482 Visa Salary Thresholds Are Increasing on 1 July 2026

The Australian Government has announced updated minimum salary thresholds for the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (Subclass 482), effective 1 July 2026. These changes directly affect employers who sponsor overseas workers under the Core Skills stream and the Specialist Skills stream of the 482 visa. Non-compliance can result in sponsorship obligations breaches and potential civil penalties.

What Are the New Thresholds?

Two separate income thresholds apply to the 482 visa, depending on which stream the sponsored worker falls under.

ThresholdStreamCurrent (before 1 Jul 2026)New (from 1 Jul 2026)CSIT (Core Skills Income Threshold)Core Skills streamAUD 73,150AUD 79,499SSIT (Specialist Skills Income Threshold)Specialist Skills streamAUD 135,000AUD 146,717

These figures represent the minimum annual earnings that a sponsored worker must receive. Salary must be paid as guaranteed earnings; relying on variable components such as bonuses or overtime to meet the threshold is not compliant.

What Is the CSIT and Who Does It Apply To?

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) applies to workers sponsored under the Core Skills stream of the 482 visa. It also applies to the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (Subclass 186). From 1 July 2026, the CSIT will be AUD 79,499 per year.

The CSIT replaced the former Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) when the Skills in Demand visa was introduced on 7 December 2024. Employers who previously relied on the TSMIT framework should ensure they are applying the correct threshold under the current legislative structure.

What Is the SSIT and Who Does It Apply To?

The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) applies exclusively to the Specialist Skills stream of the 482 visa. This stream is designed for highly specialised occupations with no requirement for the occupation to appear on a skills list. From 1 July 2026, the SSIT will be AUD 146,717 per year.

Given the significant increase from the current AUD 135,000, employers currently sponsoring workers under this stream should review employment contracts well in advance of the July deadline.

Who Is Affected?

The threshold changes affect the following groups.

• Employers currently holding an approved sponsorship who have workers on 482 visas (both Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams).
• Employers with pending 482 or 186 visa nominations lodged before 1 July 2026 that are not yet decided.
• Employees on existing 482 visas whose salary is currently below the new threshold.
• Employers planning to lodge new nominations on or after 1 July 2026.

For pending applications, the threshold that applies is generally determined by the date of decision, not the date of lodgement. Employers should not assume that a currently compliant nomination will remain compliant simply because it was lodged before 1 July 2026.

Practical Steps for Employers

1. Audit current sponsored worker salaries. Review every sponsored worker's guaranteed annual earnings against the new CSIT (AUD 79,499) or SSIT (AUD 146,717), as applicable to their stream.
2. Identify salary gaps. Determine which workers will fall below the new threshold on 1 July 2026 and calculate the salary increase required.
3. Update employment contracts. Any salary adjustment must be documented with a formal variation to the employment contract before the effective date.
4. Review pending nominations. If you have nominations under assessment, seek legal advice on whether the new threshold may apply at the time of decision.
5. Plan for future nominations. Any new nomination lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must meet the new thresholds from the outset.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failing to pay a sponsored worker at least the applicable threshold is a breach of sponsorship obligations under the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994. The Department of Home Affairs monitors compliance through workplace inspections and data matching. Penalties for non-compliance include infringement notices, civil penalty orders, and in serious cases, cancellation of approved sponsorship status.

Key Takeaways

• The CSIT increases from AUD 73,150 to AUD 79,499 on 1 July 2026, affecting Core Skills stream 482 and 186 TRT/DE nominations.
• The SSIT increases from AUD 135,000 to AUD 146,717 on 1 July 2026, affecting Specialist Skills stream 482 nominations.
• The threshold that applies to a pending nomination is generally determined at the time of decision, not lodgement.
• Employers must update employment contracts to reflect compliant salaries before 1 July 2026.
• Non-compliance with sponsorship salary obligations can result in significant civil penalties and loss of sponsor status.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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