Australia’s New Occupation Tier System, What the 4-Tier Model Means for Subclass 189 Applicants
Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) program has entered a new phase. While the points test remains formally intact, recent Skilled Independent (subclass 189) invitation rounds reveal that points alone no longer determine who receives an invitation.
Instead, invitation outcomes are increasingly shaped by a four-tier occupation prioritisation model, uncovered through Freedom of Information (FOI) documents recently. These internal Department of Home Affairs documents provide the clearest insight to date into how 189 invitations are now being planned, prioritised, and capped.
This article explains:
· How the new occupation tier system works
· Why some applicants receive invitations at lower points
· Why others wait indefinitely despite very high scores
· How occupation ceilings are now calculated
· What this means for realistic migration planning in 2025–26 and beyond.
At A2MS, we closely analyse policy shifts like this to help skilled migrants make informed, realistic, and strategic migration decisions. This article explains what the new system means for you and how to respond.
Why the 189 Invitation System Has Changed
The Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa has historically been the most competitive permanent visa in Australia’s migration framework. Migrants granted this visa have consistently demonstrated the highest labour force participation rates and lifetime fiscal contribution among skilled visa holders.
However, the FOI documents identify several structural problems with the previous invitation model:
- Excessively long waiting periods for high-value applicants
- Poor coordination between Commonwealth, State, and employer-sponsored programs
- Oversubscription of certain occupations dominating invitation rounds
- Wasted invitations, as many candidates accepted state nominations before 189 invitations were issued
To address these issues, the Department developed a tiered prioritisation framework designed to align invitations with:
- Long-term economic contribution
- Skill scarcity and training time
- Government policy priorities
- Labour market sustainability
Importantly, this reform does not change migration law. It changes how invitations are managed.
The New Four-Tier Occupation Model Explained
Under the new framework, all eligible skilled occupations are grouped into four tiers, ranked by priority.
Invitations are issued by:
- Tier priority
- Occupation-specific ceilings
- Points ranking within that occupation
This explains why two applicants with very different points scores can have very different outcomes.
Overview of the Occupation Tiers
Tier | Priority | Description | Typical Outcomes |
Tier 1 | Highest | Scarce, long-training, critical skills | Fast invitations, lower points possible |
Tier 2 | High | Government priority occupations | Regular invitations |
Tier 3 | Medium | Broad skills mix and diversity | Competitive, slower rounds |
Tier 4 | Lowest | Oversupplied occupations | Heavily restricted invitations |
Tier 1 – Highest Priority Occupations
Multiplier applied to employment stock: ~4.0%
Tier 1 includes occupations with:
- Very long training pathways
- Deep specialisation
- Persistent national shortages
- High lifetime economic contribution
Most Tier 1 roles are in health and advanced medical practice, where domestic training pipelines cannot meet demand.
Examples include:
- Medical specialists (cardiology, oncology, psychiatry, surgery)
- General practitioners
- Registered nurses and midwives
- Physiotherapists and allied health specialists
- Diagnostic imaging professionals
Applicants in Tier 1 occupations often receive invitations well below traditional cut-off points, because demand far exceeds supply.
Tier 2 – High Priority Occupations
Multiplier: ~2.0%
Tier 2 captures occupations identified as government priorities, including those listed under Ministerial Direction 105, excluding roles already in Tier 1.
These occupations typically:
- Support essential public services
- Experience widespread shortages across states and regions
- Require professional registration or accreditation
Examples include:
- Early childhood teachers
- Primary and secondary school teachers
- Special education teachers
- Psychologists
- Social workers
Invitations for Tier 2 occupations are frequent and consistent, though generally more competitive than Tier 1.
Tier 3 – Diverse Occupations
Multiplier: ~1.0%
Tier 3 exists to preserve economic and occupational diversity in the skilled migration program. It includes a wide range of professional, technical, and trade roles that are valuable but not acutely scarce.
