Policy timeline
Tracking legislative amendments, new instruments, Home Affairs announcements, and state nomination changes that affect Australian permanent residency pathways. Each entry links to the primary source.
- 2026–27 Migration Program: 185,000 places, 70% skilled, onshore-priority entrenched
The Federal Budget for 2026–27 confirms the permanent Migration Program will hold at 185,000 places, with 132,240 (≈ 71%) allocated to the Skilled stream and 129,590 reserved for migrants already onshore.
- Government confirms Points Test reform on roadmap — younger, higher-skilled bias signalled
The 2026–27 Budget paper confirms a Points Test reform is now formally on the migration policy roadmap, intended to better select younger, highly educated, and higher-skilled candidates. No regulatory detail has been released.
- Trades Recognition Australia launches onshore assessment program — +4,000 trades workers/year targeted
A new TRA program assesses onshore visa holders' trade qualifications and practical experience, designed to bring up to 4,000 additional skilled trades workers — primarily construction and electrical — into the workforce annually.
- Working Holiday Maker ballot system expands — implications for onshore PR pathways
The government is expanding the WHM ballot system across additional bilateral partner countries, citing fairness and number control. Indirect implication for regional 491 nominations that recruit from WHM cohorts.
- November 2026 SkillSelect round recap: 80–95 points the cut-off for most occupations
The November 2026 invitation round — the largest 189/491 allocation of FY25–26 to date — confirmed that most professional occupations now cut at 80–95 points, with trades clearing at 65–70.
- Core Skills Occupation List March 2026 refresh — 456 occupations, CSIT band $76,515–$141,210
The March 2026 CSOL refresh confirms 456 occupations on the consolidated list, with the Core Skills Income Threshold band running from $76,515 to $141,210 for the FY25–26 year.
- How SkillSelect actually ranks EOIs — DOB and lodgement date tie-breaks
When two EOIs have identical points, SkillSelect ranks by EOI lodgement date, then by date of birth. The mechanic is straightforward but often missed by candidates planning timing.
- National Occupation Shortage List October 2025 — health, education, construction lead
The Jobs and Skills Australia NOSL update for October 2025 identifies shortages in approximately 29% of assessed occupations, with persistent gaps in health, education, construction, and regional trades.
- 491-to-191 transition: PAM3 update clarifies income threshold and address continuity
Updated PAM3 operational guidelines confirm the AU$53,900 income threshold for each of three income years and require continuous primary address in a designated regional area across the qualifying period.
- Core Skills Income Threshold updated for FY25–26 — $76,515 floor for Core Skills stream
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — the successor to TSMIT — has been indexed for FY25–26 to AU$76,515, an approximate 4.6% lift from the prior $73,150.