Update: 20 July 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has clarified to the Migration Institute of Australia that the regional planning level in the 2026/27 permanent migration program includes placements for:
Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored Regional Visas
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas
Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visas
The employer-sponsored planning level includes placements for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa only.
The article has been updated accordingly.
Australia’s permanent migration program is reviewed annually, with planning levels typically released alongside the Federal Budget.
In last week’s Budget, the government confirmed that the 2026/27 permanent migration intake will remain at 185,000 places, maintaining the 70/30 split between the Skilled and Family streams.
