The permanent Migration Program is the annual ceiling on how many permanent visas Australia plans to grant in a financial year, and how those places are divided between skilled migrants and family members. For 2026-27, the program is set at 185,000 places, the same headline figure as the two years before it (Department of Home Affairs). The total has held steady, but the mix inside it has shifted in ways that matter if you are weighing a skilled or family application. This post walks through the 2026-27 numbers, what moved, and what it means for you.
This is for anyone trying to read the room before they lodge. We will keep it practical, and we will point you to the official page so you can check the confirmed figures yourself.
The headline: 185,000 places for 2026-27
The 2026-27 permanent Migration Program is planned at 185,000 places, split across three streams. The Skill stream takes the lion’s share, the Family stream is the next largest, and a small Special Eligibility allocation makes up the remainder.
| Stream | 2026-27 planning level | Share of program |
|---|---|---|
| Skill stream | 132,240 places | around 71% |
| Family stream | 52,460 places | around 28% |
| Special Eligibility stream | 300 places | under 1% |
| Total | 185,000 places | 100% |
A planning level is a target, not a hard quota that has to be filled exactly. It signals how many places the government has allocated to each category for the year, which in turn shapes how many invitations and grants are realistic.
One thing worth separating out. The Migration Program is about permanent visas granted under a planned ceiling. Net overseas migration is a much broader population measure that includes temporary visa holders, students, and people leaving the country. We cover the population side in our explainer on why net overseas migration is forecast to fall sharply. This post stays on the permanent program.
Inside the Skill stream
The Skill stream holds 132,240 places for 2026-27. That total is almost identical to last year, but the allocation between categories has been reshuffled, and the changes are not small.
| Skill category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 35,500 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 |
Three moves stand out. Employer-Sponsored places jumped to 58,040, now the single biggest slice of the skilled program. State and territory nominated places edged up to 35,500. Skilled Independent, the points-tested category that does not need a sponsor or nominator, rose to 21,090.
The sharpest cut landed on the Regional category, down to 14,110 from 33,000. If your plan leans on a regional pathway, that smaller allocation is worth factoring into your timing. Our guide to Australia’s skilled visa pathways sets out where each option fits, and if you are aiming at the points-tested route, the updated points test for 2026 explains how invitations are ranked.
The shift toward employer-sponsored and state-nominated places tells you something about how the year is likely to run. More of the skilled program now flows through an employer or a state, and less through open regional places. Where you apply, and who backs your application, carries more weight than it did a year ago.
Inside the Family stream
The Family stream sits at 52,460 places, broadly flat on last year, with some movement underneath.
| Family category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | 40,500 | 41,500 |
| Parent | 8,500 | 7,060 |
| Child | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| Other Family | 500 | 400 |
Partner visas remain the heart of the family program at 41,500 places, slightly up. Child places rose to 3,500. Parent places were trimmed to 7,060, which matters because parent categories already carry long queues, so a smaller allocation tends to mean longer waits rather than fewer eligible applicants. If reuniting with a spouse, partner, child, or parent is your priority, our family and partner migration page sets out the main options and where the bottlenecks usually sit.
Who sets the planning level, and how
The planning level is decided by the government each year through the Federal Budget process. It is not a number a department official picks in isolation. It runs through Cabinet and the Budget, and it is shaped by consultation before it is finalised.
A few inputs feed the final figure:
- State and territory consultation. The Commonwealth consults the states and territories, because they nominate skilled migrants and run their own migration plans.
- Stakeholder input. Business groups, community organisations, and other stakeholders share views on skills shortages and family reunion demand.
- Economic and social objectives. The government weighs labour market needs, housing and infrastructure pressure, and family reunion against each other.
- Multi-year planning. Migration planning now sits inside a longer horizon, alongside regional migration and state plans, so the annual number is part of a broader strategy.
For the policy backdrop to last year’s settings, see our summary of the 2024-25 Migration Program highlights. The pattern across recent years is a steady headline with the real action happening in the category mix, which is exactly what 2026-27 shows.
What the 2026-27 numbers mean for your application
The planning level is context, not a personal verdict. A bigger allocation in your category can mean more invitation rounds and grants across the year, but your result still turns on your subclass, your points, and whether you hold a nomination or sponsorship.
Three practical takeaways:
- Employer and state pathways are where the growth is. With Employer-Sponsored up to 58,040 and state nomination up to 35,500, a job offer or a state nomination is more valuable than ever. Our look at state nomination and which states are more accessible goes into this.
- Regional places are tighter. The Regional cut to 14,110 means more competition for fewer spots. A complete, well-evidenced application matters even more when a category is squeezed.
- Parent waits are unlikely to ease. A trimmed parent allocation against steady demand points to continued long queues, so plan around realistic timeframes rather than the headline total.
You do not control the planning level. You do control the quality and timing of what you lodge.
Frequently asked questions
What is Australia’s Migration Program planning level for 2026-27?
It is 185,000 places, the government’s target for permanent visa grants in the 2026-27 financial year, divided into the Skill stream (132,240), the Family stream (52,460), and a small Special Eligibility stream (300) (Department of Home Affairs). It is a planning figure rather than a guaranteed number of grants.
Did the Migration Program get bigger in 2026-27?
No. The headline total stayed at 185,000 places, the same as 2024-25 and 2025-26. What changed is the mix inside the program, with more places allocated to employer-sponsored and state-nominated skilled visas and a large cut to the Regional category.
What is the split between the Skill and Family streams?
For 2026-27, the Skill stream holds 132,240 places, around 71% of the program, and the Family stream holds 52,460 places, around 28%, with a small Special Eligibility allocation making up the rest. The exact split is set each year and can change.
How is the Migration Program different from net overseas migration?
The Migration Program counts permanent visas granted under a planned ceiling. Net overseas migration is a population statistic that includes temporary visa holders, students, and people leaving Australia, which is why the two numbers differ so much. We explain the population side in our post on the forecast fall in net overseas migration.
Does the planning level affect my chance of a visa?
Not directly. Your outcome depends on your visa subclass criteria, your points where relevant, and any required nomination or sponsorship. The planning level shapes the volume of invitations and grants across the year, but it does not change whether you may be eligible.
If you are deciding whether to apply this program year or wait, the right next step is advice on your specific circumstances rather than guessing from the headline number. You can book a consultation with our migration lawyers to map your pathway against the current settings.
About the author: Tina Nematian is the Principal Lawyer at One Planet Migration Law. She is an Australian Legal Practitioner and a Registered Migration Agent, and has guided clients through partner, skilled, employer-sponsored, student, and humanitarian visa applications across Australia.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa rules change frequently and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Speak with a registered migration lawyer or agent before making any application. Figures were current as of June 2026; always check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
