From 1 July 2026, the minimum salary requirements for Australia’s two main employer-sponsored visas will increase again. 1 July will see several income thresholds increase.

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will rise to $79,499, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) will rise to $146,717. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will also be in line with the CSIT for the

These changes affect every new nomination for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa, Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

What Are CSIT and SSIT?

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): The minimum base salary you must pay a worker in the Core Skills stream of the 482 visa (and for most 186 ENS nominations).
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): The higher threshold that applies to the Specialist Skills stream of the 482 visa (for highly paid, in-demand roles).

These thresholds are indexed annually based on Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) and are in addition to the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) requirement. You must always pay the higher of the threshold or the market rate for the role and location.

Increases to Thresholds from 1 July 2026

• Core Skills Stream (482 & 186) is +$2,984
• Specialist Skills Stream (482) is +$5,507

Important: These figures are exclusive of superannuation.

If the offered salary is below the new threshold, the nomination will be refused.

Who Is NOT Affected?

• Existing 482 or 186 visa holders (your current salary is locked in).
• Nominations already lodged before 1 July 2026 (they will be assessed under the old thresholds).
• Transitional arrangements for some regional visas (494/187) but these are also increasing in line with CSIT.

What Employers Should Do Right Now

1. Review current offers. If you’re planning to sponsor someone in the next few months, consider lodging the nomination before 30 June 2026 to lock in the lower thresholds.
2. Update documentation including templates, employment contracts and budgets. Factor the higher minimums into your 2026-27 financial planning.
3. Check the market salary. Even if you meet the new CSIT or SSIT, you must still prove that you are paying the genuine market rate for the role and location. The CSIT/SSIT is only the minimum legal threshold and is not necessarily the actual floor you must pay.
4. Start Labour Market Testing early. The process takes at least 28 days, so plan if you want to beat the change.

Bottom Line

The July 2026 increases are modest (around 3.9%), but they add thousands of dollars to the cost of sponsorship.

If you’re planning a nomination in the next 12 months, we can review your position, salary offer, and timeline to make sure you meet the rules that apply on your lodgement date.

For personalised advice, contact West Aussie Migration for a confidential discussion about your sponsorship or visa options.