The Australian Government confirmed the 2026-27 migration program planning levels on 12 May 2026. The total program stays at 185,000 places for the second year running, with the familiar split of roughly 70% Skilled and 30% Family.

However, the allocations inside the program have changed significantly. Some categories have grown, others have been cut, and the overall direction signals a clear policy preference for employer-sponsored migration and for applicants already living in Australia.

This article explains the full breakdown and what each change means in practice.

2026-27 Migration Program Planning Levels at a Glance

The 2026-27 Permanent Migration Program allocates 185,000 places across three streams:

• Skill stream: 132,240 places
• Family stream: 52,460 places
• Special Eligibility: 300 places

Approximately 129,590 places — close to 70% of the program — go to onshore applicants. These are people already living and working in Australia. The remaining places target offshore applicants, with a focus on highly skilled migrants who support long-term workforce needs.

Skill Stream: What Changed

The Skill stream is where the most significant changes have happened. Here is a category-by-category breakdown.

Employer Sponsored (Subclass 186 ENS): 58,040 places (previously 44,000)

The Employer Sponsored category received the largest single increase in the program. In total, that is an extra 14,040 places on top of last year’s allocation. This reflects the Government’s view that employer-sponsored migration delivers stronger long-term outcomes. In fact, retention rates for employer-sponsored permanent residents are higher than for other skilled pathways.

If you hold a Subclass 482 TSS visa with a sponsoring employer, the 186 ENS pathway is now the strongest and most reliable route to permanent residency in the program.

Skilled Independent (Subclass 189): 21,090 places (previously 16,900)

The Skilled Independent allocation has grown by 4,190 places. This is welcome news for applicants who have been waiting for invitations, particularly in the ICT sector. The next invitation round falls on 4 June 2026. Make sure your EOI is current and accurate before that date.

Note, however, that more places do not automatically mean lower points cutoffs. EOI volumes have also grown, so competition remains strong.

State and Territory Nominated (Subclass 190): 35,500 places (previously 33,000)

The 190 visa allocation has increased by 2,500 places. State and territory governments retain discretion over their own selection criteria. As a result, we expect continued focus on applicants in high-demand sectors such as health, education, and construction.

Regional (Subclass 491 and 494): 14,110 places (previously 33,000)

The Regional category has fallen by approximately 57%. This is the most dramatic cut in the 2026-27 planning levels. The Department attributes this reduction to analysis of regional retention rates. Specifically, that data shows employer-sponsored migrants retain at higher rates than regional skilled migrants.

The practical consequences are significant:

• States and territories will receive substantially smaller nomination allocations, tightening selection criteria.
• More jurisdictions are likely to narrow their occupation lists, following the approaches of the ACT and Western Australia.
• Mandatory paid work experience in the nominated occupation is likely to become more common.
• Invitations will concentrate in priority sectors, particularly health, education, and construction.
• Processing times for existing 491 applications, currently around 24 months, are unlikely to improve in the short term.

If you hold a 491 visa or plan to apply, review your strategy now. Consider whether an employer-sponsored pathway may be a better fit.

Talent and Innovation: 3,500 places (previously 5,300)

This category has dropped from 5,300 places. The reduction largely reflects the closure of the Global Talent, Distinguished Talent, and Business Innovation and Investment visas. The National Innovation Visa continues under this category.

Family Stream: What Changed

The Family stream allocations for 2026-27 are:

• Partner visas: 41,500 places (previously 40,500) — demand-driven and indicative
• Child visas: 3,500 places (previously 3,000) — demand-driven and indicative
• Parent visas: 7,060 places (previously 8,500)
• Other Family: 400 places (previously 500)

Partner and Child visas are demand-driven categories. Therefore, the planning figures are indicative rather than hard caps. Both have received modest increases, which is positive news for applicants in the queue.

In contrast, the Parent visa allocation has dropped by nearly 1,500 places. Parent visas are subject to strict capping and queueing. The Department estimates current processing times of approximately 15 years for Contributory Parent visas. Non-Contributory and Aged Parent visas run at around 33 years. This reduction will likely extend those timeframes further.

If you have a Parent visa application in the queue, seek advice from a registered migration agent. They can assess your situation and discuss interim visa options. We have published a separate article on the Parent visa changes in detail.

What the 2026-27 Planning Levels Mean for You

The Bigger Picture

The 2026-27 migration program planning levels point in three clear directions. First, the program strongly favours onshore applicants. Second, employer-sponsored migration remains the primary skilled pathway. Third, the regional program is now smaller and more targeted.

Overall, the 185,000-place total provides stability at a program level. However, the internal shifts mean the right strategy now looks quite different from twelve months ago.

Every applicant’s circumstances are different. The best pathway depends on your occupation, location, work history, age, English level, and family situation.