Up to 190,000 permanent migration places will be available in 2015-16 as announced by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection as part of the Budget on 12 May 2015.
The number of permanent places available will remain the same as last year. This includes up to:
- 128,550 places for skilled migrants, including employer sponsored, general skilled and business categories;
- 57,400 places for family migrants sponsored by immediate family members; and
- 565 places for special eligibility migrants, who include former permanent residents who have maintained close business, cultural or personal ties with Australia.
Additionally, at least 3,485 permanent Child visa places will be available outside the managed Migration Programme.
What has changed?
Whilst the overall size and composition of the programme remain the same as last year there are changes in how the programme will be managed affecting the Child category visa and Orphan relative visas.
Child category visas (excluding Orphan Relative) will no longer be counted under the managed Migration Programme. This is in response to the Government’s commitment to reform and improve the processes relating to inter-country adoption. The Child category will continue to be carefully monitored while it transitions to a fully demand-driven model by 2019-20.
Orphan Relative visas will now form part of the Other Family category within the Migration Programme with 400 places allocated to Orphan Relative visas.
For more details about the 2015-16 Migration Programme read the Ministerial Media Release or Fact Sheet 20 – Migration Programme planning levels.
Here is a breakdown of the planning levels for each visa category:
| 2015-16 Migration Programme | |
| Planning level | |
| Employer Sponsored | 48,250 |
| Skilled Independent | 43,990 |
| State/Territory & Regional Nominated | 28,850 |
| Business Innovation & Investment Programme | 7,260 |
| Distinguished Talent | 200 |
| Total Skill Stream | 128,550 |
| Partner | 47,825 |
| Parent | 8,675 |
| Other Family· Orphan Relative | 900(400) |
| Total Family Stream | 57,400 |
| Special Eligibility Stream | 565 |
| Total managed Migration Programme | 186,515 |
| Child (outside the managed Migration Programme) | 3,485 |
| Total permanent migration places | 190,000 |