​​The Australian Migration Program has been designed to achieve a range of economic and social outcomes. In 2021-22, the Migration Program a total of 160,000 places have been planned and allotted in the following streams:

Skill (79,600 places) – this visa stream has been designed to improve the productive capacity of the economy, and also to fill the skill shortages in the labour market (including shortages in regional Australia).

Family (77,300 places) – this visa stream mainly consists of Partner, Parent and other such visas, permitting Australians to reunite with their family members from overseas, and to provide them with pathways to citizenship in the country.

Special Eligibility (100 places) – this visa stream covers visas for those who are in special circumstances, including PR holders returning to Australia after a period of stay overseas.

Child (3,000 places) – this stream is managed outside the Migration Program as it is based on demand, and is not subject to a ceiling, even though 3000 places have been allotted.

Further details for the Skill and Family streams are given below:

Stream and Category Places in 2021-22
Skill stream
Employer Sponsored 22,000
Skilled Independent 6,500
Regional 11,200
State/Territory Nominated 11,200
Business Innovation & Investment Program 13,500
Global Talent 15,000
Distinguished Talent 200
Skill stream total 79,600
Family Stream
Partner 72,300
Parent 4,500
Other Family 500
Family stream total 77,300
Special Eligibility stream total 100
Child stream total (estimated) 3,000
Total allotment for 2021-22 160,000

 

Program size and composition

The Department of Home Affairs consulted widely with State and Territory governments, academia, industry and community organisations before finalising the 2021-22 Migration Program size and composition. This Program is finalised each year alongside the Australian Government’s Budget process. Public submissions, economic and labour force forecasts, international research, net overseas migration and economic and fiscal modelling are all taken into account when planning the program.

State and Territory nominated visa categories – nomination allocations

Nomination allocations are made available to States and Territories under the 2021-22 Migration Program settings in the following visa categories:

Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)

Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)

All the States and Territories assess eligible applicants against criteria unique to their jurisdiction.

The following nomination levels have been allocated for 2021-22 following consultation with States and Territories:

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 3,500 500

1,750

QLD

 1,000 1,250 1,400​

NT

 500 500

75
WA 1,100 340

360

SA

 2,600 2,600

1,000
TAS 1,100 2,200

45
Total 14,400 12,430​

6,860