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482 Visa CSIT & SSIT Salary Thresholds Rise 1 July 2026

Riverwood Migration

June 14, 2026

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482 Visa Salary Thresholds Are Increasing on 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the two salary thresholds that govern the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482) will increase. The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will rise to AUD 79,499 per year, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) will rise to AUD 146,717 per year. These figures were confirmed by the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) ahead of the effective date.

What Are the CSIT and SSIT?

The SID visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024 and introduced a two-stream structure with distinct salary thresholds.

The CSIT applies to nominees in the Core Skills stream of the SID visa, as well as the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186).

The SSIT applies to nominees in the Specialist Skills stream of the SID visa. This stream targets highly specialised roles that command significantly higher remuneration.

Threshold Comparison: Before and After

ThresholdCurrent (to 30 June 2026)New (from 1 July 2026)Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)AUD 73,150AUD 79,499Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)AUD 135,005AUD 146,717

Who Is Affected?

Any approved sponsor currently employing SID visa holders, or planning to lodge a nomination or visa application, needs to assess whether proposed or existing salaries meet the new thresholds from 1 July 2026.

Sponsors must ensure the annual earnings paid to each sponsored worker equal or exceed the applicable threshold. This includes base salary and any guaranteed, contractually fixed allowances that count toward remuneration under the visa regulations.

Applicants with pending nominations lodged before 1 July 2026 should confirm with their migration lawyer whether the new thresholds apply at the time of decision or at the time of lodgement.

What About the 186 ENS Visa?

The CSIT also applies to the 186 visa (TRT and DE streams). Employers nominating workers for permanent residence through these streams must ensure the offered salary meets the new AUD 79,499 CSIT from 1 July 2026.

Practical Steps for Employers

Audit all current SID visa holders' employment contracts and confirm their annual earnings against the new thresholds.
For any sponsored worker earning between AUD 73,150 and AUD 79,498, arrange a salary increase to take effect no later than 1 July 2026.
For Specialist Skills stream nominees, confirm remuneration meets AUD 146,717 from the same date.
Review any pending nominations or visa applications and seek legal advice on how the threshold change applies at decision.
Update employment contracts and payroll records to reflect compliant salary levels before the effective date.

Key Takeaways

The CSIT increases from AUD 73,150 to AUD 79,499 on 1 July 2026.
The SSIT increases from AUD 135,005 to AUD 146,717 on 1 July 2026.
Both thresholds apply to the SID (482) visa. The CSIT also applies to the 186 ENS visa (TRT and DE streams).
Sponsors must ensure all affected workers are paid at or above the applicable threshold from the effective date.
Failure to comply with salary obligations can constitute a breach of sponsorship obligations and affect future nomination and sponsorship approvals.

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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