Australian Immigration – May 2026

Australian Immigration – May 2026

Australian Immigration – May 2026

As we wrap up the month of May, and hurdle toward the start of the 2026-27 Financial year, the migration landscape continues to evolve with a range of important developments affecting skilled migration, employer-sponsored visas, state nomination programs, and migration policy settings nationwide.

This month’s update includes upcoming increases to employer-sponsored income thresholds effective from 1 July 2026, significant state nomination developments across all states and territories, plus a detailed overview of the newly released 2026–27 Federal Budget migration measures.

With invitation allocations becoming increasingly competitive and further reforms expected throughout the year, staying informed and prepared remains essential for both visa applicants and sponsoring employers.

In this edition, we break down the latest updates and explain what they may mean for your migration plans moving forward.

📌 In this Edition

  • CSSIT & SSIT Reminder – Changes Effective 1 July 026
  • State Updates
    • NSW Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) Update
    • NSW Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Update
    • SA Skilled Migration Update
    • NT General Skilled Migration Nomination Update
    • TAS Skilled Migration Update
    • ACT Skilled Migration Update
    • VIC Skilled Migration Update
    • WA Skilled Migration Update
    • QLD Skilled Migration Update
  • Federal Budget 2026–27: Migration & Visa Updates
    • Migration Program Planning Level
    • Possible Changes to the Skilled Migration Point Test
    • Faster Skills Assessments & Recognition of Overseas Qualifications
    • Working Holiday Visa Reforms
    • Increased Border Security & Migration Compliance Measures
    • Changes to Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
    • Protecting Migrant Workers
  • FCM Team Updates

CSIT & SSIT Reminder – Changes Effective 1 July 2026

As a reminder, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) will increase from 1 July 2026 in line with annual indexation requirements.

These updated thresholds will apply to relevant employer-sponsored visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, including the:

  • Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
  • Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

💼 Updated Income Thresholds

  • CSIT: increasing from $76,515 to $79,499
  • SSIT: increasing from $141,210 to $146,717

📌 What This Means for Employers & Applicants

For businesses planning to sponsor skilled workers, and applicants preparing employer-sponsored pathways, timing may become increasingly important as we approach the end of the financial year.

Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 must satisfy the current thresholds, while applications lodged on or after this date will need to meet the new indexed amounts.

It is also important to remember that nominated salaries must continue to meet market salary requirements in addition to the minimum threshold requirements.

If you are planning an employer-sponsored application in the coming months, now is a good time to review salary arrangements and prepare documentation early.

NSW Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) Update

The NSW Government has confirmed that it has now issued enough invitations to fill its nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the current 2025–26 program year.

This means no further subclass 190 invitations will be issued until the Australian Government provides NSW with a new allocation for the 2026–27 program year.

📌 What This Means for Applicants

While subclass 190 invitations have now concluded for this program year, applicants should still ensure their Expressions of Interest (EOIs) remain accurate and up to date, particularly if there have been changes to:

  • Employment
  • Skilled work experience
  • English test results
  • Skills assessments
  • Points claims

With subclass 190 places now exhausted in NSW, many applicants may wish to consider alternative pathways, including regional or employer-sponsored visa options. We do not expect NSW to reopen their invitations until October/November 2026 as per previous years.

NSW Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 491) Update

The NSW Government conducted another invitation round for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) – Pathway 2 in the first week of May.

Invitation rounds for this subclass are expected to continue throughout June 2026 or until NSW reaches its nomination allocation limit for the current 2025–26 program year.

📌 Important Reminder

As subclass 491 invitations remain highly competitive, applicants should ensure their EOIs are current and accurately reflect their most recent circumstances and eligibility.

Regional migration pathways continue to play an important role within Australia’s skilled migration program, particularly as demand for state nomination remains high nationwide.

SA Skilled Migration Update

South Australia has continued to actively issue skilled migration invitations throughout May 2026 across both the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) pathways.

📊 21 May 2026 Invitation Round

  • 161 nomination invitations issued for the subclass 190 visa
  • 77 nomination invitations issued for the subclass 491 visa

📊 Total Invitations Issued for the 2025–26 Program Year

  • 1,767 nomination invitations issued for the subclass 190 visa
  • 1,086 nomination invitations issued for the subclass 491 visa

The South Australian Government has confirmed that this invitation round was the final for the program year, but additional invitation activity may continue throughout June 2026 to fill any remaining nomination places.

📌 Important Reminder

Applicants targeting South Australia should continue to:

  • Keep their ROIs and EOIs updated
  • Ensure employment and qualification documents remain current
  • Monitor occupation availability and state updates closely

As invitation rounds remain competitive, staying prepared and organised remains key.

NT General Skilled Migration Nomination Update

The Northern Territory Government has now confirmed that it has received enough applications to fully utilise its General Skilled Migration (GSM) nomination allocation for the 2025–26 program year.

As a result, the NT nomination portal has closed to new applications.

Applications lodged before the closure will continue to be assessed, with updates to be provided through the online portal.

The nomination portal is expected to reopen following the announcement of Northern Territory nomination allocations for the 2026–27 program year, anticipated after 1 July 2026.

