Australian sponsored visa — key figures

The salary thresholds, fees, and timelines that matter for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and the pathway to permanent residence.

Core Skills income threshold

AUD 76,515

until 30 Jun 2026

→

AUD 79,499

now

Specialist Skills income threshold

AUD 141,210

until 30 Jun 2026

→

AUD 146,717

now

These thresholds apply to nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Nominations lodged before that date were assessed against the previous thresholds (AUD 76,515 / AUD 141,210), even if the decision came later. Existing visa holders are not affected.

Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)

AUD 3,210

until 30 Jun 2026

→

AUD 4,015

now

Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)

AUD 4,910

until 30 Jun 2026

→

AUD 6,135

now

Subclass 186 (ENS)

AUD 4,910

until 30 Jun 2026

→

AUD 6,140

now

Charges shown are for the primary applicant lodging on or after 1 July 2026 — a ~25% increase in one step, far above the usual ~3% annual indexation. Secondary applicants pay a separate charge.

Work experience required

1 year

within the last 5 years

Grace period if your job ends

180 days

to find a new sponsor

Permanent residence pathway

after 2 years

via subclass 186 (ENS)

The three streams

Core Skills

Most occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List. Salary at or above the Core Skills income threshold.

Specialist Skills

High-income roles at or above the Specialist threshold. Faster processing, no occupation-list cap.

Essential Skills

Labour Agreement based, for specific industries and arrangements.

New to the Skills in Demand visa? Start with our plain-language guide.

What is the Skills in Demand visa? →

Last updated: 2026-07-02T00:00:00+10:00 · Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs ↗

This is general information only, not migration or legal advice. Thresholds are indexed annually and rules can change. Always verify with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent (MARA).