Australia's permanent migration program: 2026 guide
Australia's 2026 permanent migration program is capped at 185,000 places. Here's how those places are split across skilled, family, and special streams.
Australia's permanent migration program sets a ceiling on how many permanent visas the government grants each financial year. For 2026–27, that ceiling is 185,000 places. Those places are divided between three broad streams — skilled, family, and special eligibility — and the split between them shapes everything from invitation rounds to points cutoffs. Understanding the program is the first step to understanding where your visa fits.
What is the permanent migration program?
The permanent migration program is the federal government's annual planning framework for permanent visas. Each year, the Department of Home Affairs publishes planning levels that allocate a set number of places to each stream. These aren't rigid quotas — the Department can move places between streams during the year — but they set the overall shape of who gets permanent residence and in what proportion.
The 185,000 total for 2026–27 is the same headline figure used in recent years. What changes year to year is how those places are distributed internally, and which occupations and nationalities end up filling them. For a data-driven look at how last year's allocations played out in practice, see Australian skilled migration 2025: the year in numbers.
How the 185,000 places are divided
The program splits into three main streams.
Skilled stream
The skilled stream is the largest component and the one most prospective migrants focus on. It covers employer-sponsored, points-tested, and regional visa categories.
Key visas in this stream include:
- Points-tested visas — Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190), and Skilled Regional (Subclass 491). These require an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and an invitation to apply.
- Employer-sponsored visas — Employer Nomination (Subclass 186) and Employer Regional (Subclass 494). These don't go through the points test but require a sponsoring employer.
- Regional pathway completions — holders of the Subclass 887 who have satisfied regional living and working requirements.
The skilled stream has historically received the largest share of places — consistently more than half the annual total — reflecting the government's emphasis on filling labour market gaps.
For a breakdown of which occupations are actually getting invited, the Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard tracks live invitation data by occupation and visa subclass.
Family stream
The family stream covers visas for partners, children, parents, and other relatives of Australian citizens and permanent residents. It is not demand-driven in the same way as the skilled stream — there are no points requirements — but places are still capped.
Key visas include:
- Partner visas — Subclass 820/801 (onshore) and Subclass 309/100 (offshore)
- Prospective marriage (Subclass 300)
- Child and parent categories
Family stream places are typically fewer than skilled stream places. The government has kept the family allocation relatively stable over recent years while the skilled stream allocation has been adjusted to respond to labour market conditions.
Special eligibility stream
This is a small residual category covering visa holders who meet specific criteria — for example, certain former Australian citizens or residents. The numbers here are small relative to the other two streams.
Who the program affects and when it matters
Points-tested applicants
If you are in the 189, 190, or 491 pathway, the planning levels directly affect your wait time. When the skilled stream allocation is large and invitation rounds are frequent, points cutoffs tend to drop. When places are tight or concentrated in particular occupations, cutoffs rise and some applicants wait months or years for an invitation.
The 2026 Federal Budget made changes relevant here — if you haven't already, read What the 2026–27 Federal Budget Means for Skilled Migration (189, 190, 491) for detail on how the onshore prioritisation and points test rewrite affect the queue.
Employer-sponsored applicants
For Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482) holders seeking to transition to the Subclass 186, the size of the employer-sponsored component of the skilled stream determines how quickly those applications are finalised. Congestion in the skilled stream can mean longer processing times even when you have a valid nomination.
Regional pathway applicants
The 491 is a provisional visa. To convert to permanent residence you need to spend time living and working in a regional area and then apply — typically via the Subclass 191. The program allocates places for these transitions within the skilled stream. For a full walkthrough of that process, see 491 to PR: the regional pathway to permanent residency (2026).
Family applicants
Family stream applicants — particularly partner visa applicants — are affected by the planning levels because the family stream cap determines how many grants can be made in a given year. Long processing times for partner visas are partly a function of the gap between lodgements and available places.
What the program does not cover
The 185,000 figure applies only to permanent visas. Temporary visas — the Subclass 482, Graduate (Subclass 485), Student (Subclass 500), Working Holiday (Subclass 417), Work and Holiday (Subclass 462), and others — are not counted against the program cap. They are managed separately.
Stream comparison
| Stream | Main visa types | Demand-driven? | Share of 185,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled | 189, 190, 491, 186, 494, 887 | Yes (points/employer) | Majority (largest share) |
| Family | 820/801, 309/100, 300, parent, child | No points test | Significant minority |
| Special eligibility | Former citizens/residents | Specific criteria | Very small |
Common questions
What does the 185,000 cap mean for my visa application?
The cap sets the maximum number of permanent visas that can be granted in 2026–27. If you are in a points-tested stream, it affects how often invitation rounds run and how high the points cutoff sits. If you are in the family stream, it affects how long you wait for a grant once your application is lodged.
Can the government grant more than 185,000 permanent visas?
The planning level is a target and a ceiling, not a guarantee of any particular number of grants. The government can and does adjust allocations within the program during the year, but the total typically stays close to the headline figure. Under-delivery in one stream can free up places for another.
Does the 185,000 cap include temporary visas like the 482 or 485?
No. The permanent migration program covers only permanent visas. Temporary visas — including the 482, 485, 500, and working holiday visas — are managed under separate frameworks and are not counted against the 185,000 total.
How does the skilled stream split affect points cutoffs for the 189 visa?
When more places are allocated to the points-tested component of the skilled stream, and when invitation rounds are frequent, cutoffs tend to be lower because more applicants receive invitations. When places are concentrated in certain occupations or the overall skilled allocation is tighter, cutoffs rise. Checking current invitation data by occupation gives you the most accurate picture of where cutoffs sit right now.
Does the planning level change every year?
Yes. The government announces the planning level as part of the Federal Budget each May. The total can stay the same (as with the 185,000 figure in recent years) while the internal split between skilled, family, and special eligibility shifts. These internal shifts can have a bigger practical impact than the headline number.
Where to go next
To see how the skilled stream places are currently flowing — which occupations are being invited, and at what points levels — check the Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard.