Australia's net overseas migration falls to 292,100; government targets 245,000 for 2026-27
Australia · Data & trends · Published 2026-09-17 (data to March 2026)
| Country / region | Australia |
|---|---|
| Category | Data & trends |
| Date | Published 2026-09-17 (data to March 2026) |
| What happened | ABS data shows net overseas migration (NOM) of 292,100 for the year to March 2026, below the 309,500 of the preceding 12 months; population approx. 27.9 million, up 1.4% year on year. Government targets are 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for 2027-28. |
| Impact on applicants | Volume control is the underlying logic of this tightening round. Student, visitor and work visas are expected to stay under pressure over the next 12 months — build in a buffer when planning. |
| Source: {src} | Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2026-09-17 ↗ |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2026-09-17 ↗ · Last verified: 2026-09-20 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.
FAQ
Australia's net overseas migration falls to 292,100; government targets 245,000 for 2026-27 — what happened?
ABS data shows net overseas migration (NOM) of 292,100 for the year to March 2026, below the 309,500 of the preceding 12 months; population approx. 27.9 million, up 1.4% year on year. Government targets are 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for 2027-28.
What does this mean for applicants?
Volume control is the underlying logic of this tightening round. Student, visitor and work visas are expected to stay under pressure over the next 12 months — build in a buffer when planning.
Where does this information come from?
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2026-09-17, verified by us on 2026-09-20.
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