The annual permanent migration program levels for 2026-27 published by the Department of Immigration for regional Australia would be cut from 33,000 in 2025-26 to 14,110 in 2026-27.
A massive drop of 18,990 sounds scary, but in reality, this will not affect the number of people who can apply for the 491 visa each year.
The Analysis
Each year Immigration allocates a set number of places to each State and Territory government for their own Migration Programs. These allocations cover both the permanent Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa, and the provisional Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional – State Nominated visa.
The allocations limit the number of applicants that can be invited to apply by any State or Territory in each financial year.
In the 2025-26 financial year, there were 12,850 spaces allocated for Subclass 190 visas across all Australian State/Territory Governments, and a total of 7,500 spaces allocated for the Subclass 491 State Nominated visa.
The 2025-26 planning level for each of these visas was 33,000.
This means that there were 25,500 additional places in the 491 State Nominated Regional program that could not be used by a State/Territory government.
Assuming the Subclass 491 Family Sponsored stream visa is also counted with the State/Territory nominated planning levels, only 450 invitations have been issued to date this financial year (noting the last SkillSelect round for 2025-26 will be held on 4 June 2026, after publishing).
That leaves 25,050 places available for 2025-26.
In 2026-27, if Immigration’s planning levels allow for 14,010 Subclass 491 visas but only issues the State/Territory Governments the same 7,500 invitations, then there will be 6,510 places left. Less a generous 500 places for the Family Sponsored stream, there are still 6,010 places left.
Therefore, a reduction in the planning numbers will have no real impact on the number of people who can apply for the 491 visa.
What should applicants worry about?
If there are a large number of applications with Immigration waiting for a decision, then a reduced planning level will slow down processing times and delay grants for these visas.
As of 29 May 2026, processing times for the 491 visas were as follows:
| Application Type | 50% processed within | 90% processed within |
| Family Sponsored | 3 months | 6 months |
| State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 16 months | 24 months |
The 491 State Nominated visa already faces lengthy processing times, and these can only increase with a lower number of grants per financial year.
Also, if the State and Territory Governments are allocated a smaller number of places in the 2026-27 financial year, then that will limit the number of invitations, and in turn, limit new visa applications that can be made.
Are the permanent regional visa applications affected?
Nomination is not required for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence Skilled Regional visa, so questions were raised as to whether applicants for this visa type are included in the allocations for the ‘regional’ category of the State/Territory program.
As of 3 June 2026, Immigration has advised:
Where an individual has already been ‘counted’ under the migration program, for example when they were granted a Subclass 491 visa, they would not be counted a second time when granted a Subclass 191 visa. However, there are circumstances where they would not have already been counted, and in these cases they fall under the regional category.
It is therefore likely that 191 applicants will remain largely unaffected by planning levels at permanent stage.
What should applicants do now?
The process to apply for a Subclass 491 State Nominated visa has not changed. Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, and then follow the procedures for their chosen State or Territory of residence. Some States have an additional Registration of Interest (ROI) process with additional requirements, and applicants should ensure they have all the supporting documents needed at the time of lodging the EOI and any subsequent ROI.
AVIE can assist with preparing lodgement-ready EOIs, ROIs, and State Nomination applications with documents, aiming to secure an invitation as quickly as possible.
Book a consultation with our team to check your eligibility for the 491 visa and alternative pathways today.
