Child category visas (excluding Orphan Relative) will no longer be counted under the managed Migration Programme. This is in response to the Government’s commitment to reform and improve the processes relating to inter-country adoption.  The Child category will continue to be carefully monitored while it transitions to a fully demand-driven model by 2019-20.

Orphan Relative visas will now form part of the Other Family category within the Migration Programme with 400 places allocated to Orphan Relative visas.

For more details about the 2015-16 Migration Programme read the 

Fact Sheet 20 – Migration Programme planning levels.

Up to 190,000 permanent migration places will be available in Australia in the 2015/2016 financial year, the same as the previous year, it has been confirmed. This includes up to 128,550 places for skilled migrants, including the employer sponsored, general skilled and business categories, and 57,400 places for family migrants sponsored by immediate family members.

Some 565 places will be open to special eligibility migrants, which include former permanent residents who have maintained close business, 

cultural or personal ties with Australia.

Here is a breakdown of the planning levels for each visa category: