Permanent Residency
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Explore PR OptionsOfficial 2026–27 planning level
Australia's Permanent Migration Program
On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government announced 185,000 places for the 2026–27 Permanent Migration Program. The overall planning level and approximate Skilled–Family split remain unchanged from 2025–26. The mix of visa categories has changed, with more places for Employer Sponsored and Skilled Independent visas and fewer for the Regional category.
185,000
Total permanent places
132,240
Skilled Migration (approximately 71%)
52,460
Family Program (approximately 28%)
300
Special Eligibility
These are government planning levels, not individual visa invitations, guaranteed grants, or state nomination quotas.
On this page
Allocation tableKey changesOnshore & offshoreSkilled pathwaysFamily migrationNet overseas migrationHow to applyFAQsGovernment planning figures
Australia migration allocations: 2024–25 to 2026–27
Compare the published planning levels across three financial years. Figures are places, not invitation numbers.
| Visa Category | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migration Program | |||
| Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| Talent & Innovation | 5,300 | 5,300 | 3,500 |
| Employer Sponsored | 44,000 | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| Regional | 33,000 | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 33,000 | 35,500 |
| Total Skilled Program | 132,200 | 132,200 | 132,240 |
| Family Program | |||
| Partner | 40,500 | 40,500 | 41,500 |
| Child | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| Parent | 8,500 | 8,500 | 7,060 |
| Other Family | 500 | 500 | 400 |
| Total Family Program | 52,500 | 52,500 | 52,460 |
| Special Eligibility | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Total Migration Program | 185,000 | 185,000 | 185,000 |
The Talent and Innovation category includes the National Innovation visa and on-hand applications from certain closed visa programs. Partner and Child allocations are indicative because those categories are demand driven.
What changed
Major changes in the 2026–27 Migration Program
| Category | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 | +14,040 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 21,090 | +4,190 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 35,500 | +2,500 |
| Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 | −18,890 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 | −1,800 |
The Regional figure is a permanent migration planning category. It should not be treated as the number of new subclass 491 state nominations. The Department publishes state and territory nomination allocations separately.
Application location
Onshore and offshore migration priorities
The Government has allocated 129,590 places across the Skilled and Family programs to migrants already living in Australia. This reflects a policy emphasis on transitioning eligible temporary residents to permanent residence.
The remaining 55,110 places across the Skilled and Family programs are not part of that onshore allocation. This figure should not be described as a dedicated offshore skilled-visa quota.
Applicants outside Australia can still explore eligible skilled, employer-sponsored and family pathways, subject to each visa's requirements and selection arrangements.
132,240 planned places
Skilled Migration Program
Employer Sponsored — 58,040
Permanent employer-sponsored pathways, including subclass 186, where the employer and applicant meet the relevant requirements.
Skilled Independent — 21,090
Subclass 189 is points tested and invitation based; applicants must satisfy occupation, assessment, English and other criteria.
State/Territory Nominated — 35,500
Includes state-nominated permanent pathways such as subclass 190. State nomination rules and quotas are separately administered.
Regional — 14,110
A permanent program planning category, distinct from the number of subclass 491 nominations issued by states and territories.
Talent and Innovation — 3,500
Includes the National Innovation visa and certain on-hand applications under closed programs; not every category in this planning group is open to new applications.
Explore the Subclass 189, Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 guides for pathway-specific eligibility.
Explore Australia PR eligibility →52,460 planned places
Australian Family Migration Program
| Family category | 2026–27 places |
|---|---|
| Partner | 41,500 |
| Child | 3,500 |
| Parent | 7,060 |
| Other Family | 400 |
| Total | 52,460 |
Partner and Child figures are indicative planning levels. Parent and Other Family visas are subject to capping and queueing; processing times depend on the relevant visa category and application circumstances.
Understanding the numbers
Permanent migration and net overseas migration (NOM)
Net overseas migration is not the same as the Permanent Migration Program. NOM also reflects temporary migrants and other international movements over the applicable measurement period. Granting permanent residence to someone already living in Australia does not necessarily create a new arrival for NOM purposes.
The Government says its greater emphasis on onshore applicants is intended to support workforce needs while limiting the program's impact on NOM.
Applicant guide
How to apply under Australia's skilled migration pathways
1
Choose an appropriate visa subclass
Compare skilled independent, state-nominated, regional and employer-sponsored routes. Each has distinct requirements.
2
Check occupation, skills and English requirements
Confirm the relevant occupation list and skills assessment authority, and obtain acceptable English test results where required.
3
Submit an EOI or pursue sponsorship
Points-tested pathways generally use SkillSelect; state nomination and employer-sponsored routes have additional procedures.
4
Apply when eligible and invited or nominated
Meet the applicable deadlines and submit the correct visa application with supporting documents.
5
Complete checks and await a decision
Health, character and other requirements apply. Meeting a planning-level figure does not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
Australia Immigration Plan FAQs
The Government set 185,000 permanent migration places: 132,240 Skilled, 52,460 Family and 300 Special Eligibility.
No. The total remains 185,000, unchanged from 2025–26, although allocations between categories have changed.
The Skilled Independent category has 21,090 planned places for 2026–27. An allocation is not an individual invitation or a guaranteed visa grant.
No. A change to the annual planning level does not itself cancel an existing visa. Subclass 491 holders must continue meeting their visa conditions and any requirements for a subsequent permanent visa.
No. The 129,590 onshore allocation is across both Skilled and Family programs, not exclusively the Skilled stream.
Not necessarily. Invitations depend on the relevant selection arrangements, eligible EOIs and other program priorities. The planning level alone does not establish a cutoff.
No. The published Partner and Child numbers are indicative planning levels for demand-driven categories.
The Department of Home Affairs publishes state and territory nomination allocations separately from permanent migration planning levels.
