What is an Occupation Ceiling?

An Occupation Ceiling is the number of places allocated to a particular occupation (on the SOL) within a migration year (July - June). This limits the number of invitations issued to applicants in each occupation group seeking a Skilled Independent (189) Visa or Family Sponsored Skilled Regional (489) Visa.

For example there are 9345 places allocated to Electricians for the current Migration Programme (2016-2017), with just 153 of these places allocated so far. To see your Occupation Ceiling visit the DIBP SkillSelect page (Occupation ceilings tab)

What has changed and does this impact me?

The Occupation Ceilings have been met for Computer Network Professionals and Other Engineering Professionals for the 2016-17 Migration Programme year.

You will not receive an invitation to apply for a Skilled Visa (subclass 189) OR Family sponsored Skilled Regional (489) Visa if your occupation is one of the following:

Computer Network Professionals (2631)

• 263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
• 263112 Network Administrator
• 263113 Network Analyst

Other Engineering Professionals (2339)

• 233911 Aeronautical Engineer
• 233912 Agricultural Engineer
• 233913 Biomedical Engineer
• 233914 Engineering Technologist
• 233915 Environmental Engineer
• 233916 Naval Architect
• 233999 Engineering Professionals nec

Occupation Ceilings will reset at the start of the new Migration Programme on 1 July 2017.

If you are not one of the above listed occupations then these changes do not affect you.