Subclass 482 Income Thresholds Rising on 1 July 2026

The subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa income thresholds were indexed on 1 July 2026. From that date the Core Skills Income Threshold rose, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold rose with it. Because the threshold that applies is the one in force on the date a nomination is lodged, nominations lodged up to 30 June 2026 were assessed against the earlier, lower figures.

What is changing on 1 July 2026

The SID visa (subclass 482) replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024, and “TSS” is now a legacy term only. The visa has two skilled streams. The Core Skills stream is tied to the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The Specialist Skills stream is tied to the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT). Both thresholds are indexed annually on 1 July, so a nomination prepared in one financial year can face a higher figure if it slips into the next.

The new figures

As at 5 July 2026, the CSIT is $79,499 for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026 (it was $76,515 for nominations lodged up to 30 June 2026). The SSIT is $146,717 for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026 (it was $141,210 up to 30 June 2026). These figures are indexed automatically under regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations 1994, using Australian Bureau of Statistics November 2025 average weekly ordinary time earnings data, so no separate legislative instrument is required. Confirm the current figures on the Department of Home Affairs salary requirements page before you rely on them.

How the annual indexation works

The Core Skills and Specialist Skills thresholds move each year under a fixed formula rather than a discretionary decision. Regulation 5.42A ties the indexation to average weekly ordinary time earnings published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Because the increase is automatic, employers cannot assume a figure will hold steady across a financial year boundary. The practical effect is that a nomination prepared in June and lodged in July can face a higher applicable threshold than the same nomination lodged a few days earlier.

Why lodgement date matters

The threshold that applies is the one in force on the date the nomination is lodged, not the date it is decided. A nomination lodged before 1 July 2026 is assessed against the pre-indexation figure even if the Department decides it after that date. For many employers this is a strong reason to finalise and lodge nominations before 1 July 2026, particularly where a proposed salary sits between the current and the new threshold.

The salary you must pay

A nominated worker must be paid at least the relevant income threshold or the annual market salary rate for the role, whichever is higher. Meeting the threshold alone is not enough if the market rate for the occupation is higher. The income threshold is a floor, not a substitute for paying the market rate, and the nomination must satisfy both tests.

Regional visas are assessed differently

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) applies to regional employer sponsored visas, including the subclass 494 and the transitional subclass 187 pathway. As at 5 July 2026, the TSMIT is $79,423, having increased with effect from 1 July 2026 under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874), registered on legislation.gov.au. From 1 July 2026 the TSMIT is a separate threshold from the CSIT, indexed on the same basis and from the same date, under regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations 1994, with the first automatic indexation day on 1 July 2027. Confirm the current figure on the Federal Register and the Department of Home Affairs pricing before relying on it.

What employers and applicants should do now

Review any nomination where the proposed salary is close to a threshold, and decide whether lodging before 1 July 2026 is worthwhile. Check whether the role sits in the Core Skills or the Specialist Skills stream, because the applicable threshold differs between them. For regional nominations, confirm the current TSMIT on the Federal Register or the Department of Home Affairs pricing before relying on it. Where the position is on the CSOL and the salary clears both the threshold and the market rate, the timing of lodgement can change which figure applies.

Frequently asked questions

Should we lodge a nomination before 1 July 2026?

If the proposed salary sits between the current and the indexed threshold, lodging before 1 July 2026 may mean the lower figure applies, because the threshold in force on the lodgement date governs. Each case turns on its facts, so seek advice on your specific nomination before you decide.

Visa Plan Lawyers advises employers and skilled workers on subclass 482 nominations, regional sponsorship, and employer nominated permanent residence. If you are weighing whether to lodge before 1 July 2026, our team reviews your nomination and the applicable threshold with you. Learn more about our employer sponsored visa services and the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, or read about regional employer sponsored options.