From 1 July 2026, the income thresholds for employer-sponsored visa programs will increase. This will affect nominations lodged on or after that date across the 482 and 186 visa programs, both key pathways under the employer-sponsored visa framework.
If you have sponsored employees whose salary sits close to the current threshold for an employer-sponsored visa, it may be worth lodging the nomination before 1 July 2026.
What’s Changing for Employer-Sponsored Visas in 2026?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its November 2025 AWOTE (Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings) figures. Under Regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations, this triggers automatic indexation of the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), effective 1 July 2026. These changes directly impact employer-sponsored visa eligibility requirements.
The new thresholds from 1 July 2026 for an employer-sponsored visa will be:
- CSIT (Core Skills Income Threshold): $79,499 (currently $76,515)
- SSIT (Specialist Skills Income Threshold): $146,717 (currently $141,210)
Which Visa Subclasses Are Affected?
The CSIT applies to several employer-sponsored visa pathways, including:
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa – Core Skills stream
- Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme – Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams
- Subclasses 482 and 186 – Labour Agreement stream (unless the agreement provides otherwise)
The SSIT applies to the following employer-sponsored Visa stream:
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa – Specialist Skills stream
Visa Pathways Not Impacted by Indexation
The following visas are not covered by the automatic indexation under Reg 5.42A, even though they are part of the broader employer-sponsored visa landscape:
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) visa
- Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa – TRT stream
Therefore, these visas remain tied to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which can only be increased by a new legislative instrument signed by the Minister. Until this occurs, the TSMIT remains at $76,515.
If you’re lodging a 494 or 187 TRT nomination, the salary requirement for this type of employer-sponsored visa won’t automatically increase on 1 July 2026 unless the Minister acts before then.
Does This Employer-Sponsored Visa Change Affect Existing Applications?
No. These changes only apply to nomination applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 under an employer-sponsored visa program. Nominations already lodged, approved nominations, and visas currently held by sponsored workers are not affected.
What Employers Should Do Before 1 July 2026
If you have a sponsored employee whose current salary sits below $79,499, and you’re not in a position to increase it to meet the new CSIT for an employer-sponsored visa, you may want to lodge the nomination now before 1 July 2026.
Nominations lodged before this date will be assessed against the current thresholds for an employer-sponsored visa.
If this applies to any of your current or upcoming employer-sponsored visa nominations, we encourage you to get in touch so we can assess your situation and lodge in time.
If you’re unsure how these changes affect your business or your employer-sponsored visa strategy, feel free to contact our team. We’re here to help you plan ahead with clarity and confidence.
