What is a subclass 189 occupation ceiling?

An occupation ceiling is the maximum number of subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) invitations the Department of Home Affairs plans to issue for an occupation group in a financial year. Ceilings are set at the ANZSCO unit-group (4-digit) level, so related occupations share one cap. Once a group nears its ceiling, invitations for it slow or stop until the next program year.

How many 189 places are left for my occupation this year?

The 'Spots left (FY)' figure is a group's year-start 189 budget minus the estimated invitations issued so far this financial year. The year-start budget is derived from the FOI ceiling figures (the ceiling less grants in prior programs), and the result is shown as a range because per-occupation invitations are estimated — so use it to gauge relative competition rather than as a guaranteed count.

Are these occupation ceilings official?

The ceiling figures come from a Department of Home Affairs Freedom of Information release (reference fa-260100545) and reflect the department's internal planning for FY2025-26. They are planning figures, not guarantees — actual invitations depend on the size and competitiveness of the EOI pool, and final outcomes can differ from these figures.

What are the estimated occupation ceilings for 2026-27?

The Department hasn't published FY2026-27 ceilings yet, so ImmiTrend estimates them by replicating the FOI methodology: each occupation's average ABS employment stock over FY2025-26 multiplied by its tier rate (4%, 2%, 1% or 0.5%, floored at 500), minus prior-program grants to subclasses 190/186/491/494. For example, Registered Nurses project to roughly 14,500 places and Accountants to about 1,100. Switch to the FY2026-27 tab above to see the estimate for every occupation; official figures will replace these once released.

189 Occupation Ceilings

The Department of Home Affairs uses occupation ceilings to cap the number of 189 invitations per occupation each financial year. These figures are sourced from an FOI document and represent planning figures, not guarantees.

FY 2026-27 figures are ImmiTrend estimates — the latest official ceilings are FY 2025-26, one tab away.

Total Occupations

occupation groups

Tier 1

Highest priority

Tier 2

High priority

Tier 3

Standard priority

Tier 4

Lowest priority

⚠These ceilings are planning figures obtained via FOI (fa-260100545). They represent the Department's internal planning and may not match final invitation outcomes. The multiplier, average stock, and prior grants are used internally to calculate remaining 189 places.

