Australia’s government has confirmed that salary thresholds for employer-sponsored skilled visas, including the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), will be adjusted under the annual indexation mechanism effective 1 July 2026.

These changes form part of the regular review of visa income thresholds tied to movements in the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings, ensuring overseas skilled workers are remunerated in line with broader Australian wage growth and protecting labour market standards.

Under the existing framework, income thresholds for nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 have already been increased, with the Core Skills Income Threshold and Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold set at AUD 76,515 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold at AUD 141,210.

These indexed values reflect a 4.6 per cent uplift aligned with national earnings trends.

Salary requirements for skilled visas are annually indexed so that employers sponsoring overseas workers must offer minimum income levels that keep pace with Australian wage growth, and nomination applications lodged on or after the relevant 1 July date must satisfy the updated thresholds or meet the corresponding Annual Market Salary Rate.

Although official departmental guidance currently tracks the salary thresholds falling due for the 2025–26 program year, Australia’s annual indexation practice implies a further adjustment will take effect from 1 July 2026, once the latest earnings data is published and incorporated into the formula.

This systematic annual review, overseen by the Department of Home Affairs, aims to balance labour market integrity with the needs of the Australian economy by ensuring that employer-sponsored skilled workers receive competitive remuneration consistent with prevailing Australian pay standards.

Employers and prospective sponsors are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming change by monitoring official announcements and planning salary offers that will remain compliant under the 2026 indexed thresholds.

The salary indexation mechanism does not impact existing visa holders or nominations lodged before the relevant threshold change date, but will apply to all new sponsorship and nomination applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. This approach underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a skilled immigration program that supports both employer demand and fair wage outcomes for workers in Australia.