Examples include:
- Engineers (civil, electrical, mechanical, structural)
- Architects and surveyors
- Scientists and laboratory professionals
- Trades such as electricians and plumbers
- Lawyers, lecturers, and veterinarians
For Tier 3 applicants:
- Points ranking matters significantly
- Invitation timelines are longer
- Competition within each occupation is high
Tier 4 – Oversupplied Occupations
Multiplier: ~0.5%
Tier 4 includes occupations with:
- Persistently high EOI volumes
- Strong domestic graduate pipelines
- High representation across multiple visa pathways
The Department explicitly limits invitations in this tier to prevent oversupply and to stop a small group of occupations dominating the migration intake
Common Tier 4 occupations include:
- Accountants and auditors
- ICT business analysts and systems analysts
- Software engineers and developers
- Telecommunications professionals
- Chefs
For these occupations, even 95–100 points does not guarantee an invitation. Invitation volumes are deliberately throttled.
How Occupation Ceilings Now Work
The FOI documents confirm that occupation ceilings are now calculated using a new formula:
- Australian workforce size x tier multiplier,
- minus visas already granted under employer and state programs (such as subclass 186, 190 and 491)
Only the remaining capacity is available for subclass 189 invitations.
This means:
- State and employer-sponsored visas are counted before 189
- Some occupations may have no remaining ceiling for 189 in a given year
- Tier 4 occupations are most affected by this approach
This change explains why certain occupations have seen no invitations despite strong demand.
Why Points Alone No Longer Decide Invitations
Under the previous system, high points often meant faster invitations.
Under the new system:
- Occupation priority determines invitation volume
- Points rank candidates only within their tier
- A lower-point Tier 1 applicant can outrank a high-point Tier 4 applicant
Practical Example
# Example 1 (Engineering vs Allied Health – Strong Policy Example)
| Occupation | Tier | Points | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | Tier 3 | 90 | Moderate to low invitation likelihood |
| Physiotherapist | Tier 1 | 70 | High invitation likelihood |
- Engineers assume high points guarantee invites (they don’t)
- Physiotherapists are Tier 1 with long training pathways
- Very useful for correcting common misconceptions
# Example 2 (ICT Analyst vs Social Work – Public Service Focus)
| Occupation | Tier | Points | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICT Business Analyst | Tier 4 | 95 | Low invitation likelihood |
| Social Worker | Tier 2 | 75 | High invitation likelihood |
- ICT roles are oversupplied and throttled
- Social workers are policy-driven priority occupations
- Reinforces “occupation matters more than points”
# Example 3 (Education vs Accounting – Very Clear Contrast)
| Occupation | Tier | Points | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant (General) | Tier 4 | 95 | Low invitation likelihood |
| Early Childhood Teacher | Tier 2 | 75 | High invitation likelihood |
- Accountants are heavily oversupplied
- Early childhood teachers are a national priority
- Reflects real 189 invitation outcomes
What This Means for Your Migration Strategy
The tier system provides clarity, but also requires realistic strategy:
- Tier 1–2 applicants may prioritise subclass 189
- Tier 3 applicants should pursue multiple pathways simultaneously
- Tier 4 applicants should not rely on 189 as a primary option
- Employer sponsorship (subclass 482 → 186)
- State nomination (subclass 190)
- Regional visas (subclass 491)
- Understanding your occupation tier
- Choosing the right visa mix
- Timing EOIs and nominations strategically
Key Takeaway
The Skilled Independent visa has not become unpredictable — it has become deliberately selective.
Understanding the occupation tier system is now essential for:
- Managing expectations
- Avoiding wasted time and effort
- Building a realistic pathway to permanent residency
At A2MS, we specialise in helping skilled migrants navigate these changes with clarity and confidence.
Information Source Note: This article is based on internal Department of Home Affairs FOI-released documents, including Reform of SkillSelect Invitation Rounds and Proposal for Invitation Rounds – Skilled Independent Visas .
