Australia’s Permanent Migration Program: Migration Planning Level 2025-2026
- Newsted Global
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Australia’s Permanent Migration Program for 2025-26 continues to offer robust and stable pathways for skilled professionals, family members, and humanitarian applicants, maintaining a steady cap that underscores long-term strategic planning.
Permanent Migration Program set for 2025-2026
3 September 2025 Update
The allocation remains exactly same for across all stream with the exemption to Talent and Innovation stream which has 4,300 places and a newly introduced stream which a straight swap with Global Talent (Independent) and Distinguished Talent stream. Here's the 2025-26 allocation for major visa categories:
Employer Sponsored 44,000
Skilled Independent 16,900
Regional 33,000
State/Territory Nominated 33,000
Business Innovation and Investment 1,000
Talent and Innovation 4,300
Skill Total 132,200
Partner 40,500
Parent 8,500
Child 3,000
Other Family 500
Family Total 300
Total Migration Program 185,000
State/Territory 2025-26 Focus
Queensland: Limited intake; regional Queensland prioritised
Tasmania: Regional growth; focus on education and healthcare
South Australia: Major increase anticipated; key sectors: construction, early childhood, renewables
Victoria: Continued emphasis on early childhood education
Australian Capital Territory: Likely to have increased quota, huge incentive for ACT graduates and applicants with skilled partner
Western Australia: Continued demand for occupations in key sectors.
Migration Cap Holds Steady at 185,000 Visas
The Albanese Labor Government confirmed the permanent migration cap will remain at 185,000 places for the 2025-26 financial year; unchanged from 2024-25. This planning level reflects extensive consultation with states and territories that advocated maintaining both the size and composition of the program
Strategic Shift: Moving Toward Multi-Year Planning
A significant evolution in migration policy is underway, with Australia transitioning to a multi-year migration planning model. This new approach is designed to better align migration inflows with national priorities, such as infrastructure development, housing supply, and workforce capability.
Net Overseas Migration (NOM) is poised to decline significantly from approximately 446,000 in 2023-24, to 335,000 in 2024-25, then 260,000 in 2025-26, and averaging 225,000 annually through 2026-29.
This indicates a strategic pivot from volume-driven migration to a value-and-outcome-focused model that emphasises economic sustainability and quality outcomes.
What the 185,000 Places Mean for Each Stream
Although official breakdowns for 2025-26 are not yet published, recent years show around 70% of places allocated to the Skill Stream, with the remainder spread across Family, Humanitarian, and Special Eligibility categories.
Maintaining this balance ensures Australia continues welcoming highly skilled migrants while supporting family reunification and humanitarian commitments.
Benefits of Stability Amid Political Debate
The decision to hold the migration cap steady reinforces several positive outcomes:
Business confidence remains intact as employers can rely on continuity in employer-sponsored migration pathways.
Regional development is supported by a predictable intake that allows states and territories to align workforce planning and service provision strategies.
Visa processing experiences less disruption; Home Affairs confirms operations continue smoothly under existing settings.
Amid growing political debate-opposition proposals to reduce migration to 140,000 have been floated, but not implemented; Australia’s firm approach provides clarity to applicants and stakeholders.
What You Can Do Now
Start or update your Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect under the knowledge that overall program size remains unchanged.
Prepare your documentation: ensure your skills assessment, English test results (Refer to the August 7 updates), and passport validity are in order.
Identify your visa stream: be it Skilled, Family, Employer-Sponsored, or Humanitarian-know which category aligns best with your profile.
Watch for detailed allocations: breakdowns by stream typically follow soon after the official program announcement.
Topic | Detail |
Cap | 185,000 permanent visas for 2025-26 |
Strategic Shift | From annual to multi-year planning, aligning migration with national outcomes |
Stream Allocations | Approximately 70% Skills, remaining across Family, Humanitarian, Special Eligibility |
Benefits of Stability | Confidence for employers, regional planning, smoother visa processing |
Australia’s 2025-26 Permanent Migration Program strikes a balance between continuity and strategic direction-holding migration levels steady while embracing multi-year planning to meet evolving national priorities. For applicants, this provides both reassurance and clarity as they navigate the path forward.
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