📌 What This Means for Applicants

Applicants who lodged their applications before the closure do not need to take any further action at this stage and should continue monitoring the online portal for updates.

For prospective applicants considering NT nomination pathways, now may be a good opportunity to begin preparing documentation and planning ahead for the next program year.

TAS Skilled Migration Update

The Tasmanian Government has announced that Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for all pathways under the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, due to high demand.

The final invitation round for the 2025–26 program year is expected to be held on Thursday, 4 June 2026.

Migration Tasmania will continue processing nomination applications, and new applications can still be submitted. However, with only a limited number of nomination places remaining, not all applicants may receive an invitation this program year.

If an application is approved after Tasmania’s nomination places have been filled, it will be carried over and nominated once the 2026–27 allocation becomes available.

For candidates who have already submitted an ROI, there is no need to reapply. Uninvited ROIs will remain active in the Application Gateway for six months and may still be considered when the 2026–27 program opens.

Migration Tasmania is expected to reopen ROIs for eligible candidates once the new program year begins, with further updates to be announced on their website and newsletter.

ACT Skilled Migration Update

The ACT Government conducted a skilled migration nomination invitation round on 6 May 2026, issuing a total of 172 invitations for the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) and 134 invitations for the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491).

A summary of the invitations issued is outlined below:

Doctorate Streamlined Pathway

  • Subclass 190: 22 invitations
  • Subclass 491: 8 invitations

Canberra Residents

Small Business Owners

  • Subclass 190: 3 invitations (minimum Matrix score of 105)
  • Subclass 491: 14 invitations (minimum Matrix score of 100)

Subclass 457/482 Visa Holders

  • Subclass 190: 1 invitation
  • Subclass 491: No invitations issued

Critical Skill Occupations

  • Subclass 190: 130 invitations
  • Subclass 491: 87 invitations

Overseas Applicants

Critical Skill Occupations

  • Subclass 190: 38 invitations
  • Subclass 491: 33 invitations

As of 7 May 2026, the ACT’s remaining nomination allocation for the 2025–26 program year stands at 312 places, including:

  • 185 remaining Subclass 190 nominations
  • 127 remaining Subclass 491 nominations

With limited places now available, applicants are encouraged to ensure their Matrix remains up to date and that they continue meeting eligibility requirements for ACT nomination.

VIC Skilled Migration Update

In case you missed it in our previous newsletter, Victoria’s 2025–26 state nominated skilled visa program closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) at 4pm AEST on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.

This year, Victoria allocates 3,400 nomination places – including 2,700 for the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) and 700 for the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491). Demand significantly outweighing the number of available places.

📌 Key takeaway:
Although new ROIs are no longer being accepted, previously submitted ROIs continue to be assessed against the remaining nomination places.

If you’re unsure how this impacts your options or would like to explore alternative migration pathways, now is the time to seek advice and stay informed.

WA Skilled Migration Update

As the 2025–26 program year enters its final stages, Western Australia is adopting a more selective approach, with reduced allocations and increased scrutiny compared to earlier invitation rounds.

The latest invitation round, held on 20 May 2026, reflects a strong focus on priority trade occupations under the State Nominated Migration Program. A total of 209 invitations were issued, all under the Subclass 190 visa pathway, with no invitations extended for Subclass 491.

The breakdown includes:

  • 167 invitations under the General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 2
  • No invitations were issued for WASMOL Schedule 1 occupations or under the Subclass 491 pathway.

This round clearly demonstrates Western Australia’s continued demand for skilled workers in trade, construction, and technical occupations, particularly for applicants already living and working in the state.

QLD Skilled Migration Update

Queensland’s Skilled Migration Program is still open for the 2025–26 program year, with a significantly larger allocation than last year creating more opportunities for skilled migrants across a range of occupations.

This year, Queensland received:

  • 1,850 places for subclass 190 visas
  • 750 places for subclass 491 visas

One of the biggest changes is that Queensland is no longer running fixed invitation rounds. Instead, invitations are being issued progressively throughout the year, meaning eligible candidates may receive invitations at any time once their ROI (Registration of Interest) is submitted.

The state has also introduced more flexible eligibility settings for some applicants, including reduced work-hour requirements and acceptance of casual employment in certain pathways.

Migration Queensland has confirmed that invitations are now based on overall competitiveness, taking into account factors such as:

  • Skilled employment
  • English language ability
  • Salary
  • Work experience
  • Occupation demand in Queensland

For applicants interested in Queensland nomination, it is important to ensure EOIs and ROIs are accurate and up to  date, as invitations are being issued continuously rather than through large public rounds.

Federal Budget 2026–27: Migration & Visa Updates

The Australian Government has released its 2026–27 Federal Budget, including several updates affecting migration, visas, skilled workers, and border policies. Below is a simplified summary of the key changes and announcements that may impact current and future visa applicants.
Migration Program Planning Level

The Government has confirmed that the permanent Migration Program will remain at 185,000 places for 2026–27.

