The Department of Home Affairs has published its 2026–27 Migration Program Planning Levels. The headline number — 185,000 permanent places — is unchanged from last year, but the headline is not the story.
When you look at how those places are distributed within the Skilled stream, the picture is quite different from 2025–26. One category surged, one collapsed, and one is quietly signalling something that many applicants have been waiting for.
Here is what the numbers say, and what they mean for you.
What are migration program planning levels?
Before getting into the data, it helps to understand what planning levels actually are and what they are not.
Planning levels are the number of places the Australian Government allocates to each visa category for a given financial year. They are not a guarantee that every place will be filled exactly as planned. The Minister for Immigration retains the authority to redistribute places between Skilled stream categories throughout the year in response to changing labour market conditions.
Think of planning levels as the budget for each visa category. They tell you where the government’s priorities lie, how competitive each category is likely to be, and how much capacity exists to clear backlogs or process new applications. Reading them carefully and comparing them to what actually happened in the previous year gives you a meaningful picture of what to expect.
The full program is divided into three streams: the Skilled stream (over 70 per cent of all places), the Family stream, and Special Eligibility. This post focuses on the Skilled stream, where all the significant changes are.
The skilled stream: 2026–27 at a glance
| Visa 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 | 33,000 | 35,500 | ▲ +2,500 |
| Regional (491/State-based) | 33,000 | 14,110 | ▼−18,890 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 | ▼-1,800 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Migration Program Planning Levels, updated May 2026
Employer-Sponsored: the clear winner
The single biggest change in the entire Skilled stream is the Employer Sponsored category. Places rose from 44,000 to 58,040: an increase of more than 14,000 places in a single year.
This is not a surprise in terms of direction. The government has consistently signalled that employer-led migration is a priority. Skilled workers tied to genuine job offers, verified by an employer who has taken on sponsorship obligations, represent exactly the kind of targeted, demand-driven migration the current policy environment favours.
What is significant is the scale of the increase. A jump of over 14,000 places is substantial and has real implications for two groups of applicants.
For those currently waiting for a subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa to be granted, more places allocated to this category means the Department has more room to finalise applications. Processing times have been stretched for sponsored permanent visas; a larger allocation directly supports faster throughput.
For those currently on a subclass 482 (Skills in Demand visa) and planning a transition to permanent residency through the 186, the expanded allocation strengthens the viability of that pathway in 2026–27.
If you are working for an Australian employer in a sponsored role and permanent residency is your goal, this is the most positive number in the entire planning level release.
Skilled Independent (189): A quiet but meaningful signal
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the fully independent points-tested pathway, has seen its planning level grow from 2025–26. This is worth paying attention to.
Based on Freedom of Information data released by the Department of Home Affairs, by the end of February 2026, 11,614 subclass 189 visas had been granted in the 2025–26 program year (counting both primary and secondary applicants). With the 2025–26 planning level set at 16,900, that left approximately 5,286 places still available for the rest of the year.
At the same date, the Department had 9,922 applications on hand, meaning applications lodged and awaiting decision. If a meaningful portion of those are finalised by 30 June 2026, the program year will close with a residual pool that carries over into 2026–27. Based on comparable patterns, the end-of-year on-hand figure is likely to be in the range of several thousand applications.
Combine that with a planning level that has increased, and the arithmetic points clearly toward the probability of a new invitation round. The government indicated in May 2026 that a round was expected. The numbers support that statement. Whether the timing falls in the next few weeks or before the end of the financial year, the conditions are in place.
For applicants sitting in SkillSelect with a strong points score and a complete, current Expression of Interest, this is the most closely watched development of the moment.
State and Territory Nominated: More places, but what does that mean?
State and Territory Nominated places (covering the subclass 190 permanent visa) have increased modestly from 33,000 to 35,500. An increase of 2,500 places is not dramatic, but it is positive.
The more interesting question is how those additional places will be used.
Based on FOI data, as of February 2026 there were 22,648 subclass 190 and 491 applications on hand at the Department. That number has grown since then, as states have continued to issue nominations throughout the year. The question of whether the increase in places translates to more invitations from states, or primarily to clearing the existing pipeline of already-nominated applicants, will depend on each state’s own program decisions.
What the planning level increase does confirm is that the government has not contracted state-nominated skilled migration. For applicants currently registered in state programs, or considering pursuing state nomination in 2026–27, the capacity exists to support that pathway.
