The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that from 1 July 2025, the income thresholds for skilled visa nominations will increase by 4.6%, in line with changes to the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE).
This update forms part of the Government’s Migration Strategy and implements recommendations from the Migration Review.
Key Threshold Changes
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
- Increasing from AUD 73,150 → AUD 76,515.
- Applies to nomination applications for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)
- Increasing from AUD 135,000 → AUD 141,210.
- Applies to nomination applications for the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
- Increasing from AUD 73,150 → AUD 76,515 (aligned with the CSIT).
- Applies to nomination applications for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa.
Important Notes for Applicants and Sponsors
- From 1 July 2025, all new nomination applications must meet the higher of either:
- the new relevant income threshold, or
- the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for the nominated occupation.
- These changes will not apply to:
- existing visa holders, or
- nominations lodged before 1 July 2025.
What This Means for Employers and Applicants
Employers nominating skilled workers should review salary arrangements to ensure compliance with the new thresholds from 1 July 2025. Applicants should also be aware that meeting the threshold is a mandatory eligibility requirement and must be satisfied at the time of lodgement.