Australia has updated the minimum income requirements for several of its employer-sponsored work visas, effective for nomination applications lodged between 1st July 2025 and 30th June 2026. The changes, implemented by the Department of Home Affairs, are designed to ensure international employees are paid fairly and on par with their Australian counterparts performing equivalent roles.
Why Australia Updates Visa Income Thresholds Annually
Australia adjusts its visa income thresholds each year in line with the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) — an official national income measure. This annual review prevents internationally sponsored workers from being paid less than local workers in the same roles, protecting both migrant employees and the broader Australian labour market. The updated thresholds apply only to new nomination applications lodged after the effective date of 1st July each year.
Current Minimum Income Requirements (2025–2026)
Standard and Core Skilled Positions
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — which also serves as the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — is set at AUD 76,515 per year for the 2025–2026 period. This threshold applies to the following visas:
- Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa
- Subclass 187 — Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa
- Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand visa
- Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
These visas are widely used by Australian employers to fill skill gaps across engineering, healthcare, IT, construction, and hospitality sectors.
High-Level Specialist Positions
For highly experienced professionals in senior or technically advanced roles, the Specialist Skills Income Threshold has been set at AUD 141,210 per year for the 2025–2026 period.
How the Thresholds Have Changed
| Income Threshold Category | 2024–2025 Rate | 2025–2026 Rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | AUD 73,150 | AUD 76,515 | +AUD 3,365 |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | AUD 73,150 | AUD 76,515 | +AUD 3,365 |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold | AUD 135,000 | AUD 141,210 | +AUD 6,210 |
Employers Must Also Meet Market Salary Rate Requirements
Meeting the minimum income threshold alone is not sufficient for sponsoring employers. Australian immigration rules also require that the salary offered to an international worker aligns with the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) — meaning the wage must reflect what an equivalent Australian worker would be paid in the same role, in the same location.
This dual requirement — minimum threshold plus market rate alignment — is specifically designed to prevent wage undercutting and maintain fair competition in the Australian labour market. Employers who offer salaries at or above the threshold but below the prevailing market rate for a given role may still face issues with their nomination application.
What This Means for International Workers
For skilled professionals planning to secure employment in Australia through employer sponsorship, the salary bar is now slightly higher. For most roles in the standard skilled category, the minimum qualifying salary has increased by AUD 3,365 compared to the previous year. For specialist roles, the increase is AUD 6,210.
These increases reflect broader wage growth across Australia and signal continued strong demand for skilled migrants — accompanied by tighter conditions to ensure that international hiring does not displace or undercut local workers.
For applicants, reviewing whether a prospective role meets both the income threshold and the market salary rate before lodging a nomination is an important step that can prevent delays or rejections at the application stage.
Conclusion
Australia’s annual visa income threshold review is a structured and predictable process, and the 2025–2026 increases are consistent with national wage growth trends. Employers sponsoring international workers must ensure their offered salaries meet both the TSMIT or Specialist Skills threshold and the Annual Market Salary Rate for the nominated position. For internationally qualified workers exploring employer-sponsored pathways, confirming income eligibility early in the process is one of the most straightforward steps toward a smooth application.