New 189 Selection Model Explained (2025 Update)

Key Takeaways:

• The Australian Government has introduced a new tier-based selection model for Subclass 189 visas to prioritise high-value occupations.
• Four tiers now determine how many invitations each occupation receives, based on workforce demand.
• Occupation ceilings are back — with multipliers (4%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%) that heavily affect invitation chances.
• Invitation rounds will be quarterly, with optional monthly targeted rounds based on labour needs.
• Points still matter, but your occupation’s tier matters even more for 2025–26 PR planning.

The Australian Government has updated the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) invitation process for the 2025–26 program year. A new tier-based selection model now determines how occupations are prioritised, how many invitations are issued, and how quickly skilled applicants receive EOIs.

For international students, graduates, and PR aspirants across Melbourne, Tarneit, Point Cook, Dandenong, Craigieburn and interstate migrant hubs, understanding this new system is essential for building a winning PR strategy.

Book a one-on-one consultation with Knowbal today and get tailored guidance for your pathway to PR.

Please Note: This article is a general guide based on the official FOI-released government documentation and public Home Affairs policy as of the publication date. Always check the official DHA website for current information. For detailed, current advice specific to your situation, consult a registered migration agent or The Department of Home Affair.

What is the New 189 Selection Model?

The new model restructures the 189 invitation process to prioritise occupations that deliver stronger long-term economic value. According to the FOI document (Independent Skills, Talent and Business Division), the goals are:

• Greater transparency in invitation timing and composition
• Better targeting of high-value occupations
• Reduced duplication between 189, 190, 491, and employer-sponsored programs
• More predictable and efficient invitation rounds

The Department will now run invitations based on annual planning, labour market needs, and tier-based ceilings across the program.

Why the 189 Model Changed

The government identified several problems in previous 189 invitation approaches, including:

1. Lack of transparency for applicants

States repeatedly asked for clearer timing, because candidates were uncertain about when rounds would occur.

2. Poor coordination across visa programs

87% of 189 candidates also applied for 190 or 491 visas in the same year, leading to overlap and inefficiency.

3. Need to strengthen economic outcomes

Occupation targets will now be calibrated based on workforce demand, and ceilings adjusted to maintain diversity.

4. Oversupply in certain occupations

ICT, accounting, and hospitality had large EOI volumes but inconsistent economic priority. The new model throttles oversupplied categories.

Also Read: How to Get Invited for Subclass 189 Visa

How the 189 Invitation Formula Works

The Department uses a simple formula to work out how many 189 invitations each occupation can receive:

Occupation Invitations = Workforce Size × Tier % – Last Year’s Employer-Sponsored Grants

This ensures that:

• Occupations with large workforce size (e.g., nurses, engineers) get proportionally more seats.
• Higher tiers (Tier 1 = 4%) receive more places than lower tiers (Tier 4 = 0.5%).
• If an occupation already received many employer-sponsored visas, its 189 allocation decreases.

A minimum of 500 invitations applies if the final number is above 0 but below 500.

If the final number is ≤ 0 → no 189 invitations for that occupation.

189 Allocation Formula Example

StepCalculation / ExplanationOccupation Civil Engineer Tier Tier 3 Tier Multiplier 1% Estimated Workforce Size 55,000(Sample Only) Employer-Sponsored Grants Last Year 350(Sample Only) Step 1: Workforce Size × Tier % 55,000 × 1% = 550Step 2: Subtract Employer-Sponsored Grants 550 – 350 = 200Step 3: Minimum Invitation Rule Result (200) is >0 but <500, so minimum 500 invitations apply Final Outcome500 invitations allocated for Civil Engineers

Breakdown of the New Tier System

Australia’s new 189 visa selection model grouped every skilled occupation into four tiers, each with its own priority level, invitation weight, and occupation ceiling multiplier.
These ceilings determine how many invitations the Department of Home Affairs will issue for each occupation during the program year.

Tier 1 — Highest Priority (4% Multiplier)

Tier 1 includes occupations with long training pathways, critical workforce shortages, and high national importance, particularly in health and advanced medical care. These occupations receive the largest ceilings and highest invitation priority.

Tier 1 Occupation List

OccupationANZSCO Code Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 251211 Medical Radiation Therapist 251212 Nuclear Medicine Technologist 251213 Sonographer 251214 Optometrist 251411 Occupational Therapist 252411 Physiotherapist 252511 Podiatrist 252611 Audiologist 252711 Speech Pathologist 252712 General Practitioner 253111 Resident Medical Officer 253112 Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 253311 Cardiologist 253312 Clinical Haematologist 253313 Medical Oncologist 253314 Endocrinologist 253315 Gastroenterologist 253316 Intensive Care Specialist 253317 Neurologist 253318 Paediatrician 253321 Renal Medicine Specialist 253322 Rheumatologist 253323 Thoracic Medicine Specialist 253324 Specialist Physician (nec) 253399 Psychiatrist 253411 Surgeon (General) 253511 Cardiothoracic Surgeon 253512 Neurosurgeon 253513 Orthopaedic Surgeon 253514 Vascular Surgeon 253521 Dermatologist 253911 Emergency Medicine Specialist 253912 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 253913 Ophthalmologist 253914 Pathologist 253915 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 253917 Medical Practitioners (nec) 253999 Midwife 254111 Nurse Practitioner 254411 Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 254412 Registered Nurse (Child & Family Health) 254413 Registered Nurse (Community Health) 254414 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 254415 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 254416 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 254417 Registered Nurse (Medical) 254418 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 254421 Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 254422 Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical) 254425 Registered Nurse (nec) 254499

Tier 2 — High Priority (2% Multiplier)

Tier 2 includes occupations essential for education, community wellbeing, and mental health support. These occupations receive moderate but steady invitation volume.

