Australia PR 2026-27: 189, 190 and 491 Places, Cuts and Invitation Rounds
Australia PR in 2026-27 keeps the same overall size, 185,000 permanent places, but the mix has changed a lot. Employer-sponsored and 189 places are up, while regional 491 places are down sharply. For Nepali and Indian graduates on a 485 visa, that shift changes which pathway makes sense.
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Last checked: 29 September 2026. The category numbers come from migration law firms quoting the Budget figures. Check the Home Affairs planning levels page before relying on them. This is general information, not migration advice.
Australia PR 2026-27 at a glance
For Australia PR 2026-27, the permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places, with more than 70% in the Skill stream. It was announced with the 2026-27 Budget in May 2026. About 55,110 places are for applicants offshore, and the rest are expected to go to people already in Australia.
Australia PR 2026-27 winners and losers: category numbers
| Category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| Skilled Independent (189) | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| State or Territory Nominated (190) | 33,000 | 35,500 |
| Regional (491 and 494) | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 |
| Partner | 40,500 | 41,500 |
| Parent | 8,500 | 7,060 |
The biggest change is the cut to regional places, from 33,000 to 14,110. Commentators disagree about why, so treat any single explanation with caution. The biggest increase is employer-sponsored places, up about 32%.
189 invitation rounds
- The last 189 round of 2025-26 was held on 4 June 2026, with about 10,000 invitations, according to migration firms.
- Applicant-reported minimum scores in that round ranged from 65 points for many construction trades, to about 75 for nursing, teaching and social work, to 80-95 or more for engineering and ICT occupations. These are reported by applicants, not officially published.
- Home Affairs said it expected to hold the next round by 30 September 2026.
- The minimum score to lodge an Expression of Interest is still 65 points.
190 and 491 state nomination in 2026-27
As of the end of August 2026, according to a state nomination tracker:
- Tasmania: 190 = 1,250 places, 491 = 800 places. Registrations of interest opened 17 August 2026.
- Northern Territory: 190 = 850, 491 = 1,000.
- South Australia, ACT and Western Australia: open or partly open, with allocations pending.
- NSW, Victoria and Queensland: not yet open.
State programs change quickly. For Australia PR 2026-27, always check the state’s own migration website before you pay for skills assessments or English tests.
Points test: what is changing
The 2026-27 Budget announced a redesign of the points test to “prioritise younger, highly skilled and more educated applicants”. No start date or detailed scoring has been officially confirmed. Detailed point tables circulating online are speculation, so do not plan around them yet. The Budget also included A$85.2 million to speed up skills assessments and licensing.
Australia PR 2026-27 strategy for 485 visa holders
- Employer sponsorship is growing. With 58,040 employer-sponsored places, the 482 to 186 pathway is worth serious attention. See 482 visa salary threshold 2026.
- 190 nomination depends on the state and your occupation. Track state openings closely.
- 491 is harder to get in 2026-27 because of the smaller allocation.
- Improve your points through English scores, Australian study, skilled work experience and partner skills where you can.
- Keep an eye on your 485 visa end date so you do not run out of time.
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