Book Now 
From 1 July 2026, the minimum salary thresholds for employer-sponsored visas are increasing.
If you have staff on Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) or Subclass 186 visas and you haven’t reviewed their salaries against the new rates, now is the time.
What’s changing?
2 thresholds take effect on 1 July 2026:
- The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which applies to Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) nominations, rises from $76,515 to $79,499.
- The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) increases from $141,210 to $146,717.
- Temporary Sponsored Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which applies to Subclass 494 Regional Sponsored Visas, increases from $76,515 to $79,499.
These aren’t optional benchmarks. They’re the minimum salary your sponsored worker must be paid if you lodge the nomination after 30 June 2026.
Why does this matter?
Employer sponsorship involves real obligations, and the risks of mishandling can be severe: if you nominate the salary (either Core Skills, Specialist Stream, or Subclass 494) at the current rate and lodge your nomination after 30 June, it will be refused.
The final point to consider
A 3.9% increase sounds minor. The cost of missing it isn’t. You’ll waste money (including losing your SAF payments), lose a potential employee, and muck up your staffing levels.
If you’re unsure whether your business is affected, or you want someone to review your sponsored workforce’s compliance position before July, I’m happy to help.
Contact us: enquiries@ahwc.com.au if you’re unsure about what to do after 30 June, and we will help you understand the changes, or book a consultation here.
The DHA website is here for further information.
If you need help staffing your business, contact Lorg Talent.
