Immigration updates
What actually changed, in plain English, with the date it changed and a link to the source. No hype, no invented numbers. Last updated 15 July 2026.
2026-27 Migration Program: what actually changed for skilled visas
The permanent program holds at 185,000 places, but the mix shifted sharply. Employer-sponsored is up 32%, the 189 grew, and regional 491 places were cut by more than half.
Employer-sponsored · 1 July 2026Skills in Demand: income thresholds rose on 1 July 2026
The Core Skills Income Threshold was indexed upward from 1 July. A salary that qualified for a subclass 482 nomination last year may not qualify for a new nomination now.
Employer-sponsored · 20 June 2026The 186 permanent visa now needs two years with your employer, not three
A change in late 2025 cut the Temporary Residence Transition work requirement from three years to two. If you are on a 482, you may be eligible for permanent residency sooner than you planned.
Points · 5 June 2026How to read a SkillSelect invitation round (and why the pass mark misleads you)
Invitation-round results are published regularly, but the numbers that matter are not the 65-point pass mark. Here is how to read a round for your occupation without being misled.