Australia enters 2026 with an unchanged migration cap, tighter skilled priorities, more student places and reforms triggered by the Bondi attack, but experts say issues remain.
Australia is heading into 2026 with a migration policy undergoing a major reset — not by slashing permanent intake, but by reshaping who comes and why.
The reforms follow a federal review of migration laws sparked by the Bondi Beach massacre, which the government says will inform tighter rules and a more selective approach to arrivals.
While the permanent migration cap remains steady, stricter student visa rules and a more selectively targeted skilled stream will redefine the profile of new arrivals, supported by new digital tools designed to streamline compliance and application processing.
For 2025–26, Australia's permanent migration program remains at 185,000 places, unchanged from the previous year, with continued emphasis on skilled migration.
A total of 132,200 places (around 71 per cent) is allocated to the skilled stream, while 52,500 places (approximately 28 per cent) are allocated to the family stream, predominantly partner visas.
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