Australia 2026 Employer Sponsored Visa Update
Key Changes to CSIT / SSIT
1️⃣ CSIT (Core Skills Income Threshold) Increase
Used for:
- SID (482 Core Skills stream)
- 186 ENS
- 494 employer-sponsored pathways
🔹 Current (2025–26): AUD $76,515
🔹 Expected from 1 July 2026: AUD $79,499
2️⃣ SSIT (Specialist Skills Income Threshold) Increase
Used for:
- High-income specialist skilled pathways
🔹 Current (2025–26): AUD $141,210
🔹 Expected from 1 July 2026: AUD $146,717
3️⃣ Important Point
Meeting the threshold alone is NOT enough.
Applicants must satisfy BOTH:
✔️ minimum salary threshold
✔️ market salary rate requirement
4️⃣ Why This Matters
Australia is continuing to move toward:
- Higher-skilled migrants
- Higher-income workers
- Stronger economic contribution
This means lower-paid occupations may face more difficulty under employer-sponsored pathways moving forward.
FAQ
❓ What is CSIT?
➡️ CSIT = Core Skills Income Threshold.
It is the minimum salary requirement for many employer-sponsored skilled visas.
❓ What is SSIT?
➡️ SSIT = Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
It applies to higher-income specialist skilled workers.
❓ When will the new thresholds apply?
➡️ Expected from 1 July 2026.
❓ Will this affect current applicants?
➡️ Yes, especially applicants whose salaries are close to the current threshold.
❓ Is timing important?
➡️ Very important.
Applications lodged before or after 1 July may have different eligibility outcomes.
❓ What direction is Australia moving toward?
➡️ Australia is clearly shifting toward:
✔️ High-skilled
✔️ High-income
✔️ Workforce-ready migrants.
Contact our Migration Agents at 07 3003 1899 or hello@solmigration.com to plan your migration pathway.