Specialist site Visaology reports that from 12 June 2026 the Department of Home Affairs has begun applying a stricter interpretation of the skilled points test and higher minimum salary thresholds across employer-sponsored visas. The changes flow from the government’s December 2025 Migration Strategy and the 2026-27 Federal Budget, which redirected resources toward on-shore applicants with higher education levels and stronger salaries.
![Policy shift makes Australia’s skilled-migration program more selective, raising salary and qualification bars]()
Key measures include lifting the Core Skills Threshold (CSIT) to AU $73,150 and the Specialized Skills Threshold (SSIT) to AU $135,000 from 1 July 2026. At this juncture, it is worth noting that services such as VisaHQ can simplify the process for both employers and skilled migrants; the portal provides up-to-date visa requirements, salary benchmarks and document checklists, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/australia/ Applicants scoring points for Australian study will now receive an additional five-point bonus only if their qualification is in a priority field such as engineering, advanced manufacturing or clean energy.
For businesses, the takeaway is clear: employer sponsorship will become viable mainly for mid- to high-skill roles, while lower-paid positions must seek domestic labour or alternative programs like Pacific Engagement visas. HR departments are advised to review pay scales and draft labour-market-testing evidence well ahead of job offers to overseas candidates. Migration agents expect the tighter rules to shrink application volumes by 10-15 per cent but improve approval rates for genuine, high-value applicants. State nominees are also likely to mirror the new salary benchmarks in their occupation lists for Subclass 190 and 491 visas. The reforms respond to public concern that rapid population growth is straining housing and infrastructure, while still preserving pathways for talent critical to Australia’s net-zero and digital ambitions.
Key measures include lifting the Core Skills Threshold (CSIT) to AU $73,150 and the Specialized Skills Threshold (SSIT) to AU $135,000 from 1 July 2026. At this juncture, it is worth noting that services such as VisaHQ can simplify the process for both employers and skilled migrants; the portal provides up-to-date visa requirements, salary benchmarks and document checklists, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/australia/ Applicants scoring points for Australian study will now receive an additional five-point bonus only if their qualification is in a priority field such as engineering, advanced manufacturing or clean energy.
For businesses, the takeaway is clear: employer sponsorship will become viable mainly for mid- to high-skill roles, while lower-paid positions must seek domestic labour or alternative programs like Pacific Engagement visas. HR departments are advised to review pay scales and draft labour-market-testing evidence well ahead of job offers to overseas candidates. Migration agents expect the tighter rules to shrink application volumes by 10-15 per cent but improve approval rates for genuine, high-value applicants. State nominees are also likely to mirror the new salary benchmarks in their occupation lists for Subclass 190 and 491 visas. The reforms respond to public concern that rapid population growth is straining housing and infrastructure, while still preserving pathways for talent critical to Australia’s net-zero and digital ambitions.
