If your business sponsors overseas workers on the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) or Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visas, the salary thresholds you must meet are increasing from 1 July 2026.

Salary thresholds set a minimum salary for sponsored workers – though the prevailing market rate for the role must also be met, whichever is higher.

There are two tiers of thresholds:

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): Applies to most sponsored roles, covering trades, healthcare, IT, engineering etc.
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): A higher bar for genuinely specialised positions such as senior executives or niche technical experts.

Thresholds do not include superannuation, ie. Employers must pay the threshold in addition to the required superannuation contributions and other benefits.

The thresholds apply at the date of application, so applications lodged before 1 July 2026 lock in today's lower rates.

While lodging before 1 July locks in the current CSIT/SSIT, the nominated salary must still reflect Australian labour market conditions.

What this means for employers

Any application lodged on or after 1 July must meet the new thresholds. In practice:

• Roles with a base salary below $79,499 will need adjustments before a new sponsorship can proceed.
• Existing sponsored workers are not directly affected by the new thresholds.

Note that the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) also typically increases visa application charges (VACs) each 1 July. New VACs for FY2026-27 are yet to be confirmed, but lodging before 1 July 2026 will avoid those increases as well. For businesses sponsoring multiple workers, even a modest annual increase adds up.

Preparing a decision-ready 482 or 186 application takes time, especially where skills assessments, labour market testing, or nomination documentation is required. We recommend businesses review their hiring pipeline now and identify any applications that should be lodged before the 1 July 2026 deadline.

The bottom line: Lodging before 1 July 2026 locks in lower salary thresholds and avoids the annual visa fee increases.

We help businesses make the process of sponsoring overseas workers as stress-free as possible. Get in touch with us to:

• Identify and prioritise applications to lodge before 1 July 2026
• Review your sponsored workforce for compliance with the new thresholds
• Prepare nomination and visa applications efficiently and accurately