Australia in 2026: skilled migration, the Skills in Demand visa, and the new talent route
Australia has reshaped its migration system around skills and talent, and away from passive investment. The authoritative source for every visa below is the Department of Home Affairs.
Points-tested skilled visas
The core skilled routes are still points-tested:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) — permanent, no sponsor.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) — permanent, with state/territory nomination adding points.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) — a provisional visa with a pathway to permanent residence, requiring state or eligible-family sponsorship in a regional area.
You submit an Expression of Interest and are ranked; in practice, competitive occupations require scores well above the 65-point minimum.
The Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)
In December 2024 Australia replaced its old Temporary Skill Shortage visa with the Skills in Demand (SID) visa. It is employer-sponsored, valid for up to four years, and offers a clearer path to permanent residence. It has streams for core and specialist skills with different salary thresholds (indexed each year), and it reduced the required work experience to one year.
Investor visas closed; talent route opened
Australia closed its Business Innovation and Investment Program (including the significant investor stream) to new applicants in mid-2024. In its place, the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858) launched in December 2024 — a permanent, invitation-only visa for internationally recognised, exceptionally talented people in priority fields. It has no age limit, no job-offer requirement, and no investment requirement; instead you must attract an invitation based on standing and achievement.
What this means for applicants
If you are a skilled professional, focus on the points-tested or employer-sponsored routes and check whether your occupation is in demand. If you were considering the old investor visa, that door is closed — the National Innovation Visa is aimed at genuinely outstanding individuals, not passive capital.
Occupation lists, thresholds, and points cut-offs change. Confirm current rules with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
Australia Department of Home Affairs
Verified 2026-07-21. Figures change — confirm with the official source before acting.