 | NSW | 80 | community-reported |
| 20 March 2025 | 190 | TAS | 65 | community-reported |

## Frequently asked questions

### What points do you need for Welder (First Class) subclass 189?

Welder (First Class) last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 80 points; ranged 70–90 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 1 September 2026 were invited.

### Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Welder (First Class)?

In the 15 October 2026 round, Welder (First Class) EOIs at 85 points or more were invited; at 80 points, those with a date of effect on or before 1 September 2026; at 75 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 71–73 invitations to this occupation (88–90 to unit group 3223), 16.3% of its 435 EOIs at 65+ points.

### Is the Welder (First Class) subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing?

Rising: across the last 6 189 rounds the Welder (First Class) cut-off ranged 70–90, from 75 (5 September 2024) to 80 (15 October 2026).

### Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Welder (First Class) (subclass 189)?

Over Welder (First Class)'s last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 70–90. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 6 of 6, 85: 5 of 6, 80: 4 of 6, 75: 2 of 6, 70: 1 of 6. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 1 September 2026 were invited.

### What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Welder (First Class)?

For Welder (First Class): subclass 190 was last invited at 70 points (16 April 2026). subclass 491 was last invited at 80 points (5 March 2025).

### How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Welder (First Class)?

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 Welder (First Class); samples may be incomplete.

### Which states nominate Welder (First Class) for 190/491?

Welder (First Class) is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: NSW, 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 Welder (First Class)?

About 271–273 subclass 189 places are estimated left in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round for Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers, the unit group's 2 occupations together, Welder (First Class) included, of 361 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate.

### How often are Welder (First Class) invitation rounds held?

Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Welder (First Class) received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2025-26: subclass 190 invitations on 6 round dates and subclass 491 on none (NSW, QLD, SA, VIC; 65–85 points).

### How many Welder (First Class) visas were granted in 2024-25?

186 main applicants: 117 through 186, 35 through 189, 15 through 494, 10 through 491 and 9 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).