Salary thresholds increasing for sponsored work visas as of 1 July 2025
The Australian Government has announced updates to skilled visa income thresholds, effective as of 1 July 2025. These changes, driven by the annual Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) indexation, aim to ensure fair wages for skilled migrants while maintaining labour market integrity.
Below, we outline the key updates and their implications for employers and visa applicants.
What are the changes?
From 1 July 2025, skilled visa income thresholds will increase by 4.6%, aligning with AWOTE data. This adjustment reflects the Government’s commitment to annual indexation, ensuring that skilled migrants are paid fairly and preventing wage undercutting of Australian workers.
Updated income thresholds
The following thresholds will apply to new nomination applications lodged on or after 1 July 2025:
| Threshold Type | Previous Amount (AUD) | New Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | $73,150 | $76,515 |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | $135,000 | $141,210 |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | $73,150 | $76,515 |
Which visas are impacted?
These changes will affect several employer-sponsored visas:
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): Applicable to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482 – Core Skills stream) and Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): Relevant for the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): Applies to the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187).
Key points for employers
- Only applied to new nomination applications: From 1 July 2025, nomination applications must meet either the updated income threshold or the annual market salary rate—whichever is higher.
- Existing visa holders: These changes do not apply to nominations lodged before 1 July 2025 or current visa holders.
- Fair wage practices: The indexation aims to ensure that wages for skilled migrants rise at the same rate as those of Australian workers, safeguarding against wage exploitation.
Further information
For further information, please contact our office by submitting an online enquiry, or calling us on 1300 083 843.