Australia has increased the minimum salary requirement for Nigerians and other foreign professionals seeking employer-sponsored visas, setting a new threshold of AUD 76,515, roughly N72.5 million, for most skilled migration routes.
According to reports, the revised benchmark, announced by the Department of Home Affairs, will apply to visa applications submitted between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
It is believed that the move was aimed at ensuring migrant workers are paid in line with local earnings and are not used to undercut Australian wages.
The new salary floor affects several key visa pathways, including the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494), the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
For highly specialised roles, the bar has been raised even further as professionals applying under the Specialist Skills Income Threshold will now need to earn at least AUD 141,210.
The updated figures are tied to annual wage indexation, which links migration salary thresholds to changes in Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings.
Furthermore, the policy was designed to maintain fairness in the labour market and prevent migrant workers from being underpaid.
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Under the framework, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold remains aligned with the Core Skills Income Threshold at AUD 76,515 for the 2025–2026 cycle.
Australian government confirmed that the benchmarks will be reviewed annually, with the next adjustment due from 1 July 2026.
For Nigerians and other foreign professionals hoping to work in Australia, the changes introduce tougher entry conditions, particularly for mid-level roles where salary offers must now meet the higher benchmark.
However, successful applicants are expected to benefit from improved earning potential and greater financial security.
Employers, meanwhile, will face stricter compliance checks as companies must demonstrate that salaries offered to overseas workers meet both the revised thresholds and prevailing market rates, a measure intended to prevent wage suppression and protect local jobs.
Industries such as hospitality, retail and parts of healthcare are expected to feel the impact as businesses adjust pay structures.
The announcement comes as Australia tightens its migration intake with the official data showing that 20,350 visa places have been allocated for the 2025–2026 skilled migration programme across state-nominated pathways.
Notwithstanding, projections indicate that Australia could face a shortfall of up to 250,000 workers in finance, technology and business roles by 2030, revealing the continued demand for skilled migrants even as entry conditions become more rigorous.
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