The 2025-2026 Migration Program Explained: 185,000 Places, Who Gets What?

Watch our video explainer:

Two Numbers People Confuse: 185,000 vs 306,000

Before diving into the details, let's clarify a common source of confusion:

185,000 = the permanent Migration Program planning level (a policy "tap")
306,000 = net overseas migration in 2024-25 (a population "thermometer")

The permanent program controls how many people receive PR each year. NOM measures the net population change from all migration-temporary and permanent-based on arrivals minus departures. Critically, around 60-70% of permanent visas are granted to people already in Australia (onshore), meaning "permanent intake" doesn't equal "new arrivals."

The Big Picture: 185,000 Permanent Places

The Albanese Government has maintained the 2025-26 Migration Program at 185,000 places following consultation with states and territories. This represents a balanced approach: large enough to address critical skills shortages while managing population growth concerns.

Stream	Places	Percentage
Skill Stream	132,200	71%
Family Stream	52,500	28%
Special Eligibility	300	1%
Total	185,000	100%

IMPORTANT

The 71:29 Skill/Family split reflects Australia's policy priority: skilled migration drives the permanent program. If you're a skilled worker, you're in the favoured category.

Skill Stream Breakdown: 132,200 Places

The Skill stream is where the action is. Here's the precise allocation across visa pathways:

Visa Category	Places	Key Visas
Employer Sponsored	44,000	186, Skills in Demand
State/Territory Nominated	33,000	190
Skilled Regional	33,000	491, 494
Skilled Independent	16,900	189
Talent and Innovation	4,300	858 (NIV)
Business Innovation	1,000	Legacy BIIP

What the Numbers Tell Us

Employer Sponsored (44,000) is the largest category-33% of all skilled places. This reflects labour-market reality: employers, not government, identify where skills gaps exist. If you have a job offer from an Australian employer, you're in the strongest position.

State/Territory Nominated + Regional (66,000 combined) shows the policy push toward decentralisation. However, actual state nomination allocations for 2025-26 were set at only 20,350-well below the 33,000 planning level-creating intense competition for state sponsorship.

Skilled Independent (16,900) has shrunk significantly from historical levels (30,000+ in previous years). Without a sponsor, you face a highly competitive points-test environment with cut-offs often exceeding 85-95 points.

New in 2025-26: Talent and Innovation Category

The Talent and Innovation category (4,300 places) consolidates the previous Global Talent, Distinguished Talent, and Business Innovation programs into the new National Innovation Visa (NIV). This visa eliminates points testing for eligible candidates-instead requiring proof of "internationally recognised exceptional talent" in priority sectors:

Renewables and low-emissions technologies
Medical science and health
Critical technologies (AI, quantum, cyber security)
Advanced manufacturing

If you're an elite professional, researcher, or entrepreneur in these fields, this pathway offers fast-track permanent residency without occupation list restrictions.

Family Stream: 52,500 Places

The Family stream supports social cohesion and family reunification. Here's the detailed breakdown:

Visa Category	Places	Key Visas
Partner	40,500	820/801, 309/100
Parent	8,500	143, 864, 103
Child	3,000	101, 802
Other Family	500	Various

NOTE

Partner and Child visas are demand-driven with indicative planning levels, meaning the government processes all eligible applications rather than applying strict caps. This category cannot be easily "turned off" without major policy change.

If you're applying for a partner visa, processing times have improved, though you should still expect 12-18 months for most cases. Parent visas remain heavily backlogged, with non-contributory queues exceeding 30 years and over 100,000 applications waiting.

Net Overseas Migration: The Bigger Migration Picture

While the permanent program sits at 185,000, net overseas migration (NOM)-the total population change from all migration-tells a different story.

Financial Year	Net Overseas Migration	Treasury Forecast
2022-23	538,000 (record high)	-
2023-24	429,000	-
2024-25	306,000	-
2025-26	-	260,000

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, NOM dropped by 124,000 in 2024-25, driven by:

14% decrease in migrant arrivals (from 661,000 to 568,000)
13% increase in migrant departures (from 232,000 to 263,000)

The fall is largely driven by temporary visa holders. International student departures surged 48% as post-pandemic cohorts completed their studies. Treasury forecasts NOM will continue falling to around 260,000 in 2025-26, approaching pre-pandemic levels of 190,000-235,000.

NOTE

The key insight: reducing permanent visa places won't directly cut NOM in the short term, because most PR recipients are already counted in the temporary population. The government is managing NOM through temporary visa levers-stricter student requirements, shorter graduate visas, and tighter compliance-not by cutting permanent migration.

What This Means for You

If you're pursuing PR through skilled migration or employer sponsorship, the pathway remains open and stable. But if you're on a student or Working Holiday visa, converting to permanent residency requires careful planning-the "side doors" are closing.

The Skills in Demand Visa: The New Temporary Foundation

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS 482) visa from 7 December 2024. It introduces a three-tier structure:

Stream	Salary Threshold	Key Features
Specialist Skills	$135,000+	No occupation list (except trades), 7-day processing target
Core Skills	$73,150-$135,000	Tied to Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Essential Skills	Below $73,150	Labour Agreements only (aged care, meat processing)

Worker mobility is a game-changer: SID visa holders can now leave their sponsor and have 180 days to find a new employer (previously 60 days). This empowers workers to negotiate better conditions and leave exploitative employers.

Who Benefits from This Program?

Winners

Employer-sponsored workers: The Skills in Demand visa offers faster processing and a guaranteed pathway to PR
Healthcare professionals: Nurses, aged care workers, and doctors remain in critical demand across all states
High-income professionals: The Specialist Skills stream ($135,000+ salary) bypasses occupation list restrictions entirely
Trades workers: Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters are prioritised, especially in regional areas
Regional migrants: 491 and 494 visa holders enjoy state support and eventual PR pathways

Challenges

Students: Stricter Genuine Student requirements, higher English thresholds (IELTS 6.5), and shorter graduate visas
Independent applicants: With only 16,900 places and points cut-offs exceeding 85-95, the 189 visa is increasingly competitive
Occupations off the list: If your job isn't on the Core Skills Occupation List, employer sponsorship via Specialist stream may be your only option
Older applicants: Age remains a points barrier for those over 40 (though DAMA pathways offer concessions)

Priority Occupations for 2025-26

The 132,200 skilled places are allocated based on Jobs and Skills Australia data. Priority sectors include:

Healthcare and Aged Care: Registered nurses, GPs, aged care workers, allied health professionals
Engineering: Civil, structural, mechanical, environmental, and cyber security engineers
ICT: Software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, data scientists
Construction and Trades: Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders
Education: Early childhood, primary, secondary, and special education teachers

What You Should Do Now

Check your occupation: Confirm your role is on the relevant occupation list for your target visa. Use our points calculator to assess your skilled visa eligibility.
Get your skills assessed: Whether through TRA, VETASSESS, ACS, or AHPRA, a positive skills assessment is your foundation.
Consider state nomination: Each state has different priorities and limited allocations. NSW, Victoria, and WA control the largest quotas. Research which state aligns with your profession.
Act on employer sponsorship: If you have an employer willing to sponsor, the Skills in Demand visa offers the clearest pathway to PR. High earners ($135,000+) can bypass occupation lists entirely.
Plan for timing: Invitation rounds, state nomination windows, and processing times all affect your timeline. Don't wait until your current visa expires.

How First Migration Can Help

Navigating these changes can be complex, but you don't have to do it alone. At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents are ready to guide you through every step-from skills assessment to visa lodgement to PR.

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice.