Australian Immigration Changes from 1 July 2026
Australian Immigration Changes from 1 July 2026: Visa Fees and Salary Thresholds Increase
The Australian Government has confirmed significant changes to immigration fees and skilled visa salary thresholds effective 1 July 2026, impacting employers, skilled migrants and visa applicants.
Budget Update: Key Skilled Migration Changes Announced for 2026–27
As Australia works towards its Net Overseas Migration (NOM) target of 225,000 through 2027–28, the Federal Budget introduces significant migration reforms aimed at addressing workforce shortages, improving visa integrity, and attracting highly skilled migrants.
Australia’s Migration Planning Levels 2026-2027
The Australian Government has confirmed the 2026–27 Migration Program at 185,000 permanent visa places
Changes to Training visa (subclass 407) application requirements
Recent changes introduced by the Department of Home Affairs have significantly altered the application process for the Training visa (Subclass 407). Effective 11 March 2026, applicants can no longer lodge a valid Subclass 407 visa application until both the Temporary Activities Sponsorship (TAS) and the Subclass 407 nomination have been fully approved.
Important Changes to Australia’s Skilled Visa Salary Requirements Effective 1 July 2026
Australia will increase the minimum salary thresholds for employer-sponsored skilled visas from 1 July 2026 following the annual indexation process under Regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations. The adjustments apply to Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa and Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, ensuring wages for sponsored workers remain aligned with national earnings data.
NSW – Subclass 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 closed for 2025-26
The New South Wales Government has confirmed that Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa Pathway 1 (Work in Regional NSW) and Pathway 3 (Regional NSW Graduate) are now closed to new applications for the 2025–26 migration program year.
February 2026 Skilled Migration update: South Australia
South Australia has announced the outcomes of its February 2026 General Skilled Migration (GSM) invitation round under the 2025–26 Skilled and Business Migration Program. The state continues to actively select skilled migrants across all four migration streams to address priority workforce needs.
Skilled Visa Processing Priorities: What do they mean?
Australia’s skilled migration framework changed with the introduction Ministerial Direction No. 105, which sets new processing priorities for skilled visas, including the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
South Australia Issues Skilled Migration Invitations
South Australia has commenced 2026 with a strong start to its skilled migration program, issuing 344 state nomination invitations on 6 January 2026 across the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas. This marks the first invitation round of the calendar year and confirms South Australia’s commitment to monthly invitation rounds throughout the 2025–26 program year.
Skilled Migration Update
On 13 November 2025, the Department conducted the second invitation round for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa for the 2025-2026 Migration year.