The Australian Government’s 2025-2026 Permanent Migration Program is set at a planning level of 185,000 places, designed to address critical skill shortages, boost economic productivity, support net-zero transitions, and promote social cohesion. The program prioritizes skilled migration, with approximately 70% of places allocated to skilled visas and 30% to family reunification pathways.
Overview of the 2025-2026 Migration Program
The program allocates 185,000 places across three streams:
- Skilled Stream: 132,500 places (72%), targeting occupations like healthcare, IT, and engineering through visas like Subclass 189, 190, and 186.
- Family Stream: 52,500 places (28%), primarily for partner, child, and parent visas to support family reunification.
- Special Eligibility Stream: 300 places for unique cases, such as returning residents.
Australia’s Immigration Plan of 2025-2026
| Visa Stream |
Visa Category |
2024–25 Planning levels |
2025-26 Planning levels |
| Skill |
Employer Sponsored |
44,000 |
44,000 |
| Skilled Independent |
44,000 |
44,000 |
| Regional |
33,000 |
33,000 |
| State/Territory Nominated |
33,000 |
33,000 |
| Business Innovation & Investment |
1,000 |
1,000 |
| Talent and Innovation |
- |
4,300 |
| Global Talent (Independent) |
4,000 |
- |
| Distinguished Talent |
300 |
- |
| Skill Total |
132,200 |
132,200 |
| Family |
Partner |
40,500 |
40,500 |
| Parent |
8,500 |
8,500 |
| Child |
3,000 |
3,000 |
| Other Family |
500 |
500 |
| Family Total |
52,500 |
52,500 |
| Special Eligibility |
400 |
300 |
| Total Migration Program |
190,000 |
185,000 |
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Key Changes in 2025-2026
- Four-Year Planning Cycle: Aligns migration with economic and infrastructure needs.
- Net Overseas Migration (NOM): Reduced to 260,000 to ease housing pressures.
- Income Thresholds: Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) increased to AUD 76,515.
- Visa Fee Increases: Student visa fees rose to AUD 2,000.
- New Pathways: "Graduate to Permanent" program for STEM graduates and National Innovation Visa for top talent.
2025-2026 State and Territory Nomination Allocations
Interim allocations issued to states like South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Final allocations pending.
Also Check - Difference Between Subclass 190 & Subclass 491
Skill Stream (132,200 Invitations)
The stream includes several visa categories, such as:
- Employer-Sponsored
- Skilled Independent
- Regional
- State/Territory Nominated
- Business Innovation & Investment
- Global Talent (Independent)
- Distinguished Talent
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Family Stream (52,500 invitations):
Comprising around 28% of the program, the Family stream focuses on family reunification and social cohesion. It includes visa categories like:
- Partner visas (40,500 invitations)
- Parent visas (8,500 invitations)
- Child visas (3,000 invitations)
- Other Family visas (500 invitations)
Net Overseas Migration (NOM)
The Permanent Migration Program is just one facet of net overseas migration (NOM), which includes temporary migration, citizens, New Zealanders, and Humanitarian migrants. NOM is projected to reach 400,000 in 2022–23 and 315,000 in 2023–24, primarily due to returning temporary migrants after the pandemic. This increase is expected to be transient, with NOM forecasted to normalize from 2024–25. The permanent Migration Program only partially influences NOM in the short term, as a significant portion of visas are granted to migrants already within Australia.
This strategic approach to Australia’s migration program maintains a focus on skilled migrants, aligns with economic goals, and aims to ensure migrants’ integration into society.
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Important FAQ's
The Australian Government has set the Permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places for 2025-2026, unchanged from the 2024-2025 program. This cap includes skilled, family, and special eligibility streams, following consultations with states and territories to prioritize economic needs like workforce shortages. This stability provides predictability for applicants and employers, with a continued focus on skilled migration comprising about 70% of places.
The allocation mirrors the 2024-2025 structure: Skilled Migration with approximately 132,500 places (72%), including employer-sponsored (e.g., Subclass 186), state/territory-nominated (e.g., Subclass 190), and independent skilled visas (e.g., Subclass 189); Family Stream with 52,500 places (28%), primarily for partner, child, and parent visas; and Special Eligibility Stream with 300 places for unique cases. State and territory nomination allocations are still being finalized.
Key changes include a four-year planning cycle, net overseas migration reduction to 260,000, increased Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to AUD 76,515, visa fee increases (e.g., student visas to AUD 2,000), a new "Graduate to Permanent" program for STEM graduates, and the National Innovation Visa replacing Global Talent and Distinguished Talent visas. Student visa rules are stricter, with higher financial requirements (AUD 29,710).
Skilled migration retains 132,500 places, prioritizing PR through Subclass 189, 190, and 186 visas. Applicants need 65+ points via SkillSelect (age, English, skills, experience). Priority is given to MLTSSL/STSOL occupations (e.g., healthcare, IT). Higher TSMIT applies for employer-sponsored roles. Regional visas (e.g., Subclass 491) offer extra points. A revamped points test and digital processing aim to streamline applications, but competition is high.
Apply online via ImmiAccount: check eligibility, complete skills assessment, submit EOI in SkillSelect, receive ITA, and lodge with fees, health/character checks. Skilled visas take 3-12 months; partner visas 12-24 months.
