Planning a move to Australia in 2027? The permanent Migration Program is holding steady at 185,000 places, but a lot has shifted inside it. Sponsored workers and people already in Australia are getting more places, visas cost more, and a new points test is on its way. Here’s what’s changing and what it means for you.
More places for sponsored workers and people already here
Employer-sponsored permanent visas jumped from 44,000 to 58,040 places for 2026-27, making it the biggest skilled category. Skilled Independent (189) places also rose, from 16,900 to 21,090, and state-nominated (190) places went up to 35,500.
Regional visas went the other way. The regional allocation dropped from 33,000 to 14,110, so 491 nominations will be harder to get this year.
The Government is also favouring people who are already in Australia, with 129,590 places set aside for onshore applicants and 55,110 for offshore. If you’re here on a 482, 485 or student visa and working towards PR, you’re on the better side of the program.
Employer sponsorship is the main road to PR
With more 186 places on offer, a job with a sponsoring employer is now the most reliable path for many people. The usual route is a Skills in Demand (482) visa first, then the Employer Nomination Scheme (186) once you’ve built up time with the employer.
Salary floors went up on 1 July 2026. Core Skills nominations need at least AUD 79,423 a year, and Specialist Skills nominations need AUD 146,576. The Fair Work High Income Threshold is nowAUD 190,100, which matters if you’re relying on the 186 age exemption or applying for the National Innovation Visa.
Some jobs also move faster through processing. Since 19 September 2026, skilled visas in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence go to the front of the queue, followed by people who applied from inside Australia. Priority changes the order of processing only. You still need to meet every requirement to be granted the visa.
A new points test is on the way
The May 2026 Budget confirmed the points test for 189, 190 and 491 visas will be redesigned to favour younger, more qualified and higher-skilled applicants. Home Affairs ran a consultation in mid-2026. Industry reports point to draft rules by December 2026
and a start date of 1 July 2027, but the actual point values haven’t been published yet, so treat any figures you see on social media with caution.
In the meantime, trades are doing well. Early reports from the 15 October 2026 round show carpenters and electricians invited at the minimum 65 points, while ICT and accounting applicants saw very few invitations, even at 90 points. Official results were
still pending at the time of writing.
If your score depends on Professional Year, community language orAustralian study points, or you’re close to 45, it’s worth aiming for an invitation under the current rules. Lifting your English score is the one step that’s likely to help under both systems.
Visas cost more, and temporary visas are tighter
Most visa application charges went up by about 25 per cent on 1 July 2026. A 186 now costs AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, a 482 costs AUD 4,015 and a 485 costs AUD 5,750. Employer nomination fees and the Skilling Australia Fund levy did not change.
The Government also wants net overseas migration down to 245,000 this financial year and around 225,000 from 2027-28. Most of that cut comes from temporary visas, and some changes are already law. Since 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders can’t apply for a Student visa from inside Australia, and most new students can’t include a partner or children in their application. Doctoral students, Pacific and ASEAN nationals and some scholarship holders are exempt.
More is coming. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on 17 September 2026 that visitor visas will carry a No Further Stay condition, second and third-year Working Holiday visas will move to a ballot, and 485 applicants will face limits on bringing family. Start dates for these haven’t been confirmed, so if you’re onshore on a temporary visa, plan your next
step well before your visa ends.
Family and talent visas
Partner visa places rose slightly to 41,500 and child visas to 3,500. Parent visa places fell from 8,500 to 7,060, so waiting times for parents are unlikely to get shorter. If you’re planning to sponsor a partner, a complete, decision-ready application is still the best way to avoid delays.
The Talent and Innovation category, which includes the National Innovation Visa (858), dropped from 5,300 to 3,500 places. Fewer places means more competition, so NIV candidates need a strong record of exceptional achievement and evidence they can earn at or above AUD 190,100.
Quick FAQs
1. Is Australia cutting permanent migration in 2027?
The permanent program stays at 185,000 places for 2026-27. The cuts are aimed at net overseas migration, mainly through temporary visas. Planning levels for 2027-28 are usually announced in the May Budget.
2. When does the new points test start?
It’s expected from 1 July 2027, with details due by the end of 2026. Nothing is final until the new rules are made into law.
3. Which occupations are processed first?
Skilled visas in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence get top priority, followed by applicants who lodged in Australia.
Let’s plan your next step
Not sure which pathway suits you in 2027? Our team at New Edge can check your eligibility, compare your options and help you prepare a strong application. Call 1300 515 163, message +61 426 226 166 or email contact@newedgecs.com.
New Edge Education and Migration. Suhani Gupta, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2518710. General information current at 28 October 2026, not personal advice.
Sources
Australian Immigration Settings and Considerations 2026-2027, Visa Lawyers Australia
Australia’s 2026-27 Migration Program: What Changed, Australian Shores
Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, ONEderland Consulting
Australia’s New Points Test 2027, ONEderland Consulting
Subclass 189 Invitation Round: October 2026, RACC Indonesia
Student visa changes: October 2026 update, StudyAustralia
Australia’s 2026 Immigration Changes, ONEderland Consulting