Australia Skilled Migration 2027: What the Numbers Mean for UAE Residents
Skilled migration to Australia in 2027 — what is set and what is not
Every figure on this page was read from the Department of Home Affairs website on 5 November 2026. Where something has not been published, we say so.
Short answer: Australia's program year runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. For that year the Government set 185,000 permanent places, of which 132,240 are skilled. Skilled Independent places rise to 21,090 and employer-sponsored places to 58,040, while regional places fall to 14,110. Most places are reserved for people already in Australia.
This page is for people living in the UAE who are planning a skilled application in the first half of 2027. It separates what the Australian Government has published from what is still open. For how the visas work, read our Australia skilled migration guide.
Last reviewed: 5 November 2026 · Cosmos Immigration case team. This page is educational. Eligibility is assessed against your own profile and the rules in force on the day you apply.
How many skilled places does Australia have for 2026–27?
Permanent Migration Program planning levels, announced 12 May 2026.
| Category | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | 16,900 | 21,090 | Up 4,190 |
| Employer-Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 | Up 14,040 |
| State/Territory Nominated (subclass 190) | 33,000 | 35,500 | Up 2,500 |
| Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 | Down 18,890 |
| Talent and Innovation | 5,300 | 3,500 | Down 1,800 |
| All skilled | 132,200 | 132,240 | Almost unchanged |
| All permanent places | 185,000 | 185,000 | Unchanged |
- The skilled total is almost the same as last year. What changed is the mix: more independent and employer-sponsored places, far fewer regional ones.
- The Government says it will prioritise applications from migrants already in Australia and has allocated 129,590 of the 185,000 places to them.
- By our arithmetic, that leaves about 55,000 places across the skilled and family programs for applicants outside Australia.
What did the latest invitation round look like?
SkillSelect round of 15 October 2026, Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).
The department invited 20,000 Expressions of Interest in the round of 15 October 2026. It published the lowest points score invited for each of 159 occupations. The pass mark to lodge an Expression of Interest is 65 points, but the score that was actually invited depended heavily on the occupation.
| Lowest score invited | Number of occupations | Examples from the published list |
|---|---|---|
| 65 points | 44 | Electrician (General), Automotive Electrician, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic |
| 70 points | 36 | General Practitioner, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Audiologist |
| 75 points | 9 | |
| 80 points | 36 | Secondary School Teacher, Agricultural Scientist |
| 85 points | 19 | Actuary, Architect |
| 90 to 100 points | 15 |
Half of the listed occupations were invited at 65 or 70 points, mostly trades and health roles. A third needed 80 or 85. If your occupation sits in the higher bands, a state nomination or an employer may be the more realistic route. Check your own occupation on the department's round results before relying on any band here.
A past round is a record, not a forecast. The department decides the size and timing of each round.
Where do state and territory nominations stand?
Nominations issued from 1 July to 30 September 2026, as published by the department.
| Visa | ACT | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | Under 5 | 11 | 188 | 7 | 0 | 271 | 0 | 17 |
| Subclass 491 (state nominated) | Under 5 | 0 | 208 | Under 5 | 0 | 96 | 0 | 120 |
- In the first three months of the program year, only Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia had nominated in any number. Victoria and South Australia had issued none.
- Not published yet: when we checked on 5 November 2026, the department's allocations page still showed the 2025–26 figures (20,350 in total, set on 4 November 2025). The 2026–27 allocation for each state had not been posted there.
- Each state sets its own occupation lists and conditions, and several favour people already living or working there.
How should a UAE resident plan for 2027?
Steps that hold whatever is announced next.
- Get the skills assessment first. A positive assessment from the authority for your occupation is required for the points-tested visas, and it is the slowest document to obtain. See skills assessments for Australia.
- Work out your real points. Use the Australia points calculator, then compare your score with what your own occupation was invited at in the latest round.
- Raise your English score if you can. English is the points factor most applicants in the UAE can still improve.
- Do not build a plan on a regional visa alone. Regional places were cut from 33,000 to 14,110 for this year.
- Watch your state. Allocations for 2026–27 had not been posted when we checked, and most states had barely started nominating.
- Consider the employer route. Employer-sponsored places rose by 14,040, the largest increase of any category.
See also the skilled occupation list and SkillSelect invitation rounds. Where Australian law requires a registered migration agent to give immigration assistance, that person is independently engaged on your file; ask us for the name and check it on the public register. See Verify Our Credentials. Outcomes depend on Department of Home Affairs decisions and your individual profile; no result can be promised.
Also in the 2027 series: Canada Express Entry in 2027 and Second citizenship programmes in 2027.
Australia skilled migration 2027 — Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers, dated 5 November 2026.
How many skilled visas will Australia grant in 2026–27?
The planning level is 132,240 skilled places out of 185,000 permanent places for the year from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, announced on 12 May 2026.
How many points do I need for the subclass 189 visa?
65 points is the minimum to lodge an Expression of Interest. In the round of 15 October 2026 the lowest score invited ranged from 65 to 100 depending on the occupation; 80 of the 159 listed occupations were invited at 65 or 70.
Is it harder to migrate to Australia from outside the country in 2027?
The Government has said it will prioritise applicants already in Australia and has allocated 129,590 of the 185,000 places to them. Applicants outside Australia are still invited, but they compete for a smaller share.
Are regional visas still a good option?
Regional places were reduced from 33,000 to 14,110 for 2026–27. They remain open, but there are fewer than half as many as last year.
Have the states opened for 2026–27?
Between 1 July and 30 September 2026 only Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia nominated in any number. The 2026–27 allocations had not been posted on the department's page when we checked on 5 November 2026.
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