As of 1 July 2025, changes to migration policy came into effect. The most notable changes are to visa application fees and income thresholds.
Australian Migration Changes in Visa Application Fees
Every year, the Australian government increases visa applications by approximately 3%, in line with indexation.
From 1 July, visa application fee increases will affect a wide range of subclasses in the skilled migration, parent, student and visitor visa categories. While most visa subclasses incurred a 3% increase, student visa application fees rose significantly by up to 25%.
While Visa Solutions has clientele across all these visa categories, a majority of our clients are affected by changes to business visas. Visa subclasses in the Skilled Migration and Employer-Sponsored Programs as well as the Employer Nomination Scheme have seen increases of varying amounts. To view a list of visa application fees and charges, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Visa applications lodged prior to 1 July 2025 do not incur the application fee increase.
Australian Migration Changes in Income Threshold Increases
Skilled Income Thresholds have increased by 4.6%. This increase is in line with the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE). Income thresholds are now indexed annually so wages of skilled migrants increase at the same rate as Australian workers. These increases also ensure that employers cannot used skilled migration to undercut Australian workers.
From 1 July, the following increases became effective:
- The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) increased from AUD73,150 to AUD76,515. This increase will affect nomination applications for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186).
- The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSMIT) increased from AUD135,000 to AUD141,210. This will affect nomination applications for the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482).
- The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will increase from AUD73,150 to AUD76,515. TSMIT is used for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (subclass 494) and the Regional Migration Scheme (subclass 187). This increase is in line with the CSIT.
New nomination applications from 1 July 2025 must meet the new relevant income thresholds or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. Income threshold increases don’t apply to current visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2025.
To learn more about the changes to migration or any aspect of migration, contact the team of experienced registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia.
