On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced the migration planning levels for the 2024–25 program year, setting the permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places. While this announcement provides a solid foundation, many prospective migrants and employers alike are keenly watching what the 2025–26 program will bring. With current trends and policy directions, let’s explore what we can expect next year and how the program is likely to evolve.

Overview of the 2024–25 Migration Program

The 2024–25 Migration Program focuses on supporting Australia’s economic needs by filling critical skill shortages and promoting regional growth. It also emphasises family reunion and community cohesion.

• Skill Stream: Approximately 132,200 places (71% of total) aimed at filling labour shortages, especially in regional areas.
• Family Stream: Approximately 52,500 places (28%), predominantly Partner visas.
• Special Eligibility: A small category of around 300 places for special circumstances.

The program breakdown by visa category shows that employer-sponsored visas are set to increase from 36,825 places in 2023–24 to 44,000 in 2024–25, reflecting the Government’s focus on employer-driven migration solutions.

What to Expect for 2025–26

As the 2025–26 program details are still to be announced, it is likely that the Government will maintain a similar structure to 2024–25, prioritising:

• Employer Sponsored Visas: Continued growth or at least maintenance of the higher cap for employer-sponsored permanent visas to support industries facing labour shortages.
• State Nominated Visas (Subclass 190 and 491): These will remain critical pathways for skilled migrants, particularly in regional Australia. Planning levels for state nomination may stay stable or increase modestly to encourage regional development.

Important Notes on Temporary vs Permanent Visas

The 2024–25 planning levels focus exclusively on permanent visas. Visas such as the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (previously 482) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (491) are not included in the planning levels because they are temporary or provisional visas, not permanent residence visas.

• The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (Subclass 482) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) serve important roles in the temporary workforce and pathway to permanent residency but do not count toward the Migration Program's permanent planning levels.
• This distinction is important for applicants and employers to understand when planning migration strategies, as the permanent program targets only those visas granting permanent residence.

Strategic Implications for Migrants and Employers

• Migrants should continue to monitor state nomination opportunities and employer-sponsored pathways for permanent residency, as these categories receive significant planning allocations.
• Employer-sponsored visas are set to increase, which may offer more opportunities for skilled workers supported by employers.
• Regional migration remains a key priority, reflected in stable or growing allocations for regional visas and state nominations.

Final Thoughts

While the 2025–26 Migration Program planning levels are yet to be formally announced, current trends and the 2024–25 framework suggest a continued emphasis on employer sponsorship and state nomination pathways for permanent residency. Temporary visas like the 482 and 491 will remain important but separate from these permanent planning targets.

We will keep you posted as soon as the official 2025–26 planning levels are released, along with any changes that might affect migration strategies.

For personalised advice or to discuss your migration plans for 2025–26, feel free to contact our expert Registered Migration Agents at Growmore Immigration.