New 4-Tier Occupation Priority System for 189 Invitations
The Department of Home Affairs introduced a four-tier occupation prioritisation model for all Subclass 189 invitation rounds from the 2025–26 program year. Invitations are now issued by tier first, then by points within each tier. Occupation ceiling multipliers vary from 4.0% (Tier 1) down to 0.5% (Tier 4).
What this means in plain English
Your occupation's tier now matters as much as your points score. Accountants, ICT managers and systems analysts (Tier 4) receive the fewest 189 invitations regardless of points. Nurses, GPs and allied health (Tier 1) receive priority invitations and are invited at lower points thresholds. Engineering and trades sit in Tier 3 — standard allocation.
✓ Nurses — Tier 1 (highest priority)
✓ GPs — Tier 1
✓ Teachers — Tier 2
→ Engineers — Tier 3
→ Trades — Tier 3
⚠ Accountants — Tier 4 (fewest invitations)
⚠ Software Engineers — Tier 4
⚠ ICT Managers — Tier 4
TSS 482 Visa Replaced by Skills in Demand (SID) Visa — 3-Stream System
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa subclass 482 was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa from 7 December 2024. The new visa operates under three streams: Specialist Skills (salary $141,210+), Core Skills (CSOL-listed occupations, $76,515–$141,210), and Essential Skills (care economy, labour agreement required).
What this means in plain English
If you earn over $141,210 there is no occupation list requirement — any occupation qualifies. Between $76,515 and $141,210 your occupation must be on the new Core Skills Occupation List (456 occupations). The pathway to permanent residency via Subclass 186 now requires only 2 years of work (reduced from 3). Applications lodged after 7 December 2024 are assessed under the new SID rules.
✓ All occupations earning $141K+ (no list needed)
✓ Data Analysts — newly added to CSOL
✓ Child Care Workers — newly added
⚠ Café/Restaurant Managers — removed from CSOL
⚠ ICT Support Engineers — removed
Salary Thresholds Increased — Core Skills $76,515 · Specialist Skills $141,210
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) increased to $76,515 per annum and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) increased to $141,210 per annum from 1 July 2025. Both thresholds will increase again to $79,499 and $146,717 respectively from 1 July 2026.
What this means in plain English
Your employer must pay you at least $76,515 per year to sponsor you under the Core Skills stream. If your offered salary is below this, your sponsorship application will be refused regardless of occupation. Check your current offer against the threshold before your employer lodges a nomination.
⚠ Affects all 482 SID Core Skills applicants
→ July 2026: rises again to $79,499
English Test Rules Updated — Remote-Proctored Tests No Longer Accepted
From 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs no longer accepts remotely proctored (at-home) English language tests for skilled visa applications. Tests must be conducted at an approved testing centre. Tests taken before 7 August 2025 remain valid for 3 years from the original test date. PTE Academic scoring components for Writing and Speaking were also tightened from 13 September 2025.
What this means in plain English
If you sat an IELTS or PTE test at home online, that result is no longer accepted for visa purposes. You need to re-sit at an official test centre. Tests done in-centre before this date are still valid. If you took PTE on or after 13 September 2025, check the new Writing and Speaking minimum scores — they are stricter than before.
⚠ Affects all applicants who sat remote/online English tests
→ PTE Academic: new component minimums from 13 Sep 2025
2025–26 State Nomination Allocations Confirmed — Total 20,350 Places
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed final state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025–26 program year. Total places: 12,850 for Subclass 190 and 7,500 for Subclass 491 across all states. NSW received 2,100 × 190 and 1,500 × 491. Victoria leads with 2,700 × 190. Subclass 190 allocations decreased across most states compared to 2024–25.
What this means in plain English
Fewer 190 nomination places are available nationally than last year. NSW (2,100 places) and VIC (2,700 places) are the largest allocations but competition is intense. SA (1,350 places), TAS (1,200 places) and NT (850 places) remain more accessible. QLD received an increase of 1,250 additional places — now a stronger option than previous years.
✓ QLD — allocation increased significantly
→ NSW, VIC — large allocation but highly competitive
⚠ Most states — 190 allocation reduced vs 2024–25
485 Visa New 25-Day Processing Target Announced
The Department of Home Affairs announced a new 25-day median processing target for Subclass 485 Graduate Temporary visa applications, in response to backlogs that pushed processing times to 3–5 months in late 2025. The target applies to complete applications lodged from early 2026.
