Australia’s General Skilled Migration Program FY 2025-2026

 

Australia’s permanent Migration Program for 2025-26 has been set at 185,000 places, matching the allocation for 2024-25, signalling continuity in the government’s migration settings. Of these places, about 71% (132,200 spots) are earmarked for the Skilled Stream – reflecting ongoing efforts to address labour shortages across sectors and regions. The remaining allocations fall under the Family Stream (≈28%) and a small Special Eligibility quota. With net overseas migration still well above pre-pandemic levels and rising public concerns around housing, infrastructure, and labour market pressures, the government’s decision to maintain, rather than adjust, migration levels underscores a balancing act between economic imperatives and social constraints.

 

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa and the Subclass 491 Visa

 

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is a permanent visa that allows invited skilled workers whose occupations are listed on the relevant skilled occupation list, to live and work anywhere in Australia. To be eligible, applicants must satisfy a skills assessment for their nominated occupation, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and be invited to apply, and meet the minimum points score under the points-test system. The visa also offers the usual benefits of permanent residence, including the ability to work and study anywhere in Australia, as well as to sponsor eligible relatives.

Meanwhile, The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is a temporary visa that enables skilled workers (and their families) to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. To be eligible, applicants must satisfy several criteria: they must be nominated by a state or territory government (or sponsored by an eligible relative in some cases), have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupations list, pass a suitable skills assessment for that occupation, meet the points-test, and satisfy health and character requirements. After living and working in a designated regional area for three years, and meeting certain income and residency conditions, a holder of a 491 visa may apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.

 

Invitations issued on 21 August 2025 (by nominated occupation)

 

Occupation Points for invitation, 189 Points for invitation, 491
Actuary 90 N/A*
Agricultural Consultant 90 N/A*
Agricultural Scientist 90 N/A*
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber 65 N/A*
Architect 90 N/A*
Arts Administrator or Manager 90 N/A*
Audiologist 80 65
Barrister 95 N/A*
Biochemist 90 N/A*
Biotechnologist 90 N/A*
Boat Builder and Repairer 90 N/A*
Bricklayer 65 70
Cardiologist 80 80
Carpenter 65 N/A*
Carpenter and Joiner 65 N/A*
Cartographer 90 N/A*
Chemical Engineer 90 N/A*
Chemist 90 N/A*
Child Care Centre Manager 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Draftsperson 90 N/A*
Civil Engineering Technician 90 N/A*
Clinical Psychologist 75 N/A*
Conservator 90 N/A*
Construction Project Manager 90 N/A*
Dermatologist 100 N/A*
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist 85 N/A*
Drainer 65 N/A*
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher 85 80
Economist 90 N/A*
Educational Psychologist 85 N/A*
Electrical Engineering Draftsperson 90 N/A*
Electrical Engineering Technician 90 N/A*
Electrician (General) 65 75
Electrician (Special Class) 65 N/A*
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker 110 N/A*
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) 95 N/A*
Electronics Engineer 95 N/A*
Emergency Medicine Specialist 80 N/A*
Engineering Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Consultant 90 N/A*
Environmental Manager 90 N/A*
Environmental Research Scientist 90 N/A*
Environmental Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Fibrous Plasterer 90 N/A*
Food Technologist 90 N/A*
Forester 90 N/A*
Gasfitter 65 80
Gastroenterologist 80 N/A
General Practitioner 80 N/A*
Geophysicist 90 N/A*
Glazier 65 N/A*
Hydrogeologist 90 N/A*
Intensive Care Specialist 80 N/A*
Joiner 65 N/A*
Land Economist 90 N/A*
Landscape Architect 90 N/A*
Life Scientist (General) 90 N/A*
Life Scientists nec 90 N/A*
Management Consultant 90 N/A*
Marine Biologist 90 N/A*
Materials Engineer 90 N/A*
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 80 90
Medical Laboratory Scientist 90 N/A*
Medical Practitioners nec 80 N/A*
Medical Radiation Therapist 80 N/A*
Metal Fabricator 105 N/A*
Metal Machinist (First Class) 85 N/A*
Metallurgist 90 N/A*
Meteorologist 95 N/A*
Microbiologist 90 N/A*
Midwife 80 75
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 90 N/A*
Musician (Instrumental) 90 N/A*
Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec 90 N/A*
Neurologist 80 N/A*
Nuclear Medical Technologist 80 N/A*
Nurse Practitioner 80 N/A*
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 80 N/A*
Occupational Therapist 80 N/A*
Ophthalmologist 80 N/A*
Optometrist 80 N/A*
Orthopaedic Surgeon 85 N/A*
Osteopath 100 N/A*
Other Spatial Scientist 90 N/A*
Paediatric Surgeon 85 N/A*
Paediatrician 85 N/A*
Painting Trades Worker 70 N/A*
Panelbeater 90 N/A*
Petroleum Engineer 90 N/A*
Physicist 90 N/A*
Physiotherapist 80 80
Plumber (General) 65 80
Podiatrist 80 N/A*
Primary Health Organisation Manager 90 N/A
Psychiatrist 80 N/A*
Psychologists nec 85 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 80 80
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Community Health) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) 80 N/A*
Registered Nurse (Medical) 80 65
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 80 90
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 80 85
Registered Nurse (Surgical) 80 80
Registered Nurses nec 80
Roof Plumber 65 N/A*
Secondary School Teacher 85 80
Solicitor 90 N/A*
Solid Plasterer 65 N/A*
Sonographer 80 N/A*
Special Needs Teacher 85 80
Specialist Physician (General Medicine) 80 N/A*
Specialist Physicians nec 80 N/A*
Speech Pathologist 80 65
Statistician 90 N/A*
Stonemason 65 N/A*
Surveyor 90 N/A*
Tennis Coach 95 N/A*
Thoracic Medicine Specialist 80 N/A
University Lecturer 85 80
Urologist 80 N/A*
Valuer 90 N/A*
Veterinarian 90 N/A*
Wall and Floor Tiler 65 75
Welder (First Class) 90 N/A*
Zoologist 90 N/A*

 

* Results could indicate that no EOIs were available to be invited, or EOIs were available but did not meet parameters to receive an invitation.

The highest ranked EOI, by points score, will be invited to apply for their visa before an EOI with a lower points score.

For EOIs who have equal points scores, the Department of Home Affairs will determine the time and date at which the EOI reached its score for that subclass. This is a ‘tie break’ or the ‘date of effect’. The EOI with an earlier date of effect will be invited before EOIs with a later date of effect.

 

Occupation Trend

 

Recent Skill Select invitation rounds show that invitations are concentrated in key industries where Australia faces ongoing skills shortages. Health and medical professionals – including nurses, doctors, midwives, psychologists, and allied health practitioners feature heavily, reflecting critical demand in the healthcare sector. Engineering and scientific occupations, such as civil, electrical, and environmental engineers, as well as scientists and biotechnologists, are also consistently invited. Skilled trades and technical roles, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and metal fabricators, appear frequently and often at lower minimum points, indicating strong government demand for vocationally trained workers. Teachers across early childhood, secondary, and special needs education are regularly invited, alongside business and professional roles like management consultants. Overall, the invitation rounds highlight a dual focus on attracting highly specialised professionals in health, science, and engineering, while also addressing shortages in essential trades and teaching occupations.