INCOME THRESHOLD INCREASES
Effective from 1 July 2026, indexation of the skilled visa income thresholds will automatically increase.
From 1 July 202, any new nomination applications must meet the new relevant income threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. The increased skilled visa income thresholds will not apply to existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2026.
The changes are as follows;
Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will increase from AUD76,515 to AUD79,499 This will impact nomination applications for 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) will increase from AUD141,210 to AUD146717. This will impact nomination applications for the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) that is linked to nominations for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187) will be aligned to the same level as the CSIT, AUD79,499 and subject to approval of relevant legislation.
it will be important for sponsors to review salaries, particularly with staff that maybe working under an existing subclass 482 visa where you are looking to move them onto a new subclass 482 visa or offer permanant residency under subclass 186. The new CSIT and TSMIT thresholds will significantly affect those visa holders who have been on lower level salaries based on old thresholds.
For any further information or guidance, please feel free to contact our offices.
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