Tier 2 Occupation List

OccupationANZSCO Code Child Care Centre Manager 134111 Early Childhood (Pre-primary) Teacher 241111 Secondary School Teacher 241411 Special Education Teachers 241512 / 241513 / 241599 Psychologist 272311 Social Worker 272511

Tier 3 — Diverse Occupations (1% Multiplier)

Tier 3 covers the majority of Australia’s skilled migration list, supporting engineering, science, construction, agriculture, and key technical trades. These occupations have balanced invitation prospects, depending on national demand.

Tier 3 Occupation List

OccupationANZSCO Code Construction Project Manager 133111 Engineering Manager 133211 Nursing Clinical Director 134212 Primary Health Organisation Manager 134213 Welfare Centre Manager 134214 Arts Administrator or Manager 139911 Environmental Manager 139912 Laboratory Manager 139913 Quality Assurance Manager 139914 Specialist Managers (nec) 139999 Café or Restaurant Manager 141111 Accommodation and Hospitality Managers (nec) 141999 Actuary 224111 Statistician 224113 Economist 224311 Land Economist 224512 Valuer 224512 Management Consultant 224711 Organisation and Methods Analyst 224712 Librarian 224611 Chemical Engineer 233111 Materials Engineer 233112 Civil Engineer 233211 Geotechnical Engineer 233212 Structural Engineer 233214 Transport Engineer 233215 Electrical Engineer 233311 Electronics Engineer 233411 Mechanical Engineer 233512 Production or Plant Engineer 233513 Industrial Engineer 233511 Mining Engineer 233611 Petroleum Engineer 233612 Environmental Engineer 233915 Architect 232111 Landscape Architect 232112 Surveyor 232212 Cartographer 232213 Other Spatial Scientist 232214 Urban and Regional Planner 232611 Agricultural Consultant 234111 Agricultural Scientist 234112 Forester 234113 Food Technologist 234212 Biotechnologist 234513 Environmental Consultant 234312 Environmental Research Scientist 234313 Environmental Scientist (nec) 234399 Geologist 234411 Geophysicist 234412 Hydrogeologist 234413 Meteorologist 234913 Physicist 234914 Life Scientist (nec) 234599 Electrician (General) 341111 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic 342111 Plumber (General) 334111 Metal Fabricator 322311 Welder (First Class) 322313 Fitter (General) 323211 Fitter and Turner 323212 Fitter-Welder 323213 Motor Mechanic (General) 321211 Diesel Motor Mechanic 321212 Panelbeater 324111

Tier 4 — Oversupplied Occupations (0.5% Multiplier)

Tier 4 includes occupations with very high EOI numbers and therefore tighter ceilings under the new model—particularly accounting and ICT. These occupations are still eligible for 189, but they will face higher competition.

Tier 4 Occupation List

OccupationANZSCO Code Accountant (General) 221111 Management Accountant 221112 Taxation Accountant 221113 External Auditor 221213 Internal Auditor 221214 ICT Business Analyst 261111 Systems Analyst 261112 Multimedia Specialist 261211 Web Developer 261212 Developer Programmer 261312 Software Engineer 261313 Software & Applications Programmer (nec) 261399 Database Administrator 262111 ICT Security Specialist 262112 Network Administrator 263112 ICT Support Engineer 263212 ICT Systems Test Engineer 263213 Chef 351311

Advice:
If your occupation is in Tier 4, 189 is still possible — but you should seriously consider 190 and 491 as part of a multi-pathway strategy.

Occupation Ceilings Explained (2025)

Occupation ceilings are back — and they now drive invitation volume for each ANZSCO code. According to the FOI policy framework:

• Ceilings are calculated using average workforce stock × tier multiplier
• This prevents dominance by oversupplied occupations
• Ensures diversity in the 189 intake
• Aligns with data from 190, 491 and 186 programs to avoid overlap

What this means for applicants:

• Tier 1 occupations get significantly larger invitation allocations
• Tier 4 occupations may receive reduced numbers, even if points are high
• Ceiling fulfilment will be monitored across the entire migration program

Invitation Rounds & Frequency (2025–26)

• The FOI document confirms a new predictable invitation schedule: ➡ Quarterly General Invitation Rounds These fill occupation ceilings proportionally across all tiers. ➡ Monthly Targeted Rounds (Optional) These may run mid-year to respond to:
  • unexpected labour demand
  • changes in EOI submissions
  • shortages flagged by other visa programs
  ➡ Mid-Year Checkpoint By January each year, DHS will:
  • assess visa grants vs invitation data
  • adjust upcoming rounds
  ➡ Conversion Rate Monitoring Invitation numbers for each occupation will depend on:
  • how many invited candidates actually lodge visa applications
  • how quickly ceilings are reached
  This makes the 189 program more dynamic and data-driven.

Also Read: Latest Analysis of Australia’s 189 Invitation Round Outcomes

What 2025 PR Applicants Should Do Now

1. Update Your EOI Immediately After Graduating

Especially if your completion letter is delayed — timing affects eligibility.

2. Strengthen Your Points

• NAATI CCL
• Professional Year
• English upgrades
• Partner skills

3. Consider Dual Pathways: 189 + 190/491

With 87% of applicants applying to multiple programs, you must not rely on 189 alone.

4. Ensure ANZSCO Accuracy

A mismatch between job duties and ANZSCO code can lead to EOI rejection or skills assessment issues.

5. For Tier 4 Applicants — Plan Early

Knowbal often advises clients in ICT or accounting to strengthen points BEFORE lodging, not after waiting months.

At Knowbal Migration and Education, we guide you on strengthening your EOI and improving your chances of receiving an invitation. Enquire now to get expert support for your Australia 189 visa goals in 2025–26.