Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds increased effectively from: 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) had increased as follows:

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is currently at AUD $79,423
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).

The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is now: AUD $146,576
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) used for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) will also be increased to AUD$79,499.
This is in line with the CSIT and subject to approval of relevant legislation.

New nomination applications from 1 July 2026 must meet the new relevant income threshold or the annual market salary rate (AMSR) whichever is higher.

This change does not apply to existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2026.​

Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds goes Up by 4.6% from 1 July 2025

From 1 July 2025, indexation changes will be as follows:

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will increase from AUD73,150 to AUD76,515. 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).

The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) will increase from AUD135,000 to AUD141,210. 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) used for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187) will increase from AUD73,150 to AUD76,515. This is in line with the CSIT and subject to approval of relevant legislation.

New nomination applications from 1 July 2025 must meet the new relevant income threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.

This change will not apply to existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2025.​

What’s changed?
In a significant update, the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage and Skills in Demand) and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa holders are not required to cease working for a prospective sponsor while awaiting the approval of a nomination transfer to the new employer, even past 180 days.

Previously, visa holders who had ceased employment with their original sponsor and lodged a nomination to change employers risked being in breach of visa conditions if the new nomination had not yet been approved within 180 days since ceasing employment with their previous sponsor.

2) The government has announced that SC482 workers who change employers and have lodged their new nomination in the interim will have their work period with the new employer counted from the day of lodging the new nomination instead of from the day of nomination approval. This is good news for those who have been working while waiting for the nomination to be processed. It is not considered time ‘wasted’ and the period between time of application and approval of the SBS nomination for new employer will be considered as part of the 2 years’ requirement for lodging their PR visa SC186