Australian Migration Budget Comparison: 2023-24 to 2025-26

<div class=”migration-comparison”>
<h2>Australian Migration Budget 2025-26. What to expect?</h2>

<div class=”wp-block-table”>
<table class=”migration-table”>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Category</th>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Total Places</th>
<th>Skilled Stream</th>
<th>Family Stream</th>
<th>Special/Regional</th>
<th>Funding (AUD)</th>
<th>Key Changes</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<!– Permanent Migration –>
<tr class=”category-header”>
<td colspan=”8″><strong>Permanent Migration Program</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2023-24</td>
<td>195,000</td>
<td>137,000 (70%)</td>
<td>52,000 (27%)</td>
<td>6,000 (3%)</td>
<td>$315M</td>
<td>Post-COVID surge, healthcare focus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2024-25</td>
<td>190,000</td>
<td>133,000 (70%)</td>
<td>51,000 (27%)</td>
<td>6,000 (3%)</td>
<td>$315.2M</td>
<td>Stricter employer checks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2025-26</td>
<td>190,000*</td>
<td>133,000*</td>
<td>51,000*</td>
<td>6,000*</td>
<td>$315.2M</td>
<td>Digital priority processing</td>
</tr>

<!– Working Visas –>
<tr class=”category-header”>
<td colspan=”8″><strong>Working Visas (Temporary)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2023-24</td>
<td>70,000 (TSS)</td>
<td colspan=”2″>Unlimited (WHV)</td>
<td>3,000 (Pacific)</td>
<td>$200M*</td>
<td>Occupation list expanded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2024-25</td>
<td>65,000*</td>
<td colspan=”2″>Caps reintroduced</td>
<td>3,000</td>
<td>$220M*</td>
<td>Labour market testing tightened</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2025-26</td>
<td>Phasing out</td>
<td colspan=”2″>TBA</td>
<td>3,000</td>
<td>$250M*</td>
<td>3-tier system introduced</td>
</tr>

<!– Humanitarian –>
<tr class=”category-header”>
<td colspan=”8″><strong>Humanitarian Program</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2023-24</td>
<td>17,875</td>
<td>13,750</td>
<td colspan=”2″>+16,000 (Afghan)</td>
<td>$850M</td>
<td>Ukraine priority</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2024-25</td>
<td>20,000</td>
<td>15,000</td>
<td colspan=”2″>+4,000 (Sudan)</td>
<td>$862.1M</td>
<td>Crisis reprioritization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2025-26</td>
<td>20,000*</td>
<td>15,000*</td>
<td colspan=”2″>TBA</td>
<td>$862.1M</td>
<td>Middle East focus</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div class=”footnotes”>
<p><strong>Key:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>TSS</strong>: Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa</li>
<li><strong>WHV</strong>: Working Holiday Visa</li>
<li>* Estimated/projected figures</li>
<li>Working visa funding is part of broader visa processing budgets</li>
</ul>

<h3>Key Trends Observed:</h3>
<ol>
<li><strong>Permanent Migration</strong>: Slight reduction from 195K (2023-24) to 190K (2024-25) as pandemic backlog cleared</li>
<li><strong>Visa Processing</strong>: Shift from backlog staff (2023-24) to automation (2024-26)</li>
<li><strong>Humanitarian</strong>: Increased places (17,875 → 20,000) with flexible priorities</li>
<li><strong>Working Visas</strong>: Transition from TSS to Skills in Demand Visa (3-tier system in 2025-26)</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>

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