The 2022-23 Migration Program will have 160000 places!
Australia will welcome 81,900 more migrants than it expected just four months ago, in the coming 2022-2023 financial year.
2022-23 Migration Program planning levels
Visa Stream | Visa Category | 2022-23 |
Skill | Employer Sponsored | 30,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,652 |
| Regional | 25,000 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 20,000 |
| Business Innovation & Investment | 9,500 |
| Global Talent (Independent) | 8,448 |
| Distinguished Talent | 300 |
Skill Total |
| 109,900 |
Family | Partner* | 40,500 |
| Parent | 6,000 |
| Child* | 3,000 |
| Other Family | 500 |
Family Total |
| 50,000 |
Special Eligibility** |
| 100 |
Total Migration Program |
| 160,000 |
*Planning levels for these categories are estimates only as they are demand driven and not subject to a ceiling.
**The total for the Family stream in 2021-22 does not include the Child category. For planning purposes both Child and Partner visa categories are counted towards the total Family stream in 2022-23.
State and Territory nominated visa allocations
State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa | Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) |
ACT | 600 | 1,400 | 30 |
NSW | 4,000 | 3,640 | 2,200 |
VIC | 3,500 | 750 | 1,750 |
QLD | 1,180 | 950 | 1,400 |
NT | 500 | 700 | 75 |
WA | 2,100 | 1,090 | 360 |
SA | 2,600 | 3,330 | 1,000 |
TAS | 1,100 | 2,200 | 45 |
Total | 15,580 | 14,060 | 6,860 |
Source: Migration Program planning levels (homeaffairs.gov.au)
The government says it will prioritise processing visas for 160,000 people, focussing on skilled migration.
The Skill stream will increase to 109,900, more than 30,000 places above 2021-22 planning levels. Of those, 10,000 were moved from the Partner visa category.
The rest of the 50,000 visa places will go to the Family stream. That’s down more than 27,000 places that were delivered in the Family stream in 2020-21.
From 2022-23, Partner visa processing will move to a demand driven model.
Regional visas will more than double to 25,000 places to support growth in regional Australia.
Business Innovation and Investment (9,500 places), Global Talent (8,448 places) and Distinguished Talent (300 places) categories “will ensure that Australia remains a favoured destination for the world’s best and brightest individuals and entrepreneurs,” the budget states.
Occupation lists will be reviewed and updated in early 2022-23 to reflect changes in Australia’s labour market, based on advice from the National Skills Commission.
For more information, we are welcome you to contact our professional migration agents Paul and Sarah.