Skilled Visa Income Thresholds Set to Rise from 1 July 2025

Skilled Visa Income Threshold

If you are considering applying for an employer-sponsored skilled visa in Australia, it’s important to be aware of significant changes taking effect from 1 July 2025 to the skilled visa income threshold. The Australian Government has announced a 4.6% increase to skilled visa income thresholds, impacting several key visa subclasses.

Migration Partner Lauren Blud and Law Clerk Marilia Vianna outline what these changes mean for visa applicants and sponsoring employers, and how to ensure your application remains compliant with updated immigration requirements.

What Are Skilled Visa Income Thresholds?

Skilled visa income thresholds refer to the minimum salary levels that Australian employers must offer when sponsoring skilled overseas workers. These thresholds are designed to protect local wage standards and ensure that foreign workers receive fair compensation.

To sponsor a skilled worker, employers must:

  • Offer a salary that is not lower than the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)—what an equivalent Australian employee would earn.
  • Ensure that the offered salary also meets or exceeds the relevant visa income threshold (excluding non-monetary benefits).
  • These thresholds are reviewed annually and indexed to reflect economic changes and ensure wage integrity in the Australian skilled migration program.

Which Visas Will Be Affected?

From 1 July 2025, the following income threshold increases will apply to employer-nominated skilled visa programs:

Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)

Increasing from AUD $73,150 to AUD $76,515

Affects: Nomination applications for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Visa in the Core Skills stream, and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Visa.

Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)

Increases from AUD $135,000 to AUD $141,210.

Affects: Nomination applications for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Visa in the Specialist Skills stream.

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)

Increases from AUD $73,150 to AUD $76,515.

Affects: Nomination applications for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) Visa and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) in the temporary residence transition stream.

How Will the Changes to Skilled Visa Income Threshold Affect You?

If you’re applying for a skilled visa nomination or renewing an existing employer-sponsored visa (such as the TSS, ENS, or RSMS visa) on or after 1 July 2025, the salary offered must meet both of the following:

  • Equal or exceed the new threshold (TSMIT or CSIT/SSIT), and
  • Not less than the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for your role.

Important: Applications lodged before 1 July 2025 will be assessed under the current thresholds, so timing may be crucial to your eligibility.

Preparing for the Skilled Visa Income Threshold Increase

Here’s how to prepare ahead of the changes:

  1. Review and Adjust Salary Offers
    1. Ensure your proposed salary meets the new threshold and the AMSR. If not, negotiate with your employer before lodging your application.
  2. Consider Lodging Early
    1. If you are eligible now and your employer can meet the current criteria, consider submitting your application before the 1 July 2025 deadline.
  3. Plan for Renewals
    1. Current visa holders won’t be immediately affected. However, future renewals or new nominations must comply with the revised income levels.

Expert Legal Guidance on Skilled Visa Compliance

At Ramsden Lawyers, our team of experienced migration lawyers can assist with:

  • Determining your skilled visa eligibility
  • Calculating the Annual Market Salary Rate for your occupation
  • Providing strategic migration advice tailored to the upcoming income threshold changes

These adjustments to the skilled visa income thresholds are crucial for ensuring successful applications and renewals under Australia’s migration program. Delays or non-compliance can result in significant setbacks, so it’s important to act now.

Contact our migration team today for personalised assistance and ensure your skilled visa application meets the new income threshold requirements.

 

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name