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Immigration to Australia

MIGRATION PROGRAM FOR 2025-26:  Australia’s 2025–2026 Permanent Migration Program maintains a total planning level of 185,000 places. The allocation is split with approximately 71% (132,200 places) dedicated to the Skill Stream to address economic and workforce shortages, and 28% (52,500 places) for the Family Stream to facilitate reunification. 

KEY DETAILS & PLANNING LEVELS:  The program is structured to prioritise high-skilled migrants and onshore applicants, with significant allocations across the core streams, making Australia a primary destination for new immigrants:  

• Skill Stream (132,240 places): Designed to target workers who fill key shortages, particularly in healthcare, construction, ICT, and education. Key visa categories include:
  • Employer-Sponsored: 44,000 places.
  • Skilled Independent: 16,900 places.
• Family Stream (52,460 places): Predominantly allocated to Partner and Child visas to reunite citizens and permanent residents with family members overseas.
• Special Eligibility (300 places): Reserved for unique cases, such as returning permanent residents.

 

RECENT POLICY SHIFTS:

• Visa System Overhauls: Australia transitioned from the old Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) to the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa, which provides a 4-year duration and includes three tiers: Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Essential Skills.
• Onshore Priorities: To reduce Net Overseas Migration (NOM), the government is prioritising applicants who are already living and working in Australia.
• State and Territory Quotas: State and regional pathways (like the subclass 190 and 491 visas) give individual states the autonomy to nominate candidates who best fit their specific local labour needs.
• Higher Fees: Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa primary application fees have been increased to $4,600.
• Work and Holiday Ballots: A pre-application ballot process is actively being used for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.

 

AUSTRALIA MIGRATION PROGRAM 2026–2027 | KEY SHIFTS, TARGETS, AND STRATEGY CHANGES:  The Australian Government has officially locked in the Permanent Migration Program planning level at 185,000 places for the 2026–2027 financial year. While the overall cap remains identical to the previous year, major internal structural shifts reveal a clear federal strategy: prioritising onshore applicants already in the country and heavily backing employer-driven pathways.

For prospective migrants, businesses, and international students, navigating these adjustments requires a sharp understanding of the new allocations and upcoming policy overhauls.

1. The Core Split: Skilled vs. Family Streams:  The program preserves its core focus on economic productivity, allocating roughly 71% of all places to skilled migration:

• Skilled Migration Program: 132,240 places. This stream targets critical domestic labour shortages to bolster long-term economic growth.
• Australian Family Program: 52,460 places. Driven primarily by Partner and Child visas, this stream facilitates social cohesion and family reunification.
• Special Eligibility: 300 places. Reserved exclusively for exceptional circumstances, such as permanent residents returning from long stays abroad.

2. Stream Breakdown: The Winners and Losers: While the total number of spots is stable, the internal allocations have changed dramatically compared to previous years.

Visa Category	2026–27 Planning Level	Key Trend / Takeaway
Employer-Sponsored (Subclass 186/SID)	58,040 places	Massive Increase. Up from 44,000. This is now the definitive "golden ticket" pathway for PR.
State/Territory Nominated (Subclass 190)	35,500 places	Slight Increase. Local state selection remains a solid target for skilled professionals.
Skilled Independent (Subclass 189)	21,090 places	Moderate Increase. Up from 16,900. Points competition will remain fierce.
Regional State Nominated (Subclass 491)	14,110 places	Massive Cut. Slashed down significantly from 33,000. Regional pathways face much tighter caps.
Talent & Innovation (New Framework)	3,500 places	Reduced. Covers high-tier talent; older business innovation categories remain closed.

3. Core Policy Pillars for 2026–2027 - The Onshore Directive: To manage infrastructure pressure and stabilise Net Overseas Migration (NOM), the government is prioritising migrants already living, working, and studying in Australia. Roughly 70% of permanent visa allocations are targeted at onshore transitions. For offshore candidates, the path forward requires maximising points or securing an early onshore visa pathway (such as a temporary work or student visa).

 

IMPENDING POINTS TEST OVERHAUL: As outlined in recent federal budgeting measures, Australia is optimizing its Skilled Migration Points Test. The new model rewards direct employability:

• More Weight: Australian work experience, industry-specific licensing, high-demand skills (Healthcare, Tech/AI, Trades, Education), and high English proficiency.
• Less Weight: Generic qualifications out of touch with market demand and young age factors that do not guarantee job integration.

 

EMPLOYER-LED PRIORITY:  By shifting thousands of spots into the Employer-Sponsored framework, the government has signaled that having a valid job offer from an approved Australian sponsor is the fastest path to PR. The transition to the Skills in Demand (SID) visa system ensures that employers have direct mechanisms to retain critical personnel.

Student Visa Controls Maintained:  The National Planning Level cap for new international student commencements remains capped at 295,000 places. Strict financial capacity audits, genuine student tests, and high language proficiency standards continue to govern entry requirements.

