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

Government fees
As we predicted from the budget figures, the Government has increased visa fees between 4% and 25%.

The Government has also started to differentiate fees based on passport nationality by:

• reducing Student and Temporary Graduate visa fees for holders of passports from Pacific-regional countries
• reducing Student visa fees for certain ASEAN countries
• creating new fee structures for some visa streams

The new fees for the most commonly used visas are:

Temporary visas	From 1 July 2026
Skills in Demand – Subclass 482 main visa applicant	$4015
Skills in Demand – Subclass 482 secondary applicant 18+	$4015
Skills in Demand – Subclass 482 secondary applicant u18	$1005
Temporary Work Visa – Subclass 400	$535
Bridging Visa B	$575
Training Visa – Subclass 407	$535
Entertainment Visa – Subclass 408	$535

 

Permanent	From 1 July 2026
Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186 main applicant	$6140
Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186 secondary applicant 18+	$3070
Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186 secondary applicant u18	$1535

The nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund Levy has remained the same. They have not been increased.

Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
As a reminder, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will increase on 1 July 2026 to $79,423. 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 2026 can remain at the rate as when lodged:

• $79,423 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• $76,515 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
• $73,150 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 7 December 2024 and 30 June 2025.

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.

Specialist Skills Income Threshold
Skills in Demand visa (SID) (subclass 482) applications in the Specialist Skills stream must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT).

The SSIT for SID Specialist Skills Stream nomination applications is as follows:

• $146,576 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• $141,210 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
• $135,000 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 7 December 2024 and 30 June 2025.

FWHIT
The Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) has increased to $190,100.

The threshold is relevant to the age exemption under the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa. Applicants relying on this exemption to satisfy the under-45 age requirement must demonstrate earnings above the FWHIT for the relevant qualifying period.

English exemption for Intra-Company transfers
As at 1 July 2026, the guaranteed annual earnings threshold for the English language exemption for an intra-company transferee (ICT) under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa remains $96,400. It has not been indexed in line with the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) or Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT).

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 1 July 2026 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 2027 Financial Year – Australian Immigration Updates first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Australia’s federal government has handed down its 2026-27 budget with the following announcements related to the migration portfolio:

Migration Planning Levels
Australia’s permanent migration intake will remain capped at 185,000 places. More than 70 per cent of permanent visas will be allocated to skilled migrants, while priority will increasingly be given to applicants already living in Australia.

The net overseas migration (NOM) is now expected to remain higher than previously forecast. Treasury revised NOM forecasts upward from 260,000 to 295,000 in 2025–26, and from 225,000 to 245,000 in 2026–27. The government says this is largely due to fewer temporary migrants leaving Australia and an increase in New Zealand citizens relocating to Australia to take advantage of strong labour market conditions.

Although NOM fell 44 per cent to 310,000 in 2024–25, it remains above the pre-pandemic average of around 230,000.

Reforms to points tested Skilled Migration
The government also announced reforms to the skilled migration points test – the first since 2012 – aimed at better selecting migrants with stronger education, skills and younger age profiles.

To address labour shortages, particularly in construction and electrical trades, the government will allocate $85.2 million to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to primarily spend on faster skills assessments and licensing recognition for Trades Recognition Australia. The measures are expected to help up to 4,000 additional skilled trades workers enter the workforce annually and reduce workforce entry delays by up to six months.

Working Holiday makers
Changes have been announced to expand the use of ballot systems in the Working Holiday Maker program to better manage visa numbers and provide a “fairer allocation”.

Compliance
The budget also includes integrity and compliance measures across the migration system. Funding will be directed toward tighter scrutiny of student visa applications, and improved workplace protections for migrant workers.

The Australian Border Force will also receive funding to strengthens laws against antisemitism, violent extremism and hate by implementing new visa refusal and cancellation grounds, and character test provisions under the Migration Act 1958.

