In its end-of-year briefing, the federal government confirmed that Australia’s permanent migration program will remain at 185,000 places for the 2025-26 year, sustaining the pivot toward skilled workers introduced in 2023. The announcement came alongside a slew of 1 January changes, including higher passport fees and new child-care entitlements, detailed in an SBS Filipino podcast.
Home Affairs officials say roughly 70 % of places will be allocated to the Skill stream, with health, clean-energy engineering and advanced manufacturing flagged as priority sectors. State nomination quotas will be released in February after updated population forecasts.
For applicants who want extra support navigating these pathways, VisaHQ offers a convenient online platform that simplifies the entire visa process. Its Australia-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides real-time requirement checks, document upload tools and personalised guidance, helping both individuals and employers lodge compliant applications with confidence.
![Permanent migration cap stays at 185,000 for 2025-26 amid New-Year policy tweaks]()
The unchanged ceiling signals policy continuity after months of speculation that the government might lower numbers to ease housing pressure. Business groups welcomed the stability, arguing that ongoing labour shortages—in construction and aged care especially—require predictable inflows. Unions, however, renewed calls for stricter salary safeguards to prevent wage undercutting.
For HR and relocation teams, the takeaway is that employer-sponsored visas and state/territory nominated visas will continue to dominate. Companies should finalise labour-agreement negotiations early, as processing demand traditionally spikes after Christmas.
The government also reiterated that its new Skills in Demand visa—set to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 in mid-2026—will sit outside the permanent cap, giving businesses an additional pathway once regulations are finalised.
Home Affairs officials say roughly 70 % of places will be allocated to the Skill stream, with health, clean-energy engineering and advanced manufacturing flagged as priority sectors. State nomination quotas will be released in February after updated population forecasts.
For applicants who want extra support navigating these pathways, VisaHQ offers a convenient online platform that simplifies the entire visa process. Its Australia-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides real-time requirement checks, document upload tools and personalised guidance, helping both individuals and employers lodge compliant applications with confidence.
The unchanged ceiling signals policy continuity after months of speculation that the government might lower numbers to ease housing pressure. Business groups welcomed the stability, arguing that ongoing labour shortages—in construction and aged care especially—require predictable inflows. Unions, however, renewed calls for stricter salary safeguards to prevent wage undercutting.
For HR and relocation teams, the takeaway is that employer-sponsored visas and state/territory nominated visas will continue to dominate. Companies should finalise labour-agreement negotiations early, as processing demand traditionally spikes after Christmas.
The government also reiterated that its new Skills in Demand visa—set to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 in mid-2026—will sit outside the permanent cap, giving businesses an additional pathway once regulations are finalised.