Strategy for Applicants: If you are planning your migration journey, the data dictates three actions:

1. Secure an Employer: Prioritize finding jobs with companies willing to sponsor your visa.
2. Aim Higher on Points: If chasing independent pathways (189/190), optimize your English scores and local experience to clear the rising points threshold.
3. Get Onshore Legally: Transitioning to temporary work or study pathways remains a highly reliable way to access the 70% onshore allocation pool.

Australia is a popular destination, favouring applicants with high skills and a desire to start a new life in Australia. Australia, with its culturally different society & fast developing economy, extends openings to all those who wish to progress and reside in the Country. The Australian economy is strong and is actively encouraging skilled young people to lodge immigration applications. Skilled candidates wishing to work in Australia will be assessed based on points set by the immigration department.

The country is outstandingly attractive with a migrant friendly society. Australia has the best education and health systems. The educational amenities and the health services presented by Australia to its people are very good. Australia is certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for having a very low crime rate, as compared to most other nations.

Australia is politically stable and is one of the world’s beautiful destinations for a good quality of life. The country also offers many social benefits to its people. The standard of living in Australia is comparatively higher than in comparison with other countries. Also, Australia is blooming in economy wise, and its growth is well reflected in its people’s lifestyle.

Bilimoria & Associate are Immigration Consultants and specialists in visa processing based in Chennai has been providing Immigration services for Australia to many people every year from different parts of the country. As an Immigration Consultant, Bilimoria & Associate offers the clients a full range of immigration services that suit the requirements for obtaining their visas.

NEW CHANGES IN POINTS SYSTEM FOR AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION PROGRAM:  The Government of Australia introduced  new changes in immigration point system. The government announced some first-time point allocation in the system, orelse 10 points awarded for applicants who are single / not married / not have a spouse / de facto partner.  This change will benefit the principal applicants who are single.  

The main changes will assist a prospective applicant to be eligible for Australia under the current immigration point system. The following changes were implemented in Australia’s Immigration points Calculator:

• 15 Points will be awarded for applicants nominated by a State or Territory Government or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia
• 10 points will be awarded for having certain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) qualifications
• 10 points will be awarded for applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner
• 10 points will be awarded for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner,  skills assessed by the Skills assessment body
• 5 Points will be awarded for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has competent English

VISA OPTIONS:  There are four main visa options through which an applicant can obtain Permanent Residence visa to Australia.

• Skilled Migration 
• Family Sponsorship 
• Business 
• Humanitarian

SKILLED MIGRATION:  Each application is assessed based on the points system set by the Immigration department for Skilled Migration visa. Points are awarded for Age, Qualification, Work experience and Language proficiency. There are different visa categories on which an applicant can be eligible to lodge his Immigration application to Australia under Skilled Migration visa.

a) Skilled Independent visa: Applicants with skills in demand in the Australian Labour market as per the Skilled Occupation List( SOL) can apply on a Skilled Independent visa. In this visa category applicants must pass a points test to qualify. Applicants who are unable to meet the Skilled – Independent requirements can also opt for other visa options for which they must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating state or territory government.

b) Skilled – Nominated visa: Applicants who are nominated by a participating state or territory government can apply for Skilled – Nominated visa. In this visa category also applicants must pass a points test. Each state or territory has a list of occupations that guides the types of skills they are looking for. Accordingly the state and territory government agencies can view your expression of interest in SkillSelect and decide whether to nominate you for a visa. The applicant should live in the nominating state or territory for a particular minimum time

c) Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa: Applicants nominated by a participating Australian state or territory government (OR) Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia. The above visa class is subject to the Cap and Cease arrangement that took effect on 22 September 2015. Any visa application that was not decided before 22 September 2015 will be taken not to have been made.

NEW POINTS TEST FOR SKILLED MIGRATION:  Australia announces new points test and criteria – Expression of Interest (EOI). The new pass mark has been set as 60 points as minimum pass mark and all applications will be assessed on the new points test. The new pass mark is applicable to all applications lodged after 1 July 2012.

Every application with the minimum 60 point pass mark may not be invited to lodge an application, whereas the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) computer system will select the best of the Expression Of Interest (EOI) application and invite them to apply for lodging an Immigration application.

The minimum pass mark for the new Skill Select visa subclasses 189, 190 and 489 will be 60 points. Applicants will first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and then be invited to make an application for these visas.

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) advised the change to the pass mark was in the situation of the series of reforms to the skilled migration program undertaken by the Australian Government since 2008. These reforms have ensured the skilled migration program is a responsive and demand driven program and the cornerstone of this migration reform package will be the introduction of SkillSelect from 1 July 2012.

SKILLSELECT:  SkillSelect will work and benefit applicants whose applications will be lodged through an online service that will help skilled workers who are interested in migrating to Australia. Interested candidates need to provide their details which will be taken into consideration for a skilled visa through the new system of an Expression of Interest (EOI). Eligible migrants could be nominated for skilled visas through Australian employers or state and territory governments, or can be invited by the Australian Government to lodge a successful visa application.

