Welder (First Class) is a priority processing occupation: since 25 July 2026, applications lodged by people already in Australia in this group are decided ahead of other skilled applications. This affects how quickly a lodged application is processed, not whether you are invited.
Welder (First Class)
Quick answer
What points are Welder (First Class)s being invited at?
The most recent 189 round that invited Welder (First Class) EOIs was on 4 June 2026, from 80 points. As at August 2026, 501 EOIs for 189 were waiting, including at least 55 at 80 points or more.
Data as at
Latest invitation cut-offs
No federal cut-off. States choose who to nominate. See EOIs by state below.
How Welder (First Class) ranks
Where this occupation sits among all occupations invited for the 189 visa, by the number of EOIs SkillSelect showed as invited after each round.
Where it ranks · subclass 189 · last 2 program years
156 invites in last 2 program years · busiest round 53 · typical round 33
Most consistently invited
invited in 5 of 5 rounds
oldest → newest · filled = invited
Year over year
Round to round · last 2 program years
invites per round
How many Welder (First Class) EOIs are waiting?
SkillSelect EOIs as at August 2026 Official
- 90<20
- 85<20
- 8055
- 7596
- 70106
- 65138
- 6055
- 5525
- 50<20
- 45<20
- 30<20
| Visa | Submitted | Invited | Lodged | On hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | 501 | 0 | 53 | <20 |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | 832 | 0 | 100 | <20 |
| 491 State nominated | 1,037 | 0 | 65 | <20 |
| 491 Family sponsored | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
EOIs below the 65-point pass mark cannot be invited. "<20" means fewer than 20. SkillSelect hides small numbers to protect privacy. An EOI can be counted under more than one visa.
Welder (First Class) invitation round history
| Round | Visa | Lowest points invited |
|---|---|---|
| 4 June 2026 | 189 | 80 |
| 13 November 2025 | 189 | 85 |
| 21 August 2025 | 189 | 90 |
| 7 November 2024 | 189 | 70 |
| 5 September 2024 | 189 | 75 |
| 13 June 2024 | 189 | 85 |
| 8 December 2022 | 189Offshore | 65 |
| 8 December 2022 | 189Onshore | 65 |
| 22 August 2022 | 189Offshore | 65 |
| 22 August 2022 | 491 familyOffshore | 65 |
Which states list Welder (First Class)?
Welder (First Class) is on the official state nomination list for NSW, QLD, WA and NT. Being listed doesn't guarantee an invitation, and a state may be closed. EOI counts are submitted 190 and 491 EOIs as at August 2026.
| State | Program | On state list | 190 EOIs | 491 EOIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Closed | 190 & 491NSW Skills List · NSW Regional Skills List | 161 | 178 |
| VIC | Check official site | No state list | 292 | 252 |
| QLD | Closed | 190 & 491Living overseas or Living in the state | 68 | 88 |
| WA | Check official site | 190 & 491General - WASMOL Schedule 2 — from 65 points | 210 | 302 |
| SA | Not open yet | Not listed | 81 | 111 |
| TAS | Open | Not listed | 30 | 44 |
| ACT | Not open yet | Not listed | <20 | 37 |
| NT | Open | 491Offshore priority occupation — Living overseas | 27 | 65 |
State lists and statuses come from each state's official migration website, checked 17 September 2026. General information only, not migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for Welder (First Class) (322313)?
The most recent 189 round to invite Welder (First Class) (4 June 2026) started at 80 points. Cut-offs change every round, so check the round history on this page. The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points.
Which visas can Welder (First Class) use?
On the current skilled occupation list, Welder (First Class) can be nominated for subclass 189, 190 and 491 (CSOL, MLTSSL).
Who assesses Welder (First Class)?
Skills assessments for Welder (First Class) are done by TRA.
Which states nominate Welder (First Class)?
As last checked, Welder (First Class) is on the official 190/491 occupation lists of NSW, QLD, WA and NT. States set their own criteria and some may be closed, so check the state pages linked on this page.
How many people are in the queue for Welder (First Class)?
As at August 2026, SkillSelect showed 501 submitted EOIs for Welder (First Class) under subclass 189.
Related occupations
Sources: Home Affairs invitation rounds · SkillSelect EOI data · How we use this data