The Australian Department of Home Affairs has announced a 3.8% increase in minimum salary thresholds for several employer-sponsored skilled visas, effective from July 1, 2026. This adjustment aligns with changes in Australia's Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) and aims to ensure skilled migrant wages remain competitive with local workers.
Revised Income Thresholds
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): Raised from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423. Applies to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): Increased from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576. Relevant to the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): Updated from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423. Covers the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187).
Who Is Affected?
The new salary floors apply exclusively to nomination applications lodged on or after July 1, 2026. Current visa holders and applications submitted before this date will not be affected. The Department emphasizes that the annual indexation prevents skilled migration from undercutting Australian workers' wages.
Context on Australia's Migration Plan
In related developments, Australia has maintained its permanent migration cap at 185,000 places for the 2026-27 period, with a 70:30 split between Skilled and Family streams. The Skilled stream sees an increase in employer-sponsored visas from 44,000 to 58,040, while regional visa allocations have decreased.
