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📙 Daily Activity Report: 12 May 2026
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FY2026–27 Federal Budget Updates
Budget is released on 12 May 2026 7:30pm AEST. You can download Key Budget Documents here.
1. FY2026-27 Planning Level Announcement
The Government will set the 2026–27 permanent Migration Program planning level at 185,000 places and allocate 132,240 places (over 70 per cent) to the Skill stream.
Across both the Skill and Family streams of the permanent Migration Program, the Government will prioritise applications from onshore migrants, allocating 129,590 places to migrants already living in Australia, with an additional 300 places allocated to Special Eligibility.
The remaining 55,110 offshore places will predominately be allocated to high‑skilled migrants that help address Australia’s long‑term skill needs. This measure will place downward pressure on net overseas migration. This is roughly 30% of the total planning level of 185000. This is not a dramatic change as offshore is usually between 30% and 40% of overall planning level
What does this planning level means? Planning level of 185000 remains unchanged from last FY. This is good news as this refers to the total amount of skilled visas that will be granted in the FY. Now we have to wait for Subclass planning levels as well as State nomination allocation quota to get an idea as to the impact on visa processing times, as well how many new invitations one can expect in FY2026-27.
The 30% limit for offshore is not too worrying as historically offshore grants account for roughly 30% to 40% of total planning level anyways. Read more on Planning Level and State Allocation here 👉
2. New Points Test System
The Government will reform the permanent migration points test to better identify migrants who drive productivity and Australia’s long‑term prosperity. Almost two‑thirds of permanent skilled migrants are currently selected through points tested visas. The points test will be optimised to select better educated, higher‑skilled and younger migrants overall. No further detail available.
3. Net overseas migration
Net overseas migration (NOM) has declined by around 45 per cent from its peak in 2022–23 and is forecast to continue declining through to 2027–28. NOM is forecast to be moderately higher than previously expected in 2025–26 and 2026–27, which reflects that migrants on temporary visas are departing Australia at lower rates than in the past. Arrivals of New Zealand citizens are also expected to remain strong, reflecting Australia’s relatively favourable labour market conditions. Migration policy changes in this Budget will place downward pressure on NOM.
Release Timing
Budgets speech will be broadcast live on 12 May 2026. There is some possibility of Immigration related information being released as part of the budget announcements. - 7:30pm AEST: ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania - 7pm ACDT: Northern Territory and South Australia - 5:30pm AWST: Western Australia
Useful Resources
- FY2026-27 Budget Official Website
- ABC News on 11 May 2026
- Grattan Institute Points System Proposal (June 2024)
- Grattan Institute Points Calculator (June 2024)
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Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 6 May 2026
Matrix nominating Doctorate Streamlined Pathway 190 nominations: 22 invitations 491 nominations: 8 invitations
Canberra residents Matrix nominating Small Business Owners 190 nominations: 3 invitations 190 minimum matrix score: 105 491 nominations: 14 invitations 491 minimum matrix score: 100
Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders 190 nominations: 1 invitation 491 nominations: 0 invitations
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations 190 nominations: 130 invitations 491 nominations: 87 invitations
Overseas applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations: 190 nominations: 38 invitations 491 nominations: 33 invitations
Application Count @ 7 May 2026 Total approvals: 1288 approvals 190 Nominations: 615 approvals 491 Nominations: 673 approvals
Total refusals: 195 applications 190 Nominations: 91 refusals (12.9%) 491 Nominations: 104 refusals (13.4%)
Approvals by residency status since the last invitation round ACT Resident: 1131 approvals (87.8%) Overseas Resident: 157 approvals (12.2%)
Remaining Allocation 2025-2026 Total allocation remaining: 312 nomination places 190 Nominations: 185 491 Nominations: 127
Full Round Data PDF available here
