How did offshore and onshore Subclass 491 grants compare in 2024–25?

In 2024–25, nearly 20,000 Subclass 491 recipients were offshore when granted their visas, compared with fewer than 14,000 onshore. A very small number of onshore applicants happened to be overseas at grant; overall, the figures indicate that Subclass 491 is relatively favourable to offshore applicants.

Australia migration report 2024–25: grants and backlogs

The FY24-25 Migration Program Report has arrived later than usual — in past years it landed around October, but this time it was not published until late December. Even so, the data is no less valuable, and we have picked out a few highlights to share.

The report only covers capped categories, so data for the 191/888/801/100 subclasses is not included.

Mainland Chinese applicants take the top spot in family migration

India continues to lead the skilled migration stream, with volumes climbing year on year, and more than 43,000 grants in FY24-25 — while every other country or region has either declined or simply held steady, and aside from India no other country now breaks 10,000.

Mainland Chinese applicants migrating via partner, parent and child streams have now surpassed those coming through skilled migration — something that has almost never happened in previous years. On the strength of family migration, mainland China holds firm as the second-largest source of migrants overall.Every other country or region still sits well below its own skilled total.

Skilled and family migration numbers by origin in 2024–25

Mainland Chinese family and skilled migration numbers compared

WA state nomination bucks the trend with an uptick

In FY24-25 the number of primary applicants nominating WA as their intended state rose 12.5% on FY23-24 — the only one of the larger states to grow — showing that more applicants have been securing PR through WA state nomination against the broader trend. The NT and the ACT also recorded increases.

Primary applicants by intended state in 2024–25

Subclass 491 is the practical option for offshore applicants

In FY24-25 nearly 20,000 Subclass 491 grants went to applicants offshore, versus fewer than 14,000 onshore. Setting aside the small number of onshore applicants who happened to be overseas at the moment of grant, this shows that among the various skilled migration streams, Subclass 491 is comparatively friendly to offshore applicants — every other stream is dominated by onshore applicants: offshore Subclass 190 grants account for only 35% of the total, Subclass 186 fewer than 30%, and Subclass 189 just 25%.

Onshore and offshore skilled visa grants in 2024–25

Top five skilled-migration occupation groups in FY24-25

*Counts primary applicants granted via Subclass 189 + 190 + 186 + 491 + 494

ANZSCO 2544 Nursing had more than 5,000 grants, and the largest share surprisingly came through Subclass 186 employer sponsorship.

2613 saw around 4,200 grants, with Subclass 190 and Subclass 186 running neck and neck.

ANZSCO 3513 Chefs totalled close to 3,500 grants, with Subclass 186 employer sponsorship clearly dominant.

ANZSCO 2211 Accountants had 3,250 grants, mainly via state nomination.

ANZSCO 2332 Civil Engineering Professionals totalled close to 2,700 grants, mainly via state nomination.

Grants for the top five skilled migration occupation groups in 2024–25

Nursing and early-childhood teaching are neck and neck among priority occupations

*Counts primary-applicant grants only

Among the priority occupations under Ministerial Direction 105，Registered Nurses nec received 1,600 grants, and Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers received more than 1,500 in FY24-25 — making them the top two occupations overall. Broken down by sector, healthcare-related grants are still well ahead of teaching。

Top 10 occupations under Subclass 186 employer sponsorship

*Counts primary-applicant grants only

Registered Nurses took first place, Chefs second and Software Engineers third — all three cleared the 1,000 mark。The FY24-25 employer-sponsored grant volume for each occupation is one of the inputs that drives the FY25-26 Subclass 189 invitation allocation — for details see:New 189 Invitation Strategy, Full Document Released | The Formula for Each Occupation’s Invitations and How It Coordinates with State Governments to Avoid Duplicate Invitations!Most occupations in the last two financial years are familiar faces — with Police perhaps the notable exception.

Top ten Subclass 186 employer-sponsored occupations in 2024–25

Subclass 186 backlog up by more than 50%

*Includes both primary and secondary applicant grants

After last year’s easing of employer-sponsored policy settings, applications for Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 Direct Entry have risen in step. Combined Subclass 186 TRT + DE lodgements exceeded 65,000, and although FY24-25 grants also rose by several thousand, by 30 June 2025 the Subclass 186 backlog sat above 58,000 — an increase of 20,000 year on year.

Subclass 186 lodgement, grant and backlog figures

Subclass 189 backlog has shrunk further

*Includes both primary and secondary applicant grants

Consistent with the figures we previously pulled, the Subclass 189 backlog was brought below 7,000 by the end of last financial year. This is what makes it feasible to hold a steady three-monthly invitation cadence through FY25-26, with the next round expected in February.

Subclass 491 is absorbing more of the regional quota

*Includes both primary and secondary applicant grants

Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 share a combined 33,000 places. In FY24-25 new lodgement volumes in both streams grew by several thousand; Subclass 494 grants slipped slightly, while Subclass 491 rose steadily, so the Subclass 491 backlog fell by more than 7,000.

Across all skilled categories, however, only the regional stream fell short of its cap in FY24-25 — by just 52 places — with every other stream landing right on quota.

Subclass 491 and 494 allocations, grants and backlogs

Subclass 190 backlog is also falling

By 30 June 2025 it had dropped to under 35,000.

So the combined Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 backlog at the close of the financial year stood at roughly 66,000 — an improvement overall, although new lodgements rose by more than 10,000. That is likely why the Department is once again trimming invitation allocations this financial year to ease the backlog.

Subclass 188 withdrawals outpace grants

The 1,000 places available each year were fully used up in FY24-25, but spread across each stream the numbers are modest.

As at 30 June 2025, 14,549 applications remain on hand, a reduction of close to 5,000. The withdrawal rate is higher than the grant rate, with most applicants choosing to pull out.

DigiTech makes up roughly half of GTI

43.7% came from the DigiTech sector, with close to 20% from Financial Services and FinTech

, and Health Industries just over 10%. Because these are the FY24-25 Subclass 858 grant figures, they refer to the former GTI Subclass 858 — not the new NIV.

Industry shares of former GTI Subclass 858 grants

Partner migration backlog approaching 100,000

*TR stage only

Partner migration at the TR stage (Subclasses 820/309) has, since FY22-23, been climbing by 20,000 a year, and by 30 June 2025 had passed 96,000 — yet new lodgements alone do not look as though they have risen by that much. FY24-25 used up every available place, on par with FY23-24, so why has the backlog grown so sharply?

Subclass 820 and 309 temporary partner visa backlogs

Parent-migration lodgements are down, yet the backlog remains stubbornly high

The number of parent-migration applications lodged each year is edging down, but the backlog is still creeping towards 160,000. Subclass 143 has been relatively quick on RFIs recently, but lodging now still means a wait of 14+ years. Once a child has their PR granted, parents should still be arranged to lodge as early as possible — even if that means putting in a Subclass 103 application first simply to get in the queue.