The post Australian Federal Budget 2026-27: Immigration Impacts first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

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A number of our team members are attending the Law Council of Australia Immigration Law Conference 2026 in Brisbane this week, where we have received an update from the Department of Home Affairs and the Administrative Review Tribunal on current migration trends and processing pressures.

Department of Home Affairs Update 
Key insights include:

• From 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, over 5 million + visa applications across all categories lodged, with December 2025 lodgements the highest since 2019
• 59% of all applications were Visitor visas, with a record high in November 2025
• 5 million applications finalised during the same period
• 792,000 applications currently on hand awaiting finalisation

On Permanent Residence application through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS):

• 39,000 ENS applications lodged between 1 July and 31 December 2025
• As at 31 December 2025, 75,000 ENS applications remain on hand — a 72% increase year-on-year
• Average processing time for ENS visas at 31 December 2025 approximately 14 months but this is increasing

Administrative Review Tribunal Update
We also received an update from the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which highlighted a significant increase in appeals relating to the Subclass 407 (Training) visa, with lodgements rising by approximately 591%.

This sharp increase appears to be linked to recent changes to the 407 visa program, which came into effect earlier this month. These changes now prevent the lodgement of 407 visa applications without an approved sponsor and nomination in place, tightening eligibility requirements and impacting application strategies.

What this means
These updates reinforce the continued high demand across the migration program, particularly in visitor and employer-sponsored pathways, alongside increasing pressure on processing times and review mechanisms.

The surge in 407-related appeals also signals practical impacts of recent regulatory changes, highlighting the importance of ensuring applications are correctly structured prior to lodgement.

We will continue to monitor developments and share further insights from the conference.

If you would like to discuss how these updates may affect your business or visa strategy, please feel free to contact our team.

Ajuria Lawyers

The post Ajuria Lawyers – some updates from the Immigration Law Conference Update (Brisbane 2026) first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Webinar Recording – 1 July 2026 Immigration Update first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

1 July Immigration Update: 482 Salary Increases & Market Rate, Travel Issues & Key Impacts for Employers and Sponsors

Ajuria Lawyers invites you to join our upcoming webinar covering key immigration changes taking effect on 1 July and what they mean for employers and sponsors.

This practical session will cover:

• Increases to relevant income thresholds impacting 482 and sponsored worker visa applications
• Updates to Market Salary Rate requirements – including clarity on social media discussions on whether it affects pre 1 July applications
• Travel rights and entry considerations for sponsored visa holders
• Current travel disruptions and issues affecting entry to Australia, including timing risks where visa holders must enter by certain dates
• Broader developments and emerging trends in Australian immigration
• What employers should be reviewing now to remain compliant and minimise risk

With income thresholds increasing and evolving travel conditions it is critical for sponsors to understand how these changes may affect recruitment timelines, onboarding, and workforce continuity.

We look forward to you joining us.

Friday, 13 March 2026 – 10:00 AM AEDT

REGISTER HERE

This webinar will be recorded.

 

The post Webinar | 1 July 2026 Immigration Update first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Ajuria Lawyers invites you to join our upcoming webinar covering key immigration changes taking effect on 1 July and what they mean for employers and sponsors.
This practical session will cover:

• Increases to relevant income thresholds impacting 482 and sponsored worker visa applications
• Updates to Market Salary Rate requirements – including clarity on social media discussions on whether it affects pre 1 July applications
• Travel rights and entry considerations for sponsored visa holders
• Current travel disruptions and issues affecting entry to Australia, including timing risks where visa holders must enter by certain dates
• Broader developments and emerging trends in Australian immigration
• What employers should be reviewing now to remain compliant and minimise risk

With income thresholds increasing and evolving travel conditions it is critical for sponsors to understand how these changes may affect recruitment timelines, onboarding, and workforce continuity.
We look forward to you joining us.

This webinar will be recorded.

The post 1 July Immigration Update: 482 Salary Increases & Market Rate, Travel Issues & Key Impacts for Employers and Sponsors first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

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 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.

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