From 1 July 2025, income thresholds for skilled visa nominations in Australia will increase in line with changes to the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE). The adjustment, a 4.6% increase, will impact several skilled visa streams and is important for both employers and prospective visa applicants to understand.

The following thresholds will come into effect from 1 July 2025:

Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)  Increasing from AUD $73,150 to AUD $76,515  Applies to:

 

  • Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
  • Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) 

Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)  Increasing from AUD $135,000 to AUD $141,210 Applies to:

 

  • Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) 

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)  Increasing from AUD $73,150 to AUD $76,515. Applies to:

 

  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)  Subject to approval of relevant legislation 

Who Will Be Affected?

These changes apply only to new nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2025 onwards. Existing visa holders and nominations submitted before this date will not be affected.

Nomination applications will need to meet either the new income threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. This ensures that employer-sponsored workers receive fair and competitive wages aligned with market standards.

If you’re an employer planning to sponsor skilled workers or an individual applying for a skilled visa, it may be advantageous to begin the application process before 1 July 2025 to avoid being subject to the higher thresholds.

At Reid Legal, our migration team can assist with skilled visa applications, employer sponsorships, and understanding upcoming policy changes.