12/05/2026
The 2026–27 Migration Program announcement:
Main Numbers (No Big Changes)
• The government will keep the total permanent migration program at 185,000 places for 2026–27.
• Most of the places (132,240, which is over 70%) will go to the Skill stream (skilled workers).
Who Gets Priority?
• They will strongly prioritise people already living in Australia (onshore applicants).
• 129,590 places are reserved for migrants who are already here.
• Another 300 places for special cases.
• Only 55,110 places will be for people applying from overseas (offshore). These will mostly go to highly skilled workers who can help fill Australia’s long-term skill shortages.
This approach is designed to put downward pressure on net overseas migration (i.e. slow down the overall growth in population from migration).
Other Important Changes
1. Better Points Test for Skilled Migration
The government will change the points test (the scoring system used for many skilled visas).
The goal is to select migrants who are:
• Better educated
• More highly skilled
• Younger
This aims to bring in people who will contribute more to Australia’s economy and productivity.
2. Changes to Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program
The popular backpacker/working holiday visa program will be reformed to:
• Better control the total numbers
• Make it easier and fairer for people to get work
• Support Australia’s national interests
• Use more ballots (lotteries) to decide who gets visas
3. Big Investment in Recognising Migrant Skills
The government is spending $85.2 million over four years to help migrants’ skills and qualifications get recognised faster and more easily.
Breakdown:
• $75.1 million: Create a modern new skills assessment system for Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). This will make it easier to turn a skills assessment into a proper Australian licence (especially for trades like electricians and plumbers). They will trial faster pathways with state governments. The cost will eventually be recovered from fees.
• $5.6 million: New program to assess skills of migrants who are already in Australia, so their overseas qualifications and work experience are properly recognised for jobs.
• $4.5 million: Improve oversight of organisations that assess skills. They must be more transparent and accountable. From 2027, every assessing body must publish an annual performance report.
