Australia has not cut its permanent visa program in 2026. It has changed who gets the places, and it wants fewer people arriving overall.
Australia Migration Shift 2026 in 60 Seconds
- The permanent Migration Program stays at 185,000 places for 2026-27.
- Employer-sponsored places rise from 44,000 to 58,040.
- The Government wants net overseas migration (NOM) at 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 a year after that.
- Most new PR places favour people already living in Australia.
- Student, visitor and working holiday rules are getting tighter.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: The Key Numbers
NOM counts everyone who arrives to stay minus those who leave. The latest ABS figure shows it falling. The bars below show where it has been and where the Government wants it to go.
NOM is not the same as the permanent program. The 185,000 places are visas granted. NOM is people arriving and leaving, and it includes students and temporary workers.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Where PR Places Go
The Government set the 2026-27 permanent program at 185,000 places. The split is still about 70% Skill and 30% Family. The change is inside the Skill stream. You can check the official figures on the Home Affairs planning levels page.
| Visa Group | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| Total Skill stream | about 132,200 | 132,240 |
| Family stream | about 52,500 | 52,460 |
| Special Eligibility | 300 | 300 |
| Total program | 185,000 | 185,000 |
Two points matter here. First, regional places have been reduced to make room for these increases. Second, a planning level is a target, not a promise that every place will be filled.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Student Rules
The student cap for new international students (the National Planning Level) is 295,000 for 2026. That is 25,000 more than last year. So the door is open, but the checks are strict.
On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced more changes:
- Most students and graduates would no longer be able to add secondary applicants (family members) to a new application.
- Students from Pacific and ASEAN countries, and postgraduate and PhD students, would stay exempt.
- People already in Australia with family on their visa would not be affected.
- Moving to a lower-tier education provider would need a new visa application.
These measures are announced. The legal detail is still to come, so check before you lodge.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Skilled Workers
This is the area with the most good news. More places are going to employers and to skilled workers already in Australia.
- Salary floors rose on 1 July 2026. The Core Skills Income Threshold is now AUD $79,499, up from $76,515. The Specialist Skills threshold is $146,717, up from $141,210.
- Points test: The Government plans to give more weight to housing and construction trade skills.
- Faster processing: Ministerial Direction 119 sets priorities, and agriculture and resources/fisheries are planned additions.
If you are on a temporary visa and work for an employer who can sponsor you, 2026-27 is a strong year to act.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Visitors and Backpackers
Visitors and working holiday makers face the biggest limits.
- No Further Stay: A new condition (8503) is expected on all future visitor visas. It would stop most onshore visa applications, including partner visas, while you are in Australia. The start date is not confirmed. Visitor visas already granted are not affected.
- Working holiday ballot: A ballot is planned for second and third year visas. Proposed caps are 45,000 for the second year and 5,000 for the third year.
If you plan to visit Australia and then apply for a partner visa onshore, speak to a migration agent before you book flights.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Who Is Affected
| Change | Who It Hits | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 185,000 PR places, more for employers | Skilled workers, employers | Confirmed |
| Higher sponsor salary floors | Sponsored workers, employers | In place since 1 July 2026 |
| Lower migration targets | Students, temporary visa holders | Government target |
| No secondary applicants | New students and graduates | Announced |
| No Further Stay (8503) | Future visitor visa holders | Announced, date not set |
| Ballot for working holiday years 2 and 3 | Backpackers (417, 462) | Announced |
| More points for construction trades | Points-tested applicants | Announced |
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Your Next Steps
- Check your visa expiry date today.
- If you have a sponsor, ask whether your pay meets the new salary floor.
- If you are a student, plan your post-study visa from your first semester.
- Do not travel on a visitor visa if you plan to apply for another visa onshore. Ask first.
- Use only a registered agent or a lawyer. Check your agent’s MARN on the MARA website, and read the Home Affairs guide on who can help.
Australia Migration Shift 2026 FAQs
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Is the Cap Cut?
No. The permanent program stays at 185,000 places for 2026-27. What the Government wants to lower is net overseas migration.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Is PR Harder?
It depends on your pathway. Employer-sponsored and skilled independent places have increased. Regional places have gone down, and the points test is expected to change.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Student Impact?
New students may soon be unable to bring family members. The student cap is higher this year, but checks are stricter.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: What Is Proposed?
The visitor No Further Stay condition, the working holiday ballot, the secondary applicant limit and the points test change were all announced on 17 September 2026. Legal details are still being released.
Australia Migration Shift 2026: Need an Agent?
Not always, but rules are changing fast. A MARA-registered agent can check your case against the current rules before you lodge.
Not sure how the 2026 changes affect your visa?
Speak with an APG MARA-registered migration agent at any of our Australian offices. We will check your case against the latest rules and tell you the best option.
This article is general information only. Asia Pacific Group provides immigration assistance through registered migration agents and is not a law firm. Items marked “announced” may change before they take effect. Figures are based on Home Affairs planning levels, ABS data and public announcements as at 30 October 2026.
