On 12/05/2026, the Australian Government announced the Planning Levels for the 2026–27 financial year. The number of places will remain unchanged at 185,000, similar to the previous year, with an approximate split of 70% Skilled and 30% Family. Based on the Government’s Planning Levels update, we can highlight a few key points:
1. Priority is given to onshore applications
More than 129,000 places are reserved for people already living and working in Australia, showing that the Government continues to
2. Regional categories are no longer strongly prioritised
Regional visa places drop sharply from around 33,000 to 14,110. This is a significant change compared to the trend in recent years, when Australia consistently encouraged skilled workers and international students to move to regional areas.
3. Employer-sponsored visas are being strengthened
In contrast, the Employer-sponsored category increases by approximately 14,000 places. This suggests the Government is focusing on:
- Skilled workers,
- People with experience working in Australia, and
- Candidates directly sponsored by an employer.
Overall, it’s clear that Australia is becoming more stringent in how it controls the quality of people coming to the country—using visa categories designed for permanent settlement.
To improve your settlement prospects, you should:
- Consider a short-term visa strategy
- Find a job and build experience in Australia
- Look for an employer willing to sponsor you
If you need an immigration pathway expert to build a route tailored to your situation, Skill Direct is ready to accompany you on the next step of your journey!
