Australia Updates Skilled Visa Salary Thresholds

Australia will increase the income requirements for several employer-sponsored visa categories starting July 1, 2026. This adjustment follows the growth in national average earnings and ensures that sponsored workers are paid at a rate consistent with the current Australian labor market.

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will rise from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,499. This change impacts the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) Core Skills Stream, the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional), and Subclass 186 nominations. High-level professionals in the Specialist Skills Stream will see their threshold increase to AUD 146,717.

Who is affected

These updates primarily impact expats and skilled workers who rely on Australian companies for sponsorship. If you are currently working in Australia on one of these visas or have an application lodged before July 1, 2026, your existing arrangements remain valid.

Digital nomads typically remain unaffected by these specific nomad news updates. Most remote workers in Australia utilize visitor or Working Holiday visas which do not require employer sponsorship or meet these high salary floors. However, if you were planning to transition from remote freelance work to a local corporate role, these higher benchmarks will apply to your new contract.

What to do

Employers must ensure that any new nomination applications reflect these updated figures. The salary must meet the new threshold or the annual market salary rate for the specific role, whichever is higher. These figures exclude superannuation, bonuses, and non-monetary benefits.

If you are currently in negotiations for a sponsored role, aim to have your nomination lodged before the July deadline to stay under the current lower thresholds. For those looking to move, keep in mind that these visa updates are part of a regular annual indexation process.

Read our full Australia guide for the complete picture.