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.
Key announcements included:
- 70% of places reserved for skilled and family applicants already onshore, supporting smoother transitions to Permanent Residence for existing temporary migrants.
- 30% of places allocated to highly-skilled offshore talent to address long-term workforce and capability needs.
The government has now released further detail on how these places will be distributed, including several important adjustments to the skilled migration program that employers and skilled visa applicants should be aware of.
2026/27 Skilled Permanent Migration Program
| Skilled Visa Category | 2025-26 Planning Level | 2026-27 Planning Level | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 | ↑ 14,040 places |
| Skilled Independent (Commonwealth program) |
16,900 | 21,090 | ↑ 4,190 places |
| Talent and Innovation* (Commonwealth program) |
5,300 | 3,500 | ↓ 1,800 places |
| Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 | ↓ 18,890 places |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 35,500 | ↑ 2,500 places |
| Total Skilled Program | 132,200 | 132,240 | ↑ 40 places |
Minor changes were experienced across Family streams, with a slight increase for Partner migration (1000 places) and a decrease for Parent and Other Family migration (1,440 places).
Key Insights
Interstaff analyse what this means for the employer-sponsored, regional, independent, and other skilled migration options in 2026/2027.
Employer-Sponsored Visas
Revised planning levels have substantially increased employer-sponsored Permanent Residence placements for temporary skilled migrants meeting skills gaps in the broader Australian labour market.
This shift gives employers greater ability to retain valued temporary workers through Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme pathways.
Multiple streams are available, including the 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream, which allows eligible Subclass 482 Visa holders to transition to Permanent Residence after two years of work in Australia.
The 186 Visa—including those accessed through regional DAMAs—are often associated with stronger economic outcomes, such as better job matching with roles that genuinely need filling.
Regional Visas
This category includes:
- Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored Regional Visas
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas
- Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
These visas are designed to help businesses in designated regional areas access migrants who meet their local specific labour market needs and economic priorities.
Allocations for regional visas have reduced by more than half, significantly limiting regional migration in 2026/27. This is likely to increase reliance on standard employer-sponsored pathways, such as the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, which has more placements and is available in both metropolitan and regional areas.
Regional planning levels decreased by 18,890 places in 2026-27, whereas the employer-sponsored category increased by 14,040 places.
Skilled Independent and State/Territory Nominated
An increase to Skilled Independent and State/Territory Nominated migration, such as Subclass 189 and 190 Visas, recognises the government’s plans to optimise the ‘points test’ for independent skilled migration to select better qualified, higher-skilled and younger workers to migrate to Australia, as announced in the Federal Budget.
Talent and Innovation
The Talent and Innovation category includes the National Innovation Visa, alongside the Global Talent, Distinguished Talent, and Business Innovation and Investment Visas, all of which are closed to new applications.
2026-27 planning levels have been adjusted to reflect these program changes.
Sustainable people strategy: Global talent
For 2026-27, the government has reshaped the migration program to prioritise permanent residence for several categories of visa holders:
- Skilled migrants who are already onshore and contributing to the Australian economy
- Employer-sponsored applicants—both nationally and regionally
- Highly skilled and qualified migrants who meet requirements for independent skilled migration
Interstaff supports employers requiring sustainable global talent strategy to strengthen workforce capabilities.
Access our immigration insights to explore:
- Work rights and visa conditions
- Skilled visa changes
- Temporary and permanent visa pathways
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