What this means in plain English
If you are about to graduate and plan to apply for a 485 post-study work visa, the Department is committing to process complete applications within 25 days. Apply as soon as you are eligible and ensure your application is complete — missing documents are the main reason for delays under the new system.
✓ All international graduates applying for 485
189 Invitation Round — 10,000 Invitations Issued · Official Cutoffs by Occupation Released
The Department of Home Affairs held the second 189 SkillSelect invitation round for 2025–26 on 13 November 2025, issuing 10,000 invitations. Combined with the August 2025 round (6,887 invitations), a total of 16,887 invitations have been issued — against a planning level of 16,900. This suggests no further 189 rounds may be held in 2025–26.
Official minimum points invited by occupation (Nov 2025)
Electrician (General): 65 pts
Carpenter / Joiner: 65 pts
Plumber (General): 65 pts
Registered Nurse: 75 pts
General Practitioner: 75 pts
Physiotherapist: 75 pts
Civil Engineer: 85 pts
Software Engineer: 90 pts
Accountant: 95 pts (pro-rata)
Chef / Cook: Not eligible (STSOL)
✓ Trades — invited at 65 pts
✓ Healthcare — invited at 75 pts
→ Engineers — 85 pts
⚠ Accountants — 95 pts, pro-rata cap
NSW 190 Invitation Round — March 2026 · EOI Deadline 1 March 2026
The NSW Government announced a Subclass 190 invitation round for the first week of March 2026. Applicants were required to ensure their SkillSelect EOI was updated by COB Sunday 1 March 2026. NSW uses merit-based selection — points alone do not determine outcomes. Priority sectors include construction, renewable energy, digital and cyber, and the care economy.
What this means in plain English
NSW does not publish a fixed points cutoff. Selection is based on occupation demand, employment evidence, English level and sector alignment. Accountants and general finance roles face very limited invitation chances in NSW regardless of points. If you are in construction, healthcare, digital or renewable energy, your chances are significantly better.
✓ Construction / Engineering
✓ Healthcare
✓ Digital / Cyber
⚠ Accountants — very limited NSW allocation
482 → 186 PR Pathway Shortened — Work Requirement Reduced to 2 Years
Under the new Skills in Demand visa framework, the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme was updated. Sponsored workers now only need 2 years of full-time work with an approved sponsor before being eligible to apply for permanent residency — reduced from 3 years under the old TSS framework.
What this means in plain English
If you are on or transitioning to the new SID 482 visa, you can apply for permanent residency through your employer after 2 years of work in your nominated occupation — one year sooner than before. The 2 years can be accumulated across multiple approved sponsors, not just one employer.
✓ All SID 482 visa holders — faster PR pathway
SID Visa Portability Extended to 180 Days — Change Employer Without Losing Visa
Under the new Skills in Demand visa framework, sponsored workers who lose their job or change employer have 180 days to find a new approved sponsor before their visa is at risk — extended from 60 days under the old TSS 482 framework. During this period, full work rights are maintained including the ability to work in any job.
What this means in plain English
If your employer terminates your employment or you choose to leave, you now have 6 months to find a new sponsoring employer. You can work in any job during this time to support yourself. This significantly reduces the risk of being on an employer-sponsored visa — you are no longer a "desperate hire."
✓ All SID 482 visa holders — improved job security
Quarterly Invitation Round Schedule Introduced — More Predictable Timing
From the 2025–26 program year, the Department of Home Affairs moved toward a quarterly schedule for Subclass 189 invitation rounds, replacing the previous irregular ad-hoc timing. This followed internal reform documents (May 2025) identifying unpredictable round timing as a key problem for applicants.
What this means in plain English
Instead of invitation rounds happening without warning, applicants can now expect rounds roughly every 3 months. This means you can time your EOI submission and document preparation around predictable windows. The first two rounds of 2025–26 were in August 2025 and November 2025.
✓ All 189 EOI applicants — better planning certainty
Work Experience Requirement for 482 SID Reduced to 1 Year
The minimum prior work experience requirement for the Skills in Demand (SID) Core Skills stream was reduced from 2 years to 1 year. The 1 year of experience must have been gained within the last 5 years and must be in the nominated occupation or a closely related role.
What this means in plain English
Recent graduates and early-career professionals who previously could not access employer sponsorship due to the 2-year experience requirement can now apply after just 1 year of relevant work. This particularly benefits recent 485 post-study visa holders transitioning to sponsored employment.
✓ Recent graduates — now eligible after 1 year work
✓ 485 post-study visa holders — faster transition to 482