Regional: A sharp and significant decline
This is the number that demands the most attention, and the most careful interpretation.
Regional places under the State and Territory Regional category have dropped from 33,000 to 14,110. That is a reduction of nearly 19,000 places, or roughly 57 per cent.
To be clear about what this category covers: it predominantly includes the subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa and related state-based regional pathways. This is the provisional visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in a designated regional area for five years, with a pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191 after three years.
A fall of this magnitude is not a minor adjustment. It reflects a deliberate policy choice.
Several factors likely explain it. The 491 program has accumulated a substantial backlog of applications in recent years. Reducing new places does not necessarily mean fewer visas will be granted — the Department will still process existing applications — but it does mean significantly fewer new nominations and invitations can be expected from regional pathways in 2026–27.
For applicants who were planning to enter through a regional state-nominated pathway, this changes the landscape materially. The pathway still exists, but the available places are now approximately one-third of what they were last year. Competition for state nominations in regional categories will be considerably more intense.
For those already holding a 491 visa or already nominated under a 2025–26 regional program, this change does not affect their current status. The reduction applies to new places in 2026–27, not to existing visa holders or applicants already in the pipeline.
Reading the whole picture
Taken together, the 2026–27 planning levels tell a coherent story.
The government is consolidating migration around proven, demand-driven pathways. Employer sponsorship, where a business has identified a specific person for a specific role, is being strongly supported. The Skilled Independent pathway is being maintained and modestly grown, signalling continued faith in the points-tested model. State nomination is holding steady.
Regional migration is being deliberately scaled back. Whether this is a permanent recalibration or a one-year correction to address the backlog remains to be seen, but the reduction is sharp enough to treat as a sustained shift unless the government signals otherwise.
For anyone planning their migration strategy for 2026–27, the message from these numbers is fairly clear. If employer sponsorship is available to you, it has just become the strongest single pathway in the program. If you are pursuing the 189, a new round appears likely and your EOI should be current and complete. If you were counting on regional, the options are narrower than they were twelve months ago and alternative pathways deserve serious consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total Australian Migration Program planning level for 2026–27? The total permanent Migration Program has been set at 185,000 places for 2026–27, unchanged from 2025–26. More than 70 per cent of places are allocated to the Skilled stream.
Did employer sponsored visa places increase in 2026–27? Yes. Employer Sponsored places rose from 44,000 to 58,040, the largest single increase of any category in the Skilled stream. This is significant for subclass 482 and subclass 186 applicants.
Will there be a subclass 189 invitation round in 2026–27? Based on FOI data through February 2026 and the increased planning level, the conditions for a new invitation round are in place. The government indicated in May 2026 that a round was expected. Applicants with strong scores and a complete, current EOI are best positioned.
Why did regional migration places fall so sharply? The State and Territory Regional category dropped from 33,000 to 14,110 places. This reflects a deliberate government decision, likely aimed at managing the significant backlog of 491 and regional applications that has accumulated. The reduction applies to new places for 2026–27, not to existing visa holders or applicants already in the pipeline.
Does an increase in State/Territory Nominated places mean more invitations? Not automatically. An increase from 33,000 to 35,500 gives states and the Department more capacity, but how that capacity is used, whether to clear existing nominated applications or to issue new nominations, depends on each state’s program decisions and the Department’s processing priorities.
Where can I find the official planning levels? The Department of Home Affairs publishes the official planning levels at: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels
Final Thoughts
The 2026–27 planning levels are one of the most useful data points available to anyone navigating Australia’s skilled migration system. They do not tell you everything, but read carefully and compared against real application data, they are a reliable guide to where the opportunities are, and where the pressure points will be.
The employer-sponsored pathway has never been better resourced. The independent skilled pathway is showing positive signs for new rounds. Regional migration requires a rethink for many applicants.
Understanding how these numbers affect your specific situation requires knowing your occupation, your points score, your current visa, and your timeline.
Seven Migration’s registered migration agents work with these numbers every day. If you want to understand what the 2026–27 planning levels mean for your pathway, contact our team for a personalised assessment.
This post draws on the official Department of Home Affairs Migration Program Planning Levels (updated May 2026) and Freedom of Information data published by the Department. Where projections or analysis are offered, they are based on publicly available official data. This post provides general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Seven Migration — Registered Migration Agents.