KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Base pay and superannuation separated
- Guaranteed and contingent payments identified
- Current threshold and nomination date checked
Use a transparent remuneration breakdown
Show base pay, employer superannuation, allowances, non-cash benefits and variable components separately. Identify which payments are guaranteed and which depend on overtime, performance or business results. Ask your adviser which components can be counted under the applicable rules.
The current July 2026 to June 2027 thresholds are $79,423 for Core Skills and $146,576 for Specialist Skills. Those figures should be checked against the nomination date. An old offer referring to an earlier threshold may require revision.
Do not confuse the minimum with market salary
Meeting an income threshold does not establish the annual market salary rate for the role. The business must address the applicable remuneration assessment, including how its proposed salary compares with an equivalent Australian worker or suitable market evidence.
A contract can therefore fail to support the nomination even if its base salary is above the published threshold. Location, experience, duties and working arrangements should be reflected in the market comparison.
Keep payroll and the contract consistent
Have HR and payroll confirm what will actually be paid and how the hours and allowances work. A nomination based on one remuneration structure and payroll operating another creates avoidable compliance questions. Review any later proposed reduction before implementing it.
A hypothetical hospitality employer may quote a package that includes compulsory superannuation and hoped-for overtime. The assessment needs a defensible calculation of qualifying earnings rather than the largest possible annual total. Emigrate Lawyers can review that calculation alongside the role and market salary evidence.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Preparation checklist
- Base pay and superannuation separated
- Guaranteed and contingent payments identified
- Current threshold and nomination date checked
- Market salary evidence matched to the position
Use this list to organise a discussion. It is not a complete application checklist or an eligibility assessment.
Common questions
Can we rely on possible overtime to meet the threshold?
Do not assume variable earnings can be counted. The applicable earnings rules need to be checked.
Does a threshold increase automatically change an existing visa?
The effect depends on the application, employment and sponsorship circumstances. Assess any new nomination or proposed change separately.
YOUR CASE. OUR COMMITMENT.
The Emigrate Lawyers Difference
A visa application sits within a career, a business and a family’s plans. We connect the legal requirements with the evidence and decisions that matter to you.
Lawyer handled
Your case is overseen and handled by a lawyer, with a clear point of contact and advice tailored to the facts.
Fixed fee clarity
A fixed fee for the agreed scope, explained before engagement. Government charges and third-party expenses are identified separately.
No monthly administration fees
Transparent costs without monthly administration fees. Any additional work is scoped and agreed before it proceeds.
A plan you can follow
Understand what to prepare, who supplies it and what comes next. Where we assist both parties, representation and confidentiality are addressed at engagement.
From information to a clear next step
- Share your starting point. Tell us the role, current visa, employer arrangements and any deadline.
- Understand the assessment. We identify the appropriate service, evidence questions and scope of advice.
- Decide with clear costs. Review the engagement and fee proposal before legal work begins.
Sources and further reading
- Home Affairs: salary requirements
- Home Affairs: sponsor obligations
- Migration Regulations 1994: Parts 482 and 186, regulation 2.72 and Schedule 8 as relevant
Published 26 October 2026. Official guidance and legislation should be checked again before acting. Examples are hypothetical and photographs are illustrative. Information on this website is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Visa requirements and government charges can change. Obtain advice specific to your circumstances.
