1 July 2026: Australian Employer-Sponsored Visa Salary Thresholds Increase — What You Need to Know

Today marks the start of Australia's 2026–27 financial year — and with it, some of the most significant changes to employer-sponsored skilled migration in recent years. What Has Changed? From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government has indexed the minimum salary thresholds for employer-sponsored skilled visas, consistent with changes to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE). The new rates are: ThresholdPrevious (2025–26)New (from 1 July 2026)Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)$76,515$79,499Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)$141,210$146,717 These thresholds apply to:

Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa (Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams) Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (all streams) Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa

Source: Department of Home Affairs, Migration Regulations 1994 (Regulation 5.42A); confirmed by Tafapolsky & Smith LLP and Ethos Migration. What Counts Toward the Threshold? Only guaranteed base salary counts. The following are excluded:

Superannuation contributions Bonuses or commissions (unless contractually guaranteed) Overtime payments Non-monetary benefits such as company vehicles or accommodation

Who Is Affected? All nomination applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must meet the new thresholds. Nominations lodged before this date retain the previous thresholds, even if they are yet to be decided by the Department of Home Affairs. Source: Tafapolsky & Smith LLP The Good News: More Places Available For the 2026–27 program year, employer-sponsored permanent places have increased significantly — from 44,000 to 58,040. This reflects the Australian Government's continued commitment to addressing genuine skills shortages across the economy. The overall permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places, with approximately 70% allocated to skilled migrants. Notably, 129,590 of these places are prioritised for applicants already in Australia. Source: Federal Budget 2026–27, Ethos Migration; Atlas Migration Other Changes from 1 July 2026 Visa application fees have increased across most subclasses by approximately 3%, consistent with annual CPI indexation. The fee is determined by the date the application is lodged, not when it is decided. Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) fees have also increased:

Review of a reviewable migration decision: $3,727 Review of a reviewable protection decision: $2,293 Standard application fee: $1,195

Source: Migration Alliance Immigration Daily News Superannuation is now payable on every payday, within 7 business days — no longer quarterly. This affects all employers and has indirect relevance to salary packaging for sponsored workers. Source: Atlas Migration What Should You Do Now? For employers: Review all upcoming nominations to ensure the offered salary meets the new CSIT of $79,499. Where salaries are borderline, seek professional advice before lodging. For visa applicants: If your employer has not yet lodged your nomination, confirm your offered base salary meets the new threshold. If you are not yet sponsored, the expanded quota of 58,040 places means more employers can now bring in skilled workers — making this a strong time to explore your options. Need Professional Advice? Migration law is complex, and individual circumstances vary significantly. Bella Tian (MARA Registered Agent No. 1791631) at J&R Migration specialises in employer-sponsored visa pathways including Subclass 482, 186, and 494, with bilingual English and Chinese service. 📅 Book a free assessment: www.jrmigration.com.au/assessment 📞 +61 450 606 426 ✉ bella@jrmigration.com.au

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Migration law is complex and individual circumstances vary. Please consult a registered migration agent for advice specific to your situation. Information accurate as at 1 July 2026. Sources include the Department of Home Affairs, Migration Alliance, Ethos Migration, Atlas Migration, and Tafapolsky & Smith LLP.