SkillSelect is a big change to how Australia wishes to monitor its skilled migration program. SkillSelect will make sure the skilled migration program is based on the economic needs of Australia. The Australian Government will monitor who is able to apply for skilled migration, if they are able to apply and in what numbers, on the basis of this requirement. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship wants to considerably reduce on the time process of an application.

SkillSelect will advise on regional skill shortages. SkillSelect will also allow intending migrants to indicate their willingness to live and work in regional Australia. Benefit to employers experiencing regional skill shortages and state and territory government is attempting to settle migrants in regional areas of Australia.

The Australia's new skilled worker program, SkillSelect, allows applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) before the visa can be processed. The SkillSelect system will work as an electronic two-stage process where potential applicants first submit a request for skilled migration through an online EOI. Subsequently, SkillSelect system will select the best applicants on the basis of their EOI and then may be invited to submit an Australian visa application.

Applicants will be selected to submit an application based on the points they score in a number of selection criteria. Applicants will be given points for the age, English language ability, work experience, and education. All potential applicants will be required to meet the relevant English language requirements and obtain the necessary skills assessment prior to their EOI submission. The lowering of the pass mark will enable more immigrants to be eligible to apply for an Australian visa.

Once the new SkillSelect system in implemented, SkillSelect will begin issuing invitations to eligible applicants in August 2012. Invitations will be issued to the applicants with highest ranking EOIs in descending order. The date and time of submission of the completed EOI may be a determining factor when considering visa applications from people who score an equal number of points; Priority will be given for applications which are received earlier.

Also, there will be a CAP on each occupation to limit how many people are selected from a certain occupation group. This makes it sure that the migration program is not dominated by a narrow range of occupations.

The change is encouraging for applicants in view of state sponsorship as when an applicant’s application is lodged through Expression of Interest (EOI) under subclass 190 or 489, may also help some applicants that will now qualify for state sponsorship who previously wouldn't have had the eligibility. This notice would be of particular importance for applicants who require additional points due to having less points for IELTS, age and or work experience.

Also, there has been a change in the update of Business Skills Program Reforms effective from 1 July 2012.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:  The new points test is designed to select the best and brilliant skilled migrants who will make the most favorable economic contribution to Australia. To apply for one of the above visas, applicants need to satisfy the following threshold requirements:

• Better aimed age ranges to obtain maximum points under age
• To obtain good English levels score to gain maximum points to qualify
• More importance is given on the skilled employment
• Higher level qualifications obtained in Australia and overseas

Interested applicants who wish to process their application for any one of the above visa categories and meet the requirements, can contact Bilimoria & Associate. We will be happy to assist you on the Immigration process towards obtaining your Residence visa to Australia for you and your family. Please call our office or write to us to assess your eligibility.

MLTSSL /  STSOL OCCUPATION LISTS:  The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) was introduced in 2017, which was earlier known as Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

• Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

The Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) was introduced on 19^th April 2017, previously known as Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL).

• Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)

MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA THROUGH REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENTS:  Bilimoria & Associate liaises with a company which is one of the oldest migration agencies in Australia and has 4 Registered Representatives / Agents plus support staff towards preparation of a successful application. The Principal is a Registered MARA agent and has many years of experience, including with the Australian Government.

The representatives / agents are all members of the Migration Institute of Australia and strive to achieve the highest possible standards of professional service.

Bilimoria & Associate’s mission is to enable prospective immigrants to take advantage of Australia's strong economy and urgent need for skilled and business migrants who can expect to enjoy a high standard of living, excellent educational facilities and real Quality of Life.

We specialise in the following visa categories:

• Partner - Spouse, Fiance (Prospective Spouse)
• General Skilled Migration - Skilled Independent, Family Sponsored
• Family - Parents, Aged Dependant Relatives, Carers, Dependent, Orphaned or Adopted children, Last Remaining relatives.
• Regional Skilled Migration
• Onshore Student Skilled
• Distinguished Talent
• Business Skills - Business Owner, Senior Executive and Investment Linked.
• Employer Sponsored - Employer Nominations & Labour Agreements
• Temporary Resident (Work) Visas - Employer Sponsored or Retirement Investor
• Overseas Student Visas
• Visitors - Tourist and business visitors
• Resident Return Visa Renewal
• Australian Citizenship
• Appeals - Applications for review

If you are interested in migrating to Australia, please fill out the Assessment form which is found in our website and we will assess your eligibility and advise you how to proceed further.

We work with members who are members of Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) and Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) Representative and strive to achieve the highest possible standards of professional service.

Kindly forward us your detailed resume to neville@bilimoriaassociate.com for us to assess and advise on your eligibility, or call our office on +91 44 2823 9229 / 4350 8191 during Business Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10.30 am to 5.30 pm (Lunch: 1.00- 2.00 pm) for consultation or for an appointment.

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