Unit Group	Occupation	Tier	Avg Stock	Ceiling	Grants (Prior)	Remaining 189
1331	Construction Managers	T3	129,224	1,292	490	802
1332	Engineering Managers	T3	31,989	500	126	374
1341	Child Care Centre Managers	T2	16,305	500	40	460
1342	Health and Welfare Services Managers	T3	41,489	500	36	464
1399	Other Specialist Managers	T3	67,032	670	137	533
2111	Actors and Entertainers	T3	9,855	500	0	500
2112	Music Professionals	T3	9,090	500	5	500
2121	Artistic Directors and Media Producers	T3	15,415	500	0	500
2211	Accountants	T4	207,708	1,039	3,025	0
2212	Auditors Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers	T4	31,905	500	751	0
2241	Actuaries Mathematicians and Statisticians	T3	11,531	500	106	394
2243	Economists	T3	4,977	500	39	461
2245	Land Economists and Valuers	T3	16,113	500	16	484
2247	Management and Organisation Analysts	T3	101,112	1,011	408	603
2321	Architects and Landscape Architects	T3	35,899	500	279	221
2322	Surveyors and Spatial Scientists	T3	19,051	500	128	372
2331	Chemical and Materials Engineers	T3	7,006	500	263	237
2332	Civil Engineering Professionals	T3	74,491	745	2,013	0
2333	Electrical Engineers	T3	32,989	500	950	0
2334	Electronics Engineers	T3	5,171	500	475	25
2335	Industrial Mechanical and Production Engineers	T3	38,154	500	1,848	0
2336	Mining Engineers	T3	17,180	500	225	275
2339	Other Engineering Professionals	T3	16,155	500	1,180	0
2341	Agricultural and Forestry Scientists	T3	9,596	500	178	322
2342	Chemists and Food and Wine Scientists	T3	9,826	500	199	301
2343	Environmental Scientists	T3	30,800	500	103	397
2344	Geologists Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists	T3	15,044	500	162	338
2345	Life Scientists	T3	9,685	500	177	323
2346	Medical Laboratory Scientists	T3	31,712	500	13	487
2347	Veterinarians	T3	16,875	500	74	426
2349	Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals	T3	14,197	500	59	441
2411	Early Childhood Teachers	T2	79,172	1,583	556	1,027
2414	Secondary School Teachers	T2	160,951	3,219	382	2,837
2415	Special Education Teachers	T2	27,577	552	15	537
2421	University Lecturers and Tutors	T3	66,169	662	573	89
2512	Medical Imaging Professionals	T1	22,391	896	49	847
2514	Optometrists and Orthoptists	T1	8,798	500	11	489
2519	Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals	T3	10,969	500	44	456
2521	Chiropractors and Osteopaths	T3	9,052	500	5	500
2524	Occupational Therapists	T1	29,799	1,192	184	1,008
2525	Physiotherapists	T1	47,783	1,911	358	1,553
2526	Podiatrists	T1	6,741	500	7	493
2527	Audiologists and Speech Pathologists	T1	26,525	1,061	67	994
2531	General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers	T1	90,567	3,623	660	2,963
2533	Specialist Physicians	T1	14,449	578	105	473
2534	Psychiatrists	T1	7,816	500	69	431
2535	Surgeons	T1	11,374	500	23	477
2539	Other Medical Practitioners	T1	20,749	830	183	647
2541	Midwives	T1	22,832	913	58	855
2544	Registered Nurses	T1	348,233	13,929	3,539	10,390
2611	ICT Business and Systems Analysts	T4	43,169	500	2,018	0
2612	Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers	T4	12,642	500	213	287
2613	Software and Applications Programmers	T4	182,332	912	3,800	0
2621	Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists	T4	68,049	500	643	0
2631	Computer Network Professionals	T4	43,895	500	756	0
2633	Telecommunications Engineering Professionals	T4	16,683	500	272	228
2711	Barristers	T3	8,811	500	5	500
2713	Solicitors	T3	94,263	943	93	850
2723	Psychologists	T2	52,778	1,056	64	992
2725	Social Workers	T2	50,447	1,009	133	876
3122	Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	T3	15,705	500	370	130
3123	Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	T3	9,584	500	118	382
3132	Telecommunications Trades Workers	T4	3,633	500	62	438
3211	Automotive Electricians	T3	9,747	500	34	466
3212	Motor Mechanics	T3	109,684	1,097	1,178	0
3222	Sheetmetal Trades Workers	T3	6,617	500	14	486
3223	Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers	T3	77,475	775	289	486
3232	Metal Fitters and Machinists	T3	124,440	1,244	371	873
3233	Precision Metal Trades Workers	T3	7,405	500	5	500
3241	Panelbeaters	T3	12,515	500	28	472
3311	Bricklayers and Stonemasons	T3	22,700	500	101	399
3312	Carpenters and Joiners	T3	148,137	1,481	573	908
3322	Painting Trades Workers	T3	52,310	523	292	231
3331	Glaziers	T3	7,826	500	21	479
3332	Plasterers	T3	31,772	500	50	450
3334	Wall and Floor Tilers	T3	21,015	500	137	363
3341	Plumbers	T3	104,672	1,047	156	891
3411	Electricians	T3	188,003	1,880	286	1,594
3421	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics	T3	34,714	500	43	457
3422	Electrical Distribution Trades Workers	T3	12,536	500	15	485
3423	Electronics Trades Workers	T3	31,720	500	105	395
3513	Chefs	T4	120,827	604	3,110	0
3611	Animal Attendants and Trainers	T3	24,282	500	35	465
3941	Cabinetmakers	T3	39,329	500	44	456
3991	Boat Builders and Shipwrights	T3	2,467	500	17	483
4523	Sports Coaches Instructors and Officials	T3	58,755	588	66	522
4524	Sportspersons	T3	15,811	500	5	500

Total Occupations

occupation groups

Tier 1

Highest priority

Tier 2

High priority

Tier 3

Standard priority

Tier 4

Lowest priority

⚠FY2026-27 ceilings haven't been published — these are ImmiTrend estimates, not official figures. They apply the Department's own FOI methodology (fa-260100545): average occupation stock uses the first 3 of 4 FY2025-26 ABS quarterly figures (the May quarter isn't released yet), and prior-program grants (190/186/491/494) use program year 2024-25 — the FY2025-26 occupation-level breakdown hasn't been published. Tier assignments are assumed unchanged. Official figures will replace these estimates as soon as they're released.

