Australia Raises Visa Salary Bar — Foreign Workers Must Now Earn Big to Get In.
Australia has tightened the rules for foreign professionals hoping to work in the country, introducing a new minimum salary benchmark that could reshape its skilled migration programme.
Under the updated policy, migrant workers applying for employer-sponsored visas must now earn at least AUD 76,515 to qualify.
The move significantly raises the entry bar across several skilled migration routes. Yet, despite the tougher requirements, Australia is still expected to face a massive labour gap in the coming years. Experts estimate the country could be short of around 250,000 workers in technology, finance, and business sectors by 2030.
To keep its economy running, Australia is projected to need roughly 3.5 million professionals in these fields over the next decade – meaning the country will likely remain an attractive destination for highly skilled migrants who can meet the new salary standards.
The revised threshold was announced by the Department of Home Affairs and will apply to visa applications submitted between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Key Visa Changes
The new salary rule affects several major employer-sponsored visa pathways, including:
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Visa
Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa
Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme
For professionals with rare or highly specialised expertise, the bar is even higher. Applicants in these fields must earn a minimum of AUD 141,210, under what the government calls the “Specialist Skills Income Threshold.”
Ensuring Fairness in the Labour Market
Officials say the changes are part of Australia’s annual wage-adjustment policy, which links migration salary requirements to the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings. The goal is to prevent migrant workers from being paid less than their Australian counterparts.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs explained that the system is designed to protect both foreign workers and local employees by maintaining fair wages across the labour market.
Authorities also confirmed that the thresholds will continue to be reviewed yearly, with the next update expected from July 1, 2026.
Pressure on Employers
While the policy promises better pay and stronger financial prospects for successful migrants, it also places stricter obligations on employers.
Companies must now prove that salaries offered to foreign workers meet both the new government threshold and prevailing market rates, a measure aimed at preventing “wage suppression”—where migrant labour is used to push down local wages.
Industries such as hospitality, retail, and healthcare are expected to feel the biggest impact as businesses adjust their pay structures to comply with the new standards.
The tougher salary requirements come as Australia simultaneously tightens its migration intake, with just 20,350 visa slots allocated for the 2025–2026 state-nominated migration programme.
