ANZSCO 323214 · MLTSSL
Metal Machinist (First Class)
The 189 cut-off fell to 85 points in Jun 2026, from 95.
Path to permanent residence
The steps for the points-tested visas, with this occupation’s own assessing body, lists, cut-offs, fees and processing times.
Skills assessment
Get a positive assessment from Trades Recognition Australia. It must still be valid when you’re invited: usually 3 years, or less if the assessment says so.
English
Show at least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band, or an equivalent PTE, TOEFL, OET or Cambridge score). Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20.
Points
Score at least 65 on the federal points test, counting nomination points for the 190 (+5) or 491 (+15). For the 189, the latest round invited Metal Machinist (First Class) at 85 points (Jun 2026). Work out your points · see when they change.
Expression of Interest
Submit a free EOI in SkillSelect for the visas this occupation allows: 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated), 491 (regional, nominated). It stays active for 2 years, and your points and date of effect decide your place.
State nomination (190 / 491)
4 of 8 list Metal Machinist (First Class): ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria. Open or inviting now and listing it: New South Wales. Also open, with no published occupation list: Tasmania (check its criteria). Each state ranks applicants its own way. See every state.
Invitation and visa application
When invited, lodge within 60 days. Base fee for the main applicant: AUD 6,135 for the 189, AUD 6,140 for the 190, AUD 6,140 for the 491; family members pay extra. You’ll also need health checks and police certificates.
Decision and PR
Home Affairs decides 90% of applications within 189: 8 months · 190: 16 months · 491: 18 months. The 189 and 190 are permanent visas. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa; after at least 3 years living and working in regional Australia you can apply for permanent residence (191) if you meet its requirements, including income.
Employer-sponsored route
✓On the Core Skills Occupation List
An Australian employer can sponsor Metal Machinist (First Class) on a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, Core Skills stream (base fee AUD 4,015). The Employer Nomination Scheme (186) is the usual next step to permanent residence for 482 holders who meet its requirements.
What a Metal Machinist (First Class) does
Official description and tasks from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ANZSCO 2022).
Sets up and operates machine tools to shape and form metal stock and castings to fine tolerances, using detailed drawings and specifications.
Qualifications and experience: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
- SpecialisationsAircraft Machinist, Automotive Machinist, Metal Machine Setter, Metal Turner, Milling Machinist, Vertical Borer
- ANZSCO skill level3 of 5 (1 is highest)
- Unit group3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists
Tasks
ABS lists tasks for the whole unit group, Metal Fitters and Machinists. Skills assessments and employer nominations compare the duties you’ve done with the ANZSCO description and tasks, so check yours match.
- Studying drawings and specifications to determine suitable material, method and sequence of operations, and machine settings
- Fitting fabricated metal parts into products and assembling metal parts and subassemblies to produce machines and equipment
- Checking fabricated and assembled metal parts for accuracy, clearance and fit using precision measuring instruments
- Setting guides, stops and other controls on machining tools, setting up prescribed cutting and shaping tools and dies in machines and presses, and setting controls for textile machines
- Forming metal stock and castings to fine tolerances using machining tools to press, cut, grind, plane, bore and drill metal
- Cutting, threading, bending and installing hydraulic and pneumatic pipes and lines
- Preparing pattern mechanisms to control the operation of textile machines used to spin, weave, knit, sew and tuft fabric
- Diagnosing faults and performing operational maintenance of machines, and overhauling and repairing mechanical parts and fluid power equipment
- May erect machines and equipment on-site
189 cut-off history
Lowest score invited in each round, and whether your points would have been enough.
Visa processing priority
Direction 122, in force from 19 September 2026.
Metal Machinist (First Class) is a resources occupation under Direction 122, so applications for it are in the first processing group for the 189, 190, 491 and other permanent and provisional skilled visas, whether you apply in or outside Australia.
- Primary applicants in a construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources occupation, or one related to Australia's law enforcement or defence interests, whether in or outside Australia.
- All other primary applicants who were in Australia when they applied.
- Primary applicants outside Australia when they applied, whose application isn't combined with anyone else's.
- All other applications.
This sets the order Home Affairs works through applications, not who is eligible or who gets invited. Check your processing group →
SkillSelect queue
Expressions of interest waiting for Metal Machinist (First Class), from the official SkillSelect EOI dashboard.
| Visa | EOIs waiting | Invited |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189) | 9–171 | 0 |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | 169–295 | 0 |
| Skilled Work Regional (491), state | 380–470 | 0 |
| Skilled Work Regional (491), family | fewer than 20 | 0 |
SkillSelect EOIs as at September 2026. Counts are EOIs, not people; 190 and 491 scores include nomination points. See how many are ahead of your points →
State and territory nomination
Whether Metal Machinist (First Class) is on each state’s current list, and where each program stands.
| State or territory | 190 | 491 | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | ✓ | ✓ | See site |
| New South Waleslisted by unit group | ✓ | ✓ | Inviting |
| Northern Territory | No list | No list | Closed |
| Queensland2025–26 list · also offshore | ✓ | ✓ | Not open yet |
| South Australia | No list | No list | Not open yet |
| Tasmania | No list | No list | Open |
| Victoria | ✓ | ✓ | Not open yet |
| Western Australia | No list | No list | Not open yet |
Program status is for 2026–27. Being listed doesn’t mean a state is inviting now, and each state has its own criteria. “Nominated so far”: 190 / 491 nominations this program year (Home Affairs).
Shortage rating
Shortage nationally, and the same in every state and territory.
Jobs and Skills Australia’s rating of the labour market. Invitations also depend on planning levels, ceilings and how many EOIs are waiting, so the two don’t always line up.
Every round since 2022
| Round | 189 cut-off | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | 85 | −10 |
| 13 Nov 2025 | 95 | +10 |
| 21 Aug 2025 | 85 | −5 |
| 7 Nov 2024 | 90 | +25 |
| 5 Sep 2024 | – | |
| 13 Jun 2024 | – | |
| 18 Dec 2023 | – | |
| 25 May 2023 | – | |
| 8 Dec 2022 | 65 | |
| 6 Oct 2022 | – | |
| 22 Aug 2022 | 65 |
After an invitation
Home Affairs’ current processing times for the points-tested visas.
| Visa | Half decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189) | 61 days | 8 months |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | 4 months | 16 months |
| Work Regional (491), state nominated | 5 months | 18 months |
| Work Regional (491), family sponsored | 4 months | 7 months |
Home Affairs, decisions to 31 August 2026. Clock starts when you lodge, which you must do within 60 days of an invitation.
Plan with this occupation
Sources and method
- 189 rounds: Home Affairs invitation rounds and previous rounds. 2022–23 rounds reported offshore and onshore separately; we show the lower score.
- State lists: each state’s official site, checked 15 October 2026. Queensland shows its 2025–26 lists until 2026–27 is announced; NSW lists by ANZSCO unit group; Victoria accepts any occupation on the federal lists.
- Shortage: Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO 2022 codes).
- Processing times: Home Affairs processing times guide.
- Skilled lists and assessing authorities: LIN 19/051, checked 14 October 2026.
- Occupation description, titles and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, used under CC BY 4.0.
- Employer route: Core Skills Occupation List, LIN 24/089 (compilation 2025-11-07). Fees: Home Affairs visa pages, checked 14 October 2026.
- Agents: embed this occupation on your website.