Unit Group	Occupation	Tier	Avg Stock	Ceiling	Grants (Prior)	Remaining 189
1331	Construction Managers	T3	130,169	1,302	490	812
1332	Engineering Managers	T3	28,362	500	126	374
1341	Child Care Centre Managers	T2	12,191	500	40	460
1342	Health and Welfare Services Managers	T3	56,793	568	36	532
1399	Other Specialist Managers	T3	71,227	712	136	576
2111	Actors and Entertainers	T3	9,411	500	0	500
2112	Music Professionals	T3	12,782	500	4	496
2121	Artistic Directors and Media Producers	T3	13,219	500	0	500
2211	Accountants	T4	222,385	1,112	3,022	0
2212	Auditors Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers	T4	34,405	500	751	0
2241	Actuaries Mathematicians and Statisticians	T3	11,072	500	106	394
2243	Economists	T3	5,414	500	39	461
2245	Land Economists and Valuers	T3	12,259	500	16	484
2247	Management and Organisation Analysts	T3	102,327	1,023	408	615
2321	Architects and Landscape Architects	T3	34,776	500	279	221
2322	Surveyors and Spatial Scientists	T3	19,289	500	128	372
2331	Chemical and Materials Engineers	T3	5,297	500	262	238
2332	Civil Engineering Professionals	T3	80,632	806	2,013	0
2333	Electrical Engineers	T3	34,921	500	949	0
2334	Electronics Engineers	T3	7,126	500	475	25
2335	Industrial Mechanical and Production Engineers	T3	44,477	500	1,847	0
2336	Mining Engineers	T3	18,430	500	225	275
2339	Other Engineering Professionals	T3	21,237	500	1,179	0
2341	Agricultural and Forestry Scientists	T3	7,514	500	178	322
2342	Chemists and Food and Wine Scientists	T3	6,751	500	198	302
2343	Environmental Scientists	T3	31,674	500	103	397
2344	Geologists Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists	T3	11,460	500	162	338
2345	Life Scientists	T3	9,259	500	177	323
2346	Medical Laboratory Scientists	T3	35,216	500	13	487
2347	Veterinarians	T3	16,927	500	74	426
2349	Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals	T3	14,109	500	59	441
2411	Early Childhood Teachers	T2	68,607	1,372	556	816
2414	Secondary School Teachers	T2	167,711	3,354	382	2,972
2415	Special Education Teachers	T2	31,396	628	15	613
2421	University Lecturers and Tutors	T3	61,612	616	573	43
2512	Medical Imaging Professionals	T1	29,714	1,189	49	1,140
2514	Optometrists and Orthoptists	T1	8,842	500	11	489
2519	Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals	T3	10,603	500	44	456
2521	Chiropractors and Osteopaths	T3	8,859	500	2	498
2524	Occupational Therapists	T1	40,188	1,608	184	1,424
2525	Physiotherapists	T1	44,294	1,772	358	1,414
2526	Podiatrists	T1	7,795	500	7	493
2527	Audiologists and Speech Pathologists	T1	20,253	810	67	743
2531	General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers	T1	94,596	3,784	660	3,124
2533	Specialist Physicians	T1	15,342	614	105	509
2534	Psychiatrists	T1	9,584	500	69	431
2535	Surgeons	T1	4,644	500	23	477
2539	Other Medical Practitioners	T1	24,010	960	183	777
2541	Midwives	T1	18,010	720	58	662
2544	Registered Nurses	T1	363,211	14,528	3,538	10,990
2611	ICT Business and Systems Analysts	T4	48,155	500	2,018	0
2612	Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers	T4	11,219	500	213	287
2613	Software and Applications Programmers	T4	207,549	1,038	3,799	0
2621	Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists	T4	72,439	500	643	0
2631	Computer Network Professionals	T4	49,843	500	755	0
2633	Telecommunications Engineering Professionals	T4	11,955	500	272	228
2711	Barristers	T3	9,041	500	1	499
2713	Solicitors	T3	110,327	1,103	93	1,010
2723	Psychologists	T2	54,426	1,089	64	1,025
2725	Social Workers	T2	42,493	850	133	717
3122	Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	T3	12,751	500	369	131
3123	Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians	T3	11,093	500	118	382
3132	Telecommunications Trades Workers	T4	3,780	500	62	438
3211	Automotive Electricians	T3	10,484	500	34	466
3212	Motor Mechanics	T3	113,572	1,136	1,166	0
3222	Sheetmetal Trades Workers	T3	2,314	500	11	489
3223	Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers	T3	81,348	813	279	534
3232	Metal Fitters and Machinists	T3	118,651	1,187	369	818
3233	Precision Metal Trades Workers	T3	6,956	500	4	496
3241	Panelbeaters	T3	12,402	500	24	476
3311	Bricklayers and Stonemasons	T3	23,756	500	101	399
3312	Carpenters and Joiners	T3	148,382	1,484	573	911
3322	Painting Trades Workers	T3	43,626	500	291	209
3331	Glaziers	T3	9,009	500	19	481
3332	Plasterers	T3	30,589	500	49	451
3334	Wall and Floor Tilers	T3	22,368	500	134	366
3341	Plumbers	T3	113,607	1,136	156	980
3411	Electricians	T3	197,362	1,974	286	1,688
3421	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics	T3	35,742	500	43	457
3422	Electrical Distribution Trades Workers	T3	11,417	500	15	485
3423	Electronics Trades Workers	T3	31,991	500	104	396
3513	Chefs	T4	136,046	680	3,109	0
3611	Animal Attendants and Trainers	T3	29,605	500	35	465
3941	Cabinetmakers	T3	28,145	500	43	457
3991	Boat Builders and Shipwrights	T3	2,139	500	17	483
4523	Sports Coaches Instructors and Officials	T3	71,344	713	66	647
4524	Sportspersons	T3	11,538	500	2	498

