The Australian Government has delivered welcome certainty for employers and migration professionals. On 2 September 2025, it confirmed that the Permanent Migration Program for 2025–26 will remain at 185,000 places, maintaining the same planning level and structure as 2024–25. This provides a stable foundation for strategic workforce planning, giving businesses clarity amid ongoing migration reform.
Skilled migration remains the core focus
The skilled stream will continue to make up the majority of permanent places, helping employers across construction, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and regional sectors access qualified overseas talent. Key pathways such as employer-sponsored visas, skilled independent visas, and state or territory-nominated visas remain open and competitive.
With visa processing already aligned to this intake, employers and sponsors can expect continuity across nomination processes, avoiding disruption while broader changes under the Government’s Migration Strategy are implemented.
What’s been confirmed
In a media release, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke MP announced that the Permanent Migration Program will continue at 185,000 places for the 2025–26 program year. The structure and composition of the program remain unchanged, following consultation with all states and territories. This ensures stability for both applicants and sponsoring employers.
Key details include:
- Total program size: 185,000 permanent places
- Skilled stream focus: 132,200 places (71% of the program)
- Family stream: 52,500 places (28% of the program)
- Special Eligibility: 300 places
- Visa change: The Global Talent and Distinguished Talent visa categories have been replaced by the National Innovation visa
- State/territory allocations: Not yet released; updates will follow once confirmed
South Australia update
The South Australian Government has advised it has received a small interim allocation for 2025–26. Given the limited numbers, South Australia’s Skilled and Business Migration program will not open for new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) and will instead focus on inviting strong applicants from the 2024–25 ROIs. Once the Commonwealth provides its full allocation, South Australia will release its complete policy settings for the program year.
Why stability matters for employers
In a migration environment often shaped by policy change, this announcement provides valuable consistency. With no adjustment to program size or stream composition, employers are now positioned to:
- Plan recruitment campaigns for skilled visa applicants with confidence
- Build long-term acquisition strategies without risk of disruption
- Align workforce planning to reliable visa processing volumes
The skilled stream remains critical to Australia’s labour market, accounting for around two-thirds of all permanent migration places. This includes major employer-relevant visas such as the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) and Subclass 189/190 (Skilled Independent and State Nominated) visas.
Turning certainty into opportunity for business
The confirmation of program stability does not remove competition for global talent. Demand for skilled visas will remain strong, and employers that act early will have a clear advantage. Conducting role eligibility checks, preparing nomination timelines, and engaging promptly with qualified candidates will be key to success.
Businesses in high-demand sectors should also streamline internal recruitment processes to move quickly on international hires. Strategic use of visas such as the Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 will help employers secure overseas talent and meet workforce demands without delay.
Partnering with the right migration specialists
Beyond securing visas, employers must navigate sponsorship obligations, compliance risks, and shifting policy settings. This is where expert support becomes essential.
At Absolute Immigration, we partner with businesses to:
- Assess eligibility across skilled migration pathways
- Navigate sponsorship obligations and risk mitigation
- Align workforce strategies with current and future policy settings
- Provide hands-on support throughout the visa process and beyond
Contact our team of immigration specialists today to ensure your workforce strategy is aligned, compliant, and future-ready at aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com.
