Important Update for Employers Sponsoring Skilled Workers – Salary Thresholds Increasing 1 July 2026
If your business sponsors overseas employees under the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) or Subclass 186 (ENS) programs, this directly affects you.
From 1 July 2026, the annual indexation of salary thresholds (under reg 5.42A, linked to AWOTE) will increase the minimum income requirements to:
🔹 CSIT: $79,499
(Up from $76,515)
🔹 SSIT: $146,717
(Up from $141,210)
Any nomination or visa application lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must meet the new thresholds.
Why this matters for your business
If you are:
• Planning to sponsor a new overseas employee
• Transitioning a 482 employee to permanent residency (186)
• Offering salaries close to the current threshold
• Finalising FY25–26 workforce budgets
Then timing is critical.
For some employers, lodging before 1 July may avoid:
Immediate salary increases
Contract renegotiations
Budget pressure in the new financial year
For others, this is a prompt to reassess remuneration structures and long-term workforce planning.
Skilled migration is not just a compliance exercise — it is a commercial decision that impacts payroll, retention and business continuity.
If you are considering sponsoring employees in 2026, now is the time to review your position strategically before the new program year begins.
I work closely with employers to structure compliant, commercially sound sponsorship pathways.
Feel free to message me if you would like your workforce plans reviewed ahead of 1 July.
Employer-Sponsored Visas
Hire the skills you need. Help your people stay and grow in Australia.
We advise both employers and sponsored workers on the full employer-sponsored pathway — from sponsor approval and nominations to visa lodgement, compliance and review.
What are employer-sponsored visas?
Employer-sponsored visas allow Australian businesses to nominate skilled overseas workers to fill roles they cannot source locally. These routes include temporary employer-sponsored visas for short-to-medium placements, permanent employer-nominated visas, and regional employer-sponsored options. Each pathway has different eligibility rules, streams and employer obligations.
KEY VISA OPTIONS
- Skills in Demand (SID) — temporary employer-sponsored route (subclass 482 framework) — allows employers to sponsor overseas workers where no suitable Australian worker is available; recent program changes replaced earlier TSS arrangements and updated stream rules.
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) — permanent visa (subclass 186) — a direct pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers nominated by an eligible employer.
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) — for employers in designated regional areas wanting to recruit skilled workers where local supply is limited.
- Labour agreements, DAMAs and custom sponsorships — negotiated arrangements for sectors or regions with chronic skill shortages.
Who this service is for
-
Australian employers who need to recruit and retain skilled overseas staff.
-
HR managers and small business owners who want a compliant, streamlined sponsorship process.
-
Skilled professionals and graduates sponsored by Australian employers who want clarity on their pathway to work rights or permanent residency.
The Employer Journey
Sponsor approval or confirmation
Employer demonstrates they meet sponsorship obligations.
Position Nomination
Employer nominates the role and provides evidence of labour market efforts.
Visa Application
The worker lodges their application with supporting evidence.
Compliance and Ongoing Obligations
Employers must meet workplace, training and record-keeping responsibilities while the visa holder is employed.
WHY US
How we can help
We’re qualified immigration lawyers offering personalised legal strategies tailored to your business and people — not one-size-fits-all templates. We blend commercial sense with legal rigour so you can recruit with confidence and stay compliant.
We offer practical legal support for every stage:
01
Sponsor approval and compliance health checks
02
Strategic nomination drafting and labour market documentation
03
Worker visa applications (temporary and permanent) and visa stream selection
04
Assistance with complex cases — skills assessments, unusual occupations, labour agreements and bridging arrangements
05
Representation for refusals, cancellations and appeals (AAT and ministerial reviews)
Your next steps
Need help hiring from overseas or converting temporary staff to permanent roles? Book a 30-minute assessment with our team — we’ll review your circumstance and outline the fastest, legally secure route forward.