Data Source: FOI document fa-260100545, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

View FOI document →Read our analysis of the tier system and key findings →

189 occupation ceilings — frequently asked questions

What is a subclass 189 occupation ceiling?: An occupation ceiling is the maximum number of subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) invitations the Department of Home Affairs plans to issue for an occupation group in a financial year. Ceilings are set at the ANZSCO unit-group (4-digit) level, so related occupations share one cap. Once a group nears its ceiling, invitations for it slow or stop until the next program year.
How many 189 places are left for my occupation this year?: The 'Spots left (FY)' figure is a group's year-start 189 budget minus the estimated invitations issued so far this financial year. The year-start budget is derived from the FOI ceiling figures (the ceiling less grants in prior programs), and the result is shown as a range because per-occupation invitations are estimated — so use it to gauge relative competition rather than as a guaranteed count.
Are these occupation ceilings official?: The ceiling figures come from a Department of Home Affairs Freedom of Information release (reference fa-260100545) and reflect the department's internal planning for FY2025-26. They are planning figures, not guarantees — actual invitations depend on the size and competitiveness of the EOI pool, and final outcomes can differ from these figures.
What are the estimated occupation ceilings for 2026-27?: The Department hasn't published FY2026-27 ceilings yet, so ImmiTrend estimates them by replicating the FOI methodology: each occupation's average ABS employment stock over FY2025-26 multiplied by its tier rate (4%, 2%, 1% or 0.5%, floored at 500), minus prior-program grants to subclasses 190/186/491/494. For example, Registered Nurses project to roughly 14,500 places and Accountants to about 1,100. Switch to the FY2026-27 tab above to see the estimate for every occupation; official figures will replace these once released.