The program will continue to focus mainly on skilled migration, with approximately:

  • 71% allocated to Skilled visas
  • 28% allocated to Family visas

A strong focus will also remain on applicants already living in Australia:

  • Around 129,590 places will go to onshore applicants
  • About 55,110 places will be allocated to offshore applicants, mainly highly skilled workers

The Government says this approach is designed to help reduce overall net overseas migration while continuing to address Australia’s long-term workforce shortages.

The 2026–27 Migration Program comprises:

  • Skilled Migration Program (132,240 places, around 71% of the program) – designed to strengthen Australia’s productive capacity and address skill shortages across the labour market. Employer Sponsored programs are seeing the highest increase with 58,040 places available (previously  44,000 for the 2025-26 program year)
  • Family Program (52,460 places, around 28% of the program) – primarily consisting of Partner visas, this stream enables Australians to reunite with eligible family members from overseas and supports pathways to citizenship.
  • Special Eligibility Stream (300 places) – covers visas for individuals in special circumstances, including permanent residents returning to Australia after an extended period overseas.
Possible Changes to the Skilled Migration Points Test

The Government has announced plans to review and improve the skilled migration points test.

The goal is to prioritise migrants who are:

  • Younger
  • More highly educated
  • Highly skilled

No detailed changes have been released yet, but future skilled visa applicants may see updated points requirements or new selection priorities.
Faster Skills Assessments & Recognition of Overseas Qualifications

The Government is investing $85.2 million to improve the recognition of overseas trade qualifications and speed up licensing processes.

This includes:

Faster Trade Skills Assessments

A new system through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will:

  • Streamline assessments for overseas tradespeople
  • Improve licensing pathways for priority trades such as:
    • Electricians
    • Plumbers

Skills Assessments for Onshore Visa Holders

New programs will help current visa holders in Australia have their overseas qualifications and work experience formally recognised.

Increased Oversight of Assessing Authorities

From 2027, assessing authorities will be required to publish annual performance reports to improve transparency and accountability.

The Government estimates these measures could help bring an additional 4,000 skilled trades workers into the workforce each year.
Working Holiday Visa Program Reforms

Changes are planned for the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program.

The Government intends to:

  • Expand the use of visa ballots (lottery systems)
  • Better control visa numbers
  • Reduce work barriers
  • Create a fairer allocation process

Further details are expected to follow in the coming months.
Increased Border Security & Migration Compliance Measures

Additional Funding for Australian Border Force

The Australian Border Force will receive an additional:

  • $270 million in 2026–27

New Visa Cancellation & Refusal Measures

The Government is introducing stronger migration-related measures targeting:

  • Violent extremism
  • Antisemitism
  • Hate-related behaviour

This includes:

  • New visa refusal and cancellation powers
  • Expanded character test provisions
  • Additional training for immigration officers
Changes to Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

The Adult Migrant English Program will be updated from 1 January 2029.

The revised program will focus on migrants most in need of formal English tuition and will offer:

  • More flexible learning
  • Improved student support
  • Better employment and social outcomes
Protecting Migrant Workers

An additional $27 million has been allocated to continue education and information programs for migrant workers.

These programs aim to help migrants better understand:

  • Workplace rights
  • Migration compliance obligations
  • Employment protections under Australian law

📌 What This Means for Clients

Overall, the 2026–27 Federal Budget shows that Australia continues to prioritise:

  • Skilled migration
  • Onshore applicants
  • Faster recognition of overseas qualifications
  • Workforce shortages in key trades and industries

At the same time, the Government is increasing its focus on:

  • Migration compliance
  • Border security
  • Integrity of visa programs

Many announced measures still require further details, with additional policy announcements and implementation updates expected throughout the 2026–27 financial year.
FCM Team Updates

This month, we’re proudly celebrating Emily’s 4-year anniversary with First Class Migration!

Over the past four years, Emily has become an invaluable part of our team, working closely alongside our registered migration agents across all types of visa and migration applications. From liaising with clients and organising supporting documentation to drafting applications ready for lodgement, Emily plays a vital role in ensuring each matter progresses smoothly and efficiently. She finds great reward in supporting both our team and clients throughout their migration journey, and her passion for helping others shines through in everything she does.

Thank you, Emily, for your hard work, commitment, and positivity over the past four years. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the FCM family and look forward to many more years ahead! 💙
Final Thoughts – From Us to You

As Australia’s migration program continues to evolve ahead of the 2026–27 financial year, applicants and employers should continue monitoring policy changes, state nomination updates, and upcoming visa reforms closely.

With invitation allocations tightening across several states and further migration reforms expected in the coming months, early preparation and accurate planning remain increasingly important.

If you would like advice regarding your visa  options, employer-sponsored pathways, state nomination eligibility, or future  migration planning, our team is here to assist.
💡 How We Can Help

We know the migration process can feel overwhelming, especially when policies shift and programs evolve.

At First Class Migration Australia, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process with up-to-date advice, tailored support, and a deep understanding of the Australian immigration system.

📩Got questions? Need help? Reach out at:

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Ready to get started? Contact First Class Migration today to begin your visa application process with the support of experts who truly care about your future in Australia.