With effect from 1 July 2026, the income thresholds for the Core Skills and Specialist streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa program have increased to A$79,423 and $146,576 respectively.
Visa application charges have also increased with effect from 1 July 2026, with charges indexed in accordance with the forecast Consume Price Index rounded to the nearest $5.
New income thresholds
The annual earnings for Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) nominations in the Core Skills stream (as well as Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186) nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024) must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
Annual earnings for Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) nominations in the Specialist Skills stream must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
In addition, the cash components of a visa applicant’s guaranteed annual earnings must be greater than or equal to CSIT or SSIT as applicable. ‘Earnings’ for this purpose are defined as wages, amounts applied on the visa holder’s behalf, and the value of agreed non-monetary benefits, but do not include amounts that cannot be determined in advance, reimbursements and guaranteed contributions to superannuation.
To meet their sponsorship obligations, approved business sponsors must ensure that subclass 482 and 494 visa holders are paid in accordance with the guaranteed annual earnings as per their approved nomination. In addition, sponsors must ensure that subclass 482 and 494 visa holders are not being paid less than what an equivalent Australian worker would receive performing the same work in the same location.
From 1 July 2026, the relevant income thresholds have increased by 3.9% as follows in line with the annual ABS Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings:
This change will impact all Skills in Demand nomination and visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.
In addition, the Fair Work Commission’s High Income Threshold Amount has increased from A$183,100 to A$190,100. This change will impact ENS 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream nomination and visa applications relying on an age exemption based on high income that are lodged on or after 1 July 2026.
New visa application charges
From 1 July 2026, visa application charges have increased by approximately 25 percent. Below is a summary of the new visa charges for your key visa subclasses:
| Visa Application Charges – FY26-27 | ||
| Visa Subclass | Old Fee (AUD) | New Fee (AUD) |
| 400 – Short Stay Specialist | $430 (main applicant) | $535 (main applicant) |
| $430 (adult dependent) | $535 (adult dependent) | |
| $110 (child) | $135 (child) | |
| 482 – Skills in Demand | $3,210 (main applicant) | $4,015 (main applicant) |
| $3,210 (adult dependent) | $4,015 (adult dependent) | |
| $805 (child) | $1005 (child) | |
| 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme | $4,910 (main applicant) | $6,140 (main applicant) |
| $2,455 (adult dependent) | $3,070 (adult dependent) | |
| $1,230 (child) | $1,535 (child) | |
| 407 – Training | $430 (main applicant) | $535 (main applicant) |
| $430 (adult dependent) | $535 (adult dependent) | |
| $110 (child) | $135 (child) | |
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Cherie Wright
Partner & Principal Solicitor
Stacey Tsui
Partner & Principal Solicitor
Arathi Tekkam
Director
John O’Brien
Director
Ben Reid
Director
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