The Australian Government has set the 2026–27 Migration Program at 185,000 permanent places, running from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The overall number is unchanged, but how those places are shared between visa categories has shifted significantly, and that matters for anyone planning a skilled visa application from Kuwait or elsewhere in the Gulf.
The key numbers
The Skill stream receives 132,240 places, more than 70% of the total program and almost the same as last year. Inside the Skill stream, the allocations look like this:
| Category | 2026–27 places | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored (e.g. Subclass 186) | 58,040 | Up — now the largest category |
| State/Territory Nominated (Subclass 190) | 35,500 | Up from 33,000 |
| Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) | 21,090 | Up substantially |
| Regional (Subclass 491 and 494) | 14,110 | Down from 33,000 (about 57%) |
Regional visas take the biggest hit
The Regional category, which covers the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa and the Subclass 494 employer-sponsored regional visa, has been cut by more than half. For the past few years, regional nomination has been one of the more accessible routes for applicants who fell short of the points needed for Subclass 189 or 190. With far fewer places, states and territories will have much smaller 491 allocations to hand out, and competition for each nomination will rise.
More room for 189, 190 and employer sponsorship
On the other side of the ledger, Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 both gain places, and employer-sponsored visas are now the single biggest part of the skilled program. More places does not mean easier invitations, though. For popular occupations such as accounting, engineering, IT and nursing, invitation scores regularly sit well above the 65-point minimum.
- If you were relying on Subclass 491, plan for fewer state nominations and tighter criteria this year. It is worth reviewing whether a 190 or 189 pathway is realistic for you instead.
- Points matter more than ever. Extra English test points (for example, moving from Proficient to Superior English) are often the fastest way to become competitive.
- Get your skills assessment done early. An invitation can come at short notice, and you need a positive assessment before you can lodge.
- Consider employer sponsorship. With the largest share of places, a job offer from an Australian employer is a strong route for many occupations.
You can check your current points using our PR points calculator, and read more about each visa on our General Skilled Migration and Employer Sponsored pages.
Sources: Department of Home Affairs, 2026–27 Migration Program planning levels. Information is current as at 26 September 2026. This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your individual circumstances.