Australia Skilled Visa 2026: Higher Fees, New Points Rules

Australia has just made its skilled migration system more expensive and, potentially, more selective. From 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs increased visa application charges across almost every skilled visa subclass, raised the salary floor employers must pay sponsored workers, and signalled that the points test used to rank permanent residency applicants is heading for its biggest overhaul in years. If you have been thinking about a skilled migration visa, employer sponsorship, or a PR points calculator run for Australia, this is the moment to understand exactly what changed and what is still only proposed.

What actually changed on 1 July 2026

Two separate sets of numbers moved this year, and it is easy to confuse them: visa application fees (what you pay the government to lodge) and income thresholds (what an employer must pay you to sponsor you). Both went up.

Income thresholds employers must meet

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — the minimum base salary an employer must offer to sponsor a worker on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa — rose to AUD 79,423 a year for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, a 3.75% increase tied to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold, which unlocks a faster, more streamlined stream of the 482 visa, increased from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576. The separate Fair Work High Income Threshold also moved, from $183,100 to $190,100. None of these changes apply retroactively — they only affect nominations and applications lodged from 1 July 2026 onward; visas already granted or in the queue before that date keep their original terms.

Visa application charges

Government lodgement fees rose across the board as part of annual indexation, and some subclasses jumped sharply. The Skilled Independent (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visas now cost around AUD 4,910 for the primary applicant, with a second instalment of roughly AUD 5,090 per adult applicant who does not have functional English at the time of grant. The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) primary applicant charge rose to about AUD 4,015, up from AUD 3,210. Increases across the wider Migration Regulations Schedule 1 fee schedule ranged from roughly 25% (student visas) up to more than 150% for some temporary graduate visa charges. On top of the government fee, budget for a skills assessment (AUD 500–1,500+), English testing, medical exams, police clearances from every country you have lived in, and possibly migration agent or immigration lawyer fees. All-in, a single applicant pursuing permanent residency through skilled migration should realistically budget AUD 7,000 to 10,000.

The bigger story: a points test overhaul is coming

As of now, no new points grid has been legislated — what exists is a set of proposals flagged in the 2026–27 Federal Budget, and the government has said further detail is coming. But the direction of travel is clear enough that anyone planning an Expression of Interest (EOI) should pay attention:

• Higher minimum threshold: the minimum score needed just to lodge an EOI may rise from 65 to 70 points.
• Income-linked points: for the first time, earning above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold could directly add points to your score, on top of occupation and skills criteria.
• English proficiency weighted more heavily: Proficient English (broadly, IELTS 7) is being discussed as the new baseline, while Superior English keeps its existing 20-point bonus.
• Age and partner skills still matter: the 25–32 age bracket keeps the highest age points, and having a partner with skilled, English-proficient credentials is expected to remain valuable.
• Competitive invitation rounds: with more ways to earn points, many analysts expect the effective invitation cut-off in competitive occupations to climb toward 80+ points, not the bare minimum.

Because none of this is locked in, anyone building a long application strategy should track updates directly from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs rather than relying on any single article — this piece included.

Which visa pathway fits you?

Australia’s skilled migration system now runs through a consolidated Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), covering around 456 occupations across healthcare, construction, IT, engineering, agriculture and hospitality. The main routes worth knowing:

1. Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) — employer-sponsored, temporary, tied to a specific job and employer. Fastest way to get working in Australia if you already have a job offer, and can lead to permanent employer sponsored visa Australia options later.
2. Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) — permanent employer-sponsored route, typically pursued after time on a 482 or directly if you meet the criteria.
3. Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) — points-tested, no employer or state sponsorship needed, but the most competitive route given the scoring changes ahead.
4. Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) — points-tested with state or territory government nomination, which typically adds points but requires commitment to live in that state.

How to apply: step by step

1. Check your occupation against the CSOL on the Department of Home Affairs website — this determines which visa subclasses and streams you’re even eligible for.
2. Get a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation (this can take weeks to months, so start early).
3. Sit an English test (IELTS, PTE, or equivalent) if required, and aim above the minimum band given the proposed weighting toward English.
4. Submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect if going the points-tested route (189/190), or secure a job offer and employer nomination if going 482/186.
5. Wait for an invitation (points-tested) or nomination approval (employer-sponsored), then lodge the full visa application with supporting documents, medicals, and police clearances.
6. Pay the government charge at lodgement and track processing through ImmiAccount.

Realistic chances and challenges

Demand for Australian skilled migration remains high, and the occupation list is broad, but competition in popular fields like IT, accounting, and engineering is intense — especially if the points bar rises as proposed. Processing times vary widely by subclass and can run from a few months to well over a year for points-tested permanent visas. Employer-sponsored routes tend to move faster but depend entirely on finding an employer willing to sponsor, which itself has gotten costlier for businesses given the higher income thresholds. Regional and state-nominated pathways (subclass 190 and regional visas) often move quicker and score more generously than the national independent stream, so it’s worth checking state nomination programs even if you’d prefer to skip a location commitment.

Practical tips

• Run the numbers on total cost (government fees plus assessments, tests, and clearances) before committing to a pathway — the gap between subclasses is now larger than it used to be.
• If your occupation and English scores are borderline, consider whether a state nomination (190) gets you across the line faster than waiting for an independent (189) invitation.
• Keep documents (skills assessment, English results, police checks) valid through your expected application timeline — most have expiry windows.
• If an employer is sponsoring you, confirm in writing that the salary offered meets the new TSMIT or Specialist Skills threshold before signing anything.
• Revisit your EOI score periodically; if the points test changes go into effect, previously submitted EOIs may need updating or may be assessed under new criteria.

Key takeaway: Australia’s skilled visa system got more expensive and is about to get more selective, but the pathways themselves — employer sponsorship, state nomination, and independent points-tested visas — remain open and well-defined. Acting before further points test changes take effect may work in your favour if your score is currently competitive.

FAQ

Do the new fees apply to visas I already lodged? No. The government has confirmed the higher charges and thresholds apply only to nominations and applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

Is the points test change confirmed? Not yet. As of this writing it remains a proposal flagged in the Federal Budget, without a legislated points grid.

Can I apply without a job offer? Yes, through the points-tested Subclass 189 (independent) or 190 (state-nominated) visas, provided you meet the occupation, skills assessment, and points requirements.

Immigration and visa rules change frequently and eligibility can vary by individual circumstance. Always verify current fees, thresholds, and requirements on Australia’s Department of Home Affairs website before applying.