Salary Threshold for Employer-Sponsored Visas: Changes From July 2026

Crownmark Lawyers | Immigration Law Division

From 1 July 2026, the salary thresholds for employer-sponsored visas will increase. If your employer is planning on sponsoring, these numbers need to be part of your planning now. Here is what is changing, and how it fits into the broader sponsorship pathways.

The New Salary Thresholds

From 1 July 2026, the new salary thresholds will be as follows:

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) – changes from $76,515 to $79,499 and applies to nominations for the Skills in Demand visa under the Core Skills Stream (Subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) – changes from $141,210 to $146,717 and applies to nominations for the Skills in Demand visa under the Specialist Skills stream (Subclass 482).

• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) – also changes from $76,515 to $79,499 and applies to the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (Subclass 494).

  
  

If your employer’s offer sits below the applicable threshold, the nomination will not be approved. The salary must also meet the market rate for the role, whichever is higher.

If Your Employer Is Sponsoring You

For workers on a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is often the most direct route to permanence. The Temporary Residence Transition stream is built for people in this position: you have worked for a sponsoring employer in the same or closely related occupation for the required period, your salary and occupation meet the threshold requirements, and your employer is willing to nominate you.

The practical advantage of this pathway is that it does not depend on invitation rounds. You are not ranked against a pool of other applicants. The nomination is the mechanism, and if you are eligible and your employer nominates, the pathway is open regardless of what the broader invitation landscape looks like. For workers who have spent two or three years building a work history with an Australian employer, that is a materially stronger position than waiting on an invitation.

If you are in regional Victoria or another designated regional area, the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa leads to permanent residency thought the Subclass 191 after three years of regional and meeting the income requirements. The regional obligation is real and carries consequences if it is not maintained, but for workers already based outside metropolitan cities, the pathway is straightforward.

Where This Leaves You

Whether you are an employer assessing if a role meets the new thresholds, or a worker checking where you stand on the pathway to permanent residency, getting the numbers and the eligibility criteria confirmed early avoids problems at lodgement – particularly with the new thresholds taking effect from 1 July.

Crownmark Lawyers acts for visa applicants and employers across Australia in

immigration matters, on a fixed fee with the principal handling each file. Whether you

are just starting your immigration journey or looking for guidance on your next step –

reach out to our team today!

Nina Menon

Lawyer

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Email: info@crownmarklaw.com.au

This article is general information about Australian immigration law and is current as at June 2026. It is not legal advice and does not take account of your particular circumstances. For advice on your situation, please contact us or another qualified immigration practitioner.