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Program and legislative updates
Dated updates on rounds, legislation and program settings. Each item opens in full, and where analysis sits behind a headline, one link reaches it.
Legislation
MD 121 · 122
Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 replace Ministerial Direction 119: new skilled processing priorities
Two new ministerial directions set the order in which skilled visa applications are considered. Seven priority sectors go first, in or outside Australia. Outside those sectors, applicants in Australia come next. The Directions apply to applications already lodged.
SkillSelect
15 Oct
Next subclass 189 invitation round to be held on 15 October 2026
The Department has set the next Skilled Independent (subclass 189) invitation round for 15 October 2026. No invitations have been issued yet in the 2026-27 program year.
Program
58,040
2026-27 program: total unchanged at 185,000, Employer Sponsored rises to 58,040
The Department has published the full 2026-27 planning levels. The total holds for a third year, but Employer Sponsored grows by 14,040 places and Regional falls by 18,890.
SkillSelect
26,887
FY2025-26 closes with 26,887 subclass 189 invitations across three rounds
The 4 June round issued 10,000 invitations, closing a year of three rounds: 6,887 in August, 10,000 in November and 10,000 in June.
SkillSelect
10,000
Largest round of the year: 10,000 subclass 189 invitations issued
The November round also issued 300 family-sponsored subclass 491 invitations, with tie-breaks of 11/2025 and 10/2025.
Program
20,350
2025-26 state and territory nomination allocations published
Subclass 190 allocations total 12,850 and subclass 491 total 7,500 across the states and territories.
Program
185,000
Permanent Migration Program planning level maintained at 185,000 places
The overall planning level for 2026-27 holds at 185,000, continuing the settings of recent program years.
Analysis
FOI
FOI release reveals the tier model behind 189 invitation rounds
Departmental documents set out a four-tier occupation prioritisation model with stock-based ceilings.
Items state only facts verifiable against their named official sources at the date shown. For depth, methods and visualisations, see Insights. General information only.
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