The new Australian financial year is approaching and, with it, expected changes to immigration income thresholds and increases in government fees. Sponsors need to start taking these considerations into account over the coming months before the 1 July changes come into effect.

Guaranteed Minimum Earnings
The minimum salary to be paid to a 482 visa holder will increase from 1 July 2026. The Department has not yet released the exact figure that employers will be required to pay, however, using the formula set by the Migration Regulations we estimate that the new guaranteed earnings will be:

For Core Skills positions:	$79,499 +/-   (currently $76,515) for 38 hours per week
For Specialist Skills positions:	$146,717 +/-  (currently $141,210) for 38 hours per week

This will apply to all nominations lodged after 1 July 2026, including for 482 visa renewals.

However, employees holding 482 visas that were nominated before 1 July 2026, will still need to earn the higher of:

• The amount approved in their original nomination; OR
• The market salary for that position in the business at any given time, even after the nomination has been approved.

This means that the earnings of all 482 visa holders are not ‘locked in’ as claimed by many commentators on social media forums, and still need to be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with your obligations as a sponsoring employer.

If an employer nominates a position after 1 July 2026, at the new higher rate, any existing employee on a 482 visa performing the same role, would need to be reviewed and also paid at this rate if that is the current market rate for an Australian performing the same work at the same location at that time. This will need to be a case-by-case assessment.

Failure to increase 482 visa holders to the correct market rate, or underpaying those workers based on a 38 hours week can result in very significant financial penalties and possible suspension or cancellation of sponsorship rights.

Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT)
The FWHIT is the annual income level above which certain employment law and visa-related exemptions can apply (for example, for age exemptions in the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 visa) will also increase from the current level of $183,100 per year but the exact amount has not yet been announced.  Based on the previous 5 years, an increase of around 4% should be expected.

Government Fees 
Likely to increase on 1 July 2026. The exact amount will be announced after the budget but based on the previous 5 years an increase of 4-5 % should be expected.

We will be hosting a webinar to discuss these changes, have a look at the year ahead, processing times and some best practice suggestions.  Details will be released next week.

The post 482 Visa Guaranteed Earnings, High Income Threshold and Government Fees to Increase on 1 July 2026 first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Visa Processing Update – Delays for Temporary & Permanent Residence Applications first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Ajuria Lawyers wishes you and your loved ones the best for the festive season and new year.

This year, our donation in lieu of gifts is being made to the Heart Foundation which does vital work funding heart research and supporting healthier hearts in our community.

Please follow this link to make a donation.

A reminder our office will be closed from 24 December 2025 and will reopen on 5 January 2026.
During this period we can be contacted for urgent matters at urgent@ajurialawyers.com

AJURIA LAWYERS TEAM

The post Best Wishes for the Festive Season first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Webinar Recording – Salaries, hours, visas & the Fair Work Act first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

An increased focus by the Department of Immigration on salaries and market rates, as well as heightened activity by Australian Border Force, along with some important recent employment law cases, makes it timely for us to discuss the latest developments and best practice approaches from both an immigration and Fair Work perspective.
Join us for a discussion about:

• Classifications
• Nominated & annualised salaries
• Market rates
• Awards and the Fair Work Act
• Additional hours, rosters, penalties & their impact on the above

 

The webinar will provide

• Step-by-step guidance
• Practical examples
• Live Q&A

 

Thursday, 11 Nov 2025 – 11:00 AM AEST 

REGISTER HERE

The panel

The post Salaries, hours, visas & the Fair Work Act first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Join us and our special guest: Lise Williams, A/Manager, Migration Initiatives, Department of Training and Workforce Development (WA) as we discuss how Western Australia’s migration & workforce development programs support the WA construction sector.

Learn about WA’s Construction Visa Subsidy Program

• Employer-Sponsored Stream – up to $10,000
• State-Nominated Stream – up to $10,000
• Skilled Migrant Job Connect Program – settlement services, training/mentoring, and subsidies up to $7,500
• Relocation Incentive – up to $10,000 for construction workers relocating to WA

 

The webinar will provide

• Step-by-step guidance on eligibility and how to apply
• Examples from WA businesses using these programs successfully
• Live Q&A

 

Wednesday, 19 November 2024 – 10:00 AM AEST
REGISTER HERE

The post Western Australia – Subsidies for the Construction Industry first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Visa Services Across Asia-Pacific (APAC)
At Ajuria Lawyers, we understand that moving staff and keeping business flow around the world can be tricky.

As businesses expand across the Asia-Pacific region, keeping on top of different immigration rules requires both expertise and seamless coordination. That’s where we come in.

From various visas to work authorisations, we handle the entire process end to end. Powered by our technology platform, MobilityDesk, and backed by our experienced global immigration specialists, we help your business stay compliant, efficient, and ready to grow wherever opportunities take you.

 

Our Regional Capabilities

Through our trusted network of local partners and immigration specialists, we assist with visa and immigration matters across the APAC region, including:

• New Zealand – Accredited Employer Work Visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas, Partnership and Residence categories.
• Singapore – Employment Passes, Single Passes, Dependant and Long-Term Visit Passes
• Hong Kong – Employment and Dependant Visas, Investment Visas
• Japan – Highly Skilled Professional Visas, Intra-Company Transferee Visas
• South Korea – Work Permits, D-7 and E-series Visas
• India – Employment and Business Visas, FRRO registrations
• China – Z Work Visas, Residence Permits, Family Reunification
• Other jurisdictions – including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines

 

Ajuria can also support businesses with employee mobility into the United States and Europe, ensuring clients have access to a truly global solution.

