CSIT SSIT 2026: Updated Salary Thresholds for Skilled Visas
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) for Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 visas in Australia will be updated from 1 July 2026. From this date, higher salary thresholds will apply to key sponsored visa pathways in Australia, directly affecting workforce planning and budget considerations for employers sponsoring skilled workers.
Note: The new salary thresholds will apply only to nomination applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Employers with large pipelines of overseas hires are expected to lodge nominations ahead of the indexation date to lock in lower thresholds. Failure to meet the new salary thresholds after 1 July 2026 will result in an immediate refusal of the nomination.
The CSIT applies to nominations lodged under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand – Core Skills stream and the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. The SSIT applies to Skills in Demand visa (SID) applications in the Specialist Skills stream. The CSIT is expected to increase to AUD 79,499 per year from 1 July 2026 (subject to formal confirmation by the Department of Home Affairs), while the SSIT will increase to AUD 146,717. Both thresholds are indexed annually to ensure fair remuneration for overseas skilled workers and are designed to ensure that overseas workers are not paid less than Australian workers doing the same work.
Employers must meet the CSIT and SSIT through guaranteed annual earnings. Meeting the CSIT is a critical requirement for nomination approval under the Core Skills stream. If the market salary exceeds the CSIT, the skilled employer must pay the higher Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the nominated occupation. The CSIT will apply to all new nominations for the Subclass 482 Skills-in-Demand visa and for permanent residence through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme from 1 July 2026.
Approved nominations and nominations lodged before 1 July 2026 will be assessed under the previous thresholds, while those affected by the new rules must comply with the updated requirements.
2026–27 CSIT Skills Income Threshold and SSIT Thresholds
CSIT: $79,499 (up from $76,515 in 2025–26)
SSIT: $146,717 (up from $141,210 in 2025–26)
While the core skills income threshold (CSIT) and specialist skills income threshold (SSIT) set the minimum salary levels for the Core Skills stream and Specialist Skills stream, the AMSR often sits above these thresholds. Employers must pay whichever is higher, the AMSR or the relevant income threshold, when lodging new nominations for skilled workers.
For tailored advice on meeting the AMSR, understanding the relationship between the skills income threshold CSIT, skills income threshold SSIT, and the annual market salary rate, or planning your next nomination, consult with a registered migration agent like Via Migration. Staying proactive with your workforce planning and sponsorship obligations will help secure successful outcomes for both employers and skilled workers under the Skills in Demand visa and other employer sponsored visa subclasses.
Why It Matters
Employers sponsoring skilled workers must ensure salaries meet the updated CSIT or SSIT, as part of broader employer sponsored visa obligations. Employers must ensure their salary structures align with the new market rates to comply with the updated thresholds. Skilled migrants must also meet these thresholds to be eligible for their visa.
Failure to meet the new salary thresholds after 1 July 2026 will result in an immediate refusal of the nomination, impacting both the employer and the employee.
Planning Your Visa Application
If you plan to lodge a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa application or 186 application from 1 July 2026, make sure your employment offer meets these new salary thresholds. Employers should review their agreements, including labour agreements, enterprise agreements, and industrial awards, carefully before lodging nominations to ensure compliance with the new thresholds.
Employers with large pipelines of overseas hires are expected to lodge nominations ahead of the indexation date to lock in lower thresholds.
At Via Migration, we help employers and skilled workers navigate CSIT and SSIT requirements to ensure smooth visa processing.
