2026-27 migration program: employer sponsored surges to 58,040 places, regional cut by half
Current as at 3 July 2026. Planning levels are as announced in the 12 May 2026 Federal Budget. State and territory nomination allocations for 2026‑27 had not been published at the time of review - check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for the latest settings.
The Federal Budget handed down on 12 May 2026 confirmed the permanent Migration Program for 2026‑27: 185,000 places, held at the same overall size as last year and split roughly 70:30 between the Skill and Family streams. The headline is stability. The detail is anything but.
Within an unchanged total, the Government has redrawn the map. Employer Sponsored jumps by more than 14,000 places to become the largest skilled category ever allocated, while the Regional category is cut by more than half. If your permanent residence strategy was written before May 2026, it deserves a fresh look.
The 2026‑27 planning levels in full
| Category | 2025‑26 | 2026‑27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 | +14,040 |
| Skilled Independent (189) | 16,900 | 21,090 | +4,190 |
| State/Territory Nominated (190) | 33,000 | 35,500 | +2,500 |
| Regional (491/494/191) | 33,000 | 14,110 | −18,890 |
| Partner | 40,500 | 41,500 | +1,000 |
| Parent | 8,500 | 7,060 | −1,440 |
| Child | 3,000 | 3,500 | +500 |
| Skill stream total | - | 132,240 | - |
| Family stream total | - | 52,460 | - |
| Special Eligibility | - | 300 | - |
| Program total | 185,000 | 185,000 | No change |
Around 129,590 places - roughly 70 per cent - are earmarked for people already onshore. That continues the clear preference for converting temporary residents into permanent ones rather than selecting new arrivals from offshore.
Winner: employer-sponsored applicants
An allocation of 58,040 makes employer sponsorship the pathway of the year. For skilled workers already in Australia - particularly Skills in Demand (482) holders approaching eligibility for the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme - the capacity now exists for nominations to move rather than queue. For employers, it is a strong signal that well-prepared nominations will be processed, not rationed.
The practical takeaway: if you have a willing sponsor, the employer-sponsored route is now typically faster and more certain than waiting on a points-tested invitation. Our employer sponsored practice works both sides of that equation.
Winner (moderately): points-tested applicants
Skilled Independent rises to 21,090 and State/Territory Nominated to 35,500. Neither returns the program to its pre-2024 scale, but both give 189 and 190 candidates more room than last year. Note that state-by-state allocations for 2026‑27 had not been published as at early July - state programs typically reopen between July and September.
One caution: the same Budget committed to a ground-up rewrite of the points test, targeted for 1 July 2027. The current test - 65-point pass mark, existing Schedule 6D factors - remains in force, and reported design details remain proposals only. Applicants who are competitive under today’s table have an obvious incentive to press ahead rather than wait to discover how a new test treats them. Check your position with our points calculator.
Loser: the regional category
The Regional allocation falls from 33,000 to 14,110 - a cut of well over half. For prospective subclass 491 applicants, that means fewer nomination places and, likely, sharper competition in state and regional programs. For current 491 and 494 holders, it is important to be precise: the cut does not take away a visa already held, and places for the permanent subclass 191 stage sit within a category the Government has said is weighted towards transitioning existing regional visa holders. But anyone building a new strategy around a regional nomination should now price in tighter rationing and consider parallel options.
Family stream: steady partners, slower parents
Partner places edge up to 41,500. Partner visas are, in any event, demand-driven - the allocation is an estimate rather than a cap - but the figure signals continued steady processing. Parent places fall to 7,060, which will do nothing to shorten already long queues; families weighing contributory versus non-contributory options should get advice on realistic timeframes before committing significant funds. See our partner and family and parent visa pages for the current settings.
What to do now
- 482 holders: map your 186 transition date and confirm your occupation and salary settings will hold at nomination time.
- Points-tested candidates: lodge or update your EOI against the current test; do not wait for the 2027 rewrite to be defined.
- Regional hopefuls: have a plan B - employer sponsorship or state nomination - assessed alongside the 491.
- Employers: use the enlarged allocation; a properly evidenced nomination is now the fastest permanent pathway in the program.
Talk through your 2026‑27 strategy
Planning levels change what is realistic, not what is possible - the right response depends on your occupation, points position and sponsorship options. Book a consultation with Rise Migration Lawyers and we will map your fastest defensible route through the 2026‑27 program.