 

MobilityDesk: Technology to Streamline Global Mobility

Our global mobility management platform, MobilityDesk, ensures that visa processes across multiple countries are coordinated and transparent. With MobilityDesk, clients benefit from:

• Online, simple and secure initiation, document upload and questionnaires
• Centralised tracking of all applications across the APAC region, visible in real time
• Status updates and reminders so deadlines and renewals are never missed
• Data security and compliance with global standards

 

Our Global Team

Behind the technology is our dedicated global immigration team, who coordinate closely with local experts in each jurisdiction. This ensures:

• Consistent, high-quality service across every country
• Single point of contact for HR and mobility managers, reducing complexity
• Practical solutions that align with business priorities and project timelines

 

Call us to discuss how we can help 

If your business is expanding across APAC and you’d like support with visas or work authorisations, get in touch with your usual Ajuria contact or reach out to global@ajurialawyers.com and set up a time to talk.

The post Moving People in APAC? first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

On 2 September 2025, the Australian Government confirmed that the permanent Migration Program for 2025–26 will be maintained at 185,000 places, the same as 2024–25 levels. This decision reflects a “steady as she goes” approach, providing predictability for employers and skilled migrants during a period of broader economic adjustment.

These planning numbers do not apply to the temporary visa programs such as the Skills In Demand (subclass 482 visa), Training (subclass 407 visa) or Short-Term Work (subclass 400 visa) which are all demand driven.

The size of the permanent program correlates to most economic modelling which confirms that Australia needs permanent migration of between 160,000 and 220,000 people per year to sustain and support GDP, sustain workforce numbers, lift productivity, innovation, and regional employment.

Stability in Program Levels
The overall program size and composition remain unchanged, with 132,200 visas (or 71% of places) allocated to the Skill stream.

This should give employers confidence to proceed with sponsorship and recruitment plans, knowing that the migration pipeline will continue at current levels.

Regional and State/Territory Pathways
Regional and State/Territory nominated visas account for half of the Skill stream.

This reinforces the Government’s continued emphasis on addressing labour shortages beyond major metropolitan centres.

Employers with operations in regional areas should remain engaged with regional programs such as Designated Area Migration Agreements, as these are now central to the government’s skilled migration intake.

National Innovation Visa
The formal introduction of the National Innovation visa with 4300 visas will be focused on individuals who can demonstrate they are leaders in national innovation.

Employers in advanced industries, technology, and research should monitor this visa closely as a potential avenue to secure top-tier expertise.

Family Migration and Retention
The Family stream remains unchanged at 52,500 places, with Partner and Child visas continuing on a demand-driven basis.

Clients wanting more information about the program announcement and what this means should reach out to their Ajuria team.

The post Migration Program Planning Levels for 2026 Announced – Steady as She Goes first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) have begun consultations to review the occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for 2025.

The CSOL applies to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). If an occupation is not on the CSOL then it cannot be sponsored unless the earnings are more than $135,000 p/a (excluding trades) or the company has an approved Labour Agreement. For the current CSOL, see The Core Skills Occupation List.

The annual review of the CSOL is designed to ensure the skilled occupations available for migration stay relevant to Australia’s workforce needs and labour market shortages and JSA’s review will inform advice to Government on possible changes to the makeup of the CSOL.

Clients wanting to make submissions on the CSOL, including adding occupations to the list (for example Restaurant and Café Managers) can do so here: MAKE A SUBMISSION.  These must be received before Friday, 26 September 2025.

Clients wanting our assistance with their submission or advice as to the process should reach out to their account partner or team. 

The post Make a submission to include an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Increase in Government application fees, Core Skills Income Threshold & Fair Work High Income Threshold

Government fees
Government fees will increase as follows:

	Pre 1 July 2025	From 1 July 2025
482 visa applications	$3115	$3210
482 secondary applicant 18+	$3115	$3210
482 secondary application u18	$780	$805
400, 407 and 408 visas (Temporary short stay term specialist, Training and Entertainment visas)	$415	$430
400, 407 and 408 secondary applicant 18+	$415	$430
400, 407 and 408 secondary application u18	$105	$110
ENS 186 visa (PR)	$4770	$4910
186 secondary applicant 18+	$2385	$2455
186 secondary application u18	$1190	$1230

 

CSIT
As a reminder, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will increase on 1 July 2025 to $76,515. New nomination applications from this date will need to meet the new threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.

The CSIT for existing 482 visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2025 remains at $73,150 however, the earnings must still be reviewed and increased to meet the market rate if that is higher.
Labour Market Testing requiring a salary now needs to be for at least this new CSIT amount.

FWHIT
The Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) will increase to $183,100.

Super Increase
From 1 July 2025, the superannuation guarantee rate has increased to 12%.

EOFY staff reviews & visa holders
The new financial year means staff review time for a lot of businesses. It is an important reminder that 482 visa holders have been approved to work in their nominated occupations only. While a promotion within the same occupational stream (and any associated salary increase) will generally comply with their 482 visa conditions, a move into a different role must be carefully considered and may require a new nomination or adjusted market rate. If a new role for a 482 visa holder would fall into a different occupation, a new 482 nomination and visa application will need to be lodged.

Please discuss any proposed role changes with your Ajuria adviser to ensure that your visa holders will continue to be compliant.

Employers are also reminded to ensure 482 visa holders are paid according to their approved salary and at the Australian market rate for the role.

 

DISCLAIMER This information is current as of 30 June 2025 and is subject to change with little notice. This publication is of a general nature only and should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

The post 2026 Financial Year – Australian Immigration Updates first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.