The Australian Department of Home Affairs recently disclosed for the first time the occupation quotas for the 189 Skilled Independent Visa. Occupations like chefs, accountants, and automotive mechanics, which were extremely popular in the past, have a quota of 0 for the 189 visa in the 2025 - 26 financial year. No 189 invitations will be issued this year. It's just like you're eagerly looking forward to snapping up a ticket for a hot concert, but when the ticket-selling time comes, you find out that the number of tickets is 0. The sense of disappointment is simply beyond words.

Take Xiao Zhang as an example. He is a chef who has spent many years working hard in kitchens in his home country, mastering his culinary skills. He has always dreamed of going to Australia to open his own restaurant and live a different kind of life. To achieve this goal, he worked hard every day and, in his spare time, studied English to improve his language ability. He even saved a considerable amount of money, waiting for the day he could start a new journey after obtaining the 189 visa. But when he saw this new policy, he was stunned and felt as though his world had collapsed, as if all his previous efforts had been in vain.

However, there is no need to panic. The “zero quota” mentioned here only applies to the 189 visa for the 2025–26 financial year. It does not mean these occupations have disappeared from the migration system. It’s like a game where one level cannot be passed temporarily, but there are still other levels to challenge. These occupations can still pursue migration through other pathways such as Subclass 190, Subclass 491, or employer sponsorship. So don’t lose hope—changing your strategy may reveal new opportunities.

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The New Four-Tier Occupation System for 189 Visas – Which Tier Is Your Occupation In?

The Australian Department of Home Affairs confirmed through FOI disclosures and explanatory materials that the 189 visa has introduced a four-tier occupation priority structure (Tier 1–4). Different percentages are applied to employment numbers to calculate the quota cap for each occupation. It is like a competitive “talent show” for occupations, where jobs are divided into four levels based on their scarcity and demand, with each level receiving different treatment.

Tier 1 can be seen as the “superstar team”, accounting for 4%. It includes occupations such as registered nurses, general practitioners and resident medical officers, and physiotherapists. These professions are extremely valuable in Australian society, almost like water in the desert—highly scarce and in strong demand. For example, registered nurses have a quota cap of 13,929 under the 189 visa for the 2025–26 financial year. So far, 3,539 invitations have been issued, leaving 10,390 still available. If you happen to work in one of these occupations, congratulations—you are one step closer to migrating to Australia, almost like holding a “VIP pass” to the country.

Tier 2 is the “rising star team”, accounting for 2%, including occupations such as early childhood teachers, secondary school teachers, psychologists, and social workers. Although the quotas are not as large as Tier 1, they remain a key focus for the government. For example, secondary school teachers have a quota cap of 3,219, with 382 already issued and 2,837 remaining. If you are interested in these professions, considering a transition into them may open a new career path and allow you to contribute to Australia’s education or social services sectors.

Tier 3 is the “strong competitors”, accounting for 1%, including engineers, architects, lawyers, tradespeople, and lecturers. These occupations still have demand in Australia, but competition is relatively intense, similar to a competitive elimination round where only the strongest candidates succeed.

Tier 4 is the “developing team”, accounting for 0.5%, including accountants, auditors, telecommunications-related roles, and chefs. These occupations have fewer quotas under the 189 visa for the 2025–26 financial year. However, this does not mean there are no opportunities—it simply means that migration may need to be pursued through other pathways such as Subclass 190, Subclass 491, or employer sponsorship.

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Quota Numbers Revealed – Which Occupations Have More Opportunities?

Based on FOI data and media analysis, we can look at the specific quota situation for some popular occupations.

Registered nurses have a quota cap of 13,929 for the 2025–26 financial year. So far, 3,539 invitations have been issued, leaving 10,390 remaining. This means there are still many opportunities available for registered nurses—like a treasure chest that still contains many valuable items waiting to be claimed.

For general practitioners and resident medical officers combined, the quota cap is 3,623, with 660 invitations already issued and 2,963 remaining. For professionals in the medical field, this represents another promising opportunity, like finding a guiding light in the dark.

Secondary school teachers have a quota cap of 3,219, with 382 invitations issued and 2,837 remaining. If you have a passion for education, this could be a valuable opportunity to teach in Australian schools and help shape the next generation.

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Perth’s “Regional Area” Status – What Is the Truth?

Previously, some agents claimed that the government planned to remove Perth from the “regional area” list. This caused considerable concern among many applicants. After all, regional area policies are extremely important for migration and international education, as many incentives are linked to regional status—almost like a key that unlocks migration benefits.

However, migration lawyers have stated that they have not heard any such news, and the Department of Home Affairs has responded that there is currently no decision to change the definition of regional areas. The regional migration policy is currently under review and may be simplified to meet skill demands across different regions, but no final changes have been confirmed yet. Therefore, there is no need to panic—simply wait for the final policy outcome. Like waiting for an unknown performance, there may still be surprises ahead.

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Authoritative Media Reporting Confirms the Information

These changes to the 189 migration policy are not simply speculation. They have been reported by authoritative media sources. SBS  produced programs and articles based on FOI documents, providing detailed coverage of the occupation quotas under the 189 Skilled Independent visa and discussions around regional migration policy. With authoritative media backing these reports, readers can confidently refer to this information when planning their migration or study pathway, much like having a reliable navigation system that prevents you from losing direction.

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Take Action and Seize New Migration Opportunities

Faced with these changes in the 189 migration policy, we cannot simply wait passively—we need to take action. If your occupation has a zero quota under the 189 visa for the 2025–26 financial year, don’t lose hope. Take the time to explore other migration pathways such as Subclass 190, Subclass 491, or employer sponsorship. Just like when one road is blocked, turning in another direction may lead to a new path forward.

At the same time, we should closely monitor policy developments and adjust our plans accordingly. Migration is like running a marathon—there will be obstacles and changes along the way, but as long as we maintain determination and keep adjusting our pace, we can eventually reach the finish line.

The journey toward migration and study in Australia may be filled with challenges and uncertainty, but it is also full of opportunities and hope. With proper preparation and by seizing every opportunity, your dream can still become reality. If you have any questions or need assistance during your migration or study journey, feel free to contact us at any time. We will be dedicated to supporting you and walking alongside you through this journey full of challenges and opportunities.

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