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482 Salary & Eligibility Checker · May 2026 · CSIT / SSIT thresholds
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⚠️ TSMIT alert — 1 July 2026
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The Core Skills threshold increases to $79,499 on 1 July 2026. We'll email you 30 days before with the confirmed figure and what it means for your nomination.
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482 Salary Requirements — CSIT & SSIT 2026
⚠️ 1 July 2026 increase confirmed: Core Skills rises from $76,515 to $79,499. Specialist Skills rises from $141,210 to $146,717. Lodge your nomination before 30 June 2026 to lock in the current rate.
| Stream | Current (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) | From 1 Jul 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Skills (CSIT) | $76,515 | $79,499 | Applies to most 482 occupations. Most common stream. |
| Specialist Skills (SSIT) | $141,210 | $146,717 | High-skill, high-salary roles. Uncapped occupation list. |
| What counts as salary | Guaranteed annual earnings only — base salary + guaranteed allowances. Superannuation, bonuses, non-cash benefits do NOT count toward the threshold. | ||
| Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) | Must also pay what an equivalent Australian worker earns. If AMSR > CSIT, you must pay AMSR — not just the threshold minimum. | ||
| Who the threshold applies to | Applies at the time of nomination lodgement. Nominations approved before July 2026 are not affected by the July 2026 increase. | ||
People still call it "TSMIT": The 482 visa technically now uses CSIT (Core Skills Income Threshold) and SSIT (Specialist Skills Income Threshold) since the Skills in Demand reforms. But many employers, agents and search queries still say "TSMIT" — it's the same concept. For the 494 regional visa, TSMIT technically remains at $76,515 unless updated separately.
Age Limit — 482 vs 186 PR
The most Googled question about 482: "Is there an age limit for the 482 visa?" The answer is no — but the answer to "is there an age limit for permanent residency via 186?" is yes: under 45 at nomination.
| 482 visa age limit | No upper age limit. You can apply for and hold a 482 visa at any age, provided you meet all other requirements. |
| 186 ENS PR age limit | Under 45 at time of nomination. Applies to the Temporary Residence Transition stream (after 2 years on 482) and Direct Entry stream. If you are 45 or over when your employer nominates you for 186, you are not eligible under the standard pathway. |
| If you're 45+ on a 482 | You can remain on 482 and renew. But permanent residency via 186 is generally not available. Alternatives: points-tested visas (189/190/491) if your occupation qualifies, or a Labour Agreement with an age waiver in specific circumstances. |
| Exemptions to the 186 age limit | Some occupations have age limit exemptions under specific labour agreements or ministerial directions. Medical practitioners and some critical shortage occupations have received targeted exemptions in the past. Confirm with a MARA agent. |
| Calculating your 186 eligibility date | You need 2 years working for your sponsoring employer (or 3 years for some streams). Count forward from your 482 start date. Use the 482→186 calculator to see your exact eligibility date and age at that point. |
Critical planning point: If you are 42–44 years old on a 482 visa, check your 186 eligibility date immediately. If your 2-year anniversary falls after your 45th birthday, you may miss the window. The 482→186 calculator shows this exactly.
Full 482 Cost Breakdown — Employer + Applicant
The 482 visa has costs for both the employer (nomination fee, SAF levy) and the applicant (visa fee). These are separate and cannot be combined.
Employer costs
| Nomination fee | $540 | Paid by employer per nomination. Non-refundable. |
| Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy | $1,200/yr (small) · $1,800/yr (large) | Small business (<$10M turnover): $1,200/yr. Large: $1,800/yr. Paid upfront for full visa duration. |
| Labour Market Testing | $500 – $3,000 | Advertising costs. Must advertise the role for 28 days before lodgement. |
Applicant costs
| 482 visa fee — primary (2–4 yr) | $3,035 | From 1 July 2025. Short stay (up to 1 yr): $1,565. |
| 482 visa fee — partner | $1,515 | Per person aged 18+. Short stay: $780. |
| 482 visa fee — child | $760 | Per child under 18. |
| Health examination | $300 – $500/person | DHA-approved panel physician. Required for most applicants. |
| Police clearances | $50 – $200/country | Every country lived in 12+ months since age 16. |
| Skills assessment (if required) | $500 – $1,500 | Generally not required for 482. Some healthcare occupations require AHPRA registration. |
| Total applicant (you + partner, 2–4yr) | ~$5,500 – $7,000 | Includes visa fees, health exams, police clearances. Excludes agent fees. |
Who pays what: By law, the employer must pay the nomination fee and SAF levy — they cannot be passed on to the applicant. The visa application fee is typically paid by the applicant. Some employers cover the applicant's visa fee as part of the sponsorship offer — this is negotiable.
482 to Permanent Residency — Your Options
482 Visa
→ 2 years →
186 Nomination
→ visa granted →
186 PR
| 186 TRT stream | Temporary Residence Transition. Work for your sponsoring employer for 2 years on 482. Employer nominates you for 186. You apply. Must be under 45 at nomination. Most common path for 482 holders. |
| Time required | Minimum 2 years working for your current sponsor. The clock starts when your 482 visa is granted (not when you arrive). Check your exact date with the 482→186 calculator → |
| Age at PR nomination | Must be under 45. This is the most common trap. If you're 43 on your 482, check immediately whether your 2-year anniversary falls before your 45th birthday. If not, you need an alternative strategy. |
| 186 salary requirement | Same CSIT applies — $76,515 now, $79,499 from July 2026. Must meet CSIT at time of 186 nomination, not just at 482 stage. |
| No skill assessment (usually) | 186 TRT generally does not require a separate skills assessment if you've been working in the occupation on 482. Exceptions apply for some professions. |
| Points-tested pathway | If your occupation is on the 189/190/491 list, you can also build points while on 482 and apply independently of your employer. Check your EOI queue → |
| What if my employer won't sponsor 186? | You can change employers on a 482 (with approval). Or build your points score toward 189/190/491. Or find a new sponsor willing to support 186. The PR Intelligence Report maps all your options. |
482 Visa FAQ — 2026
What is the minimum salary for a 482 visa in Australia 2026?
The minimum salary for the 482 Skills in Demand visa is AUD $76,515 per year (Core Skills stream, CSIT) for nominations lodged between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. From 1 July 2026, it rises to $79,499. The Specialist Skills stream requires $141,210 (rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026). Salary must be guaranteed annual earnings excluding superannuation and non-cash benefits.
Is there an age limit for the 482 visa in Australia?
There is no upper age limit for the 482 visa itself. You can apply at any age. However, the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme — the permanent residency pathway from 482 — requires applicants to be under 45 years of age at the time of nomination. If you are 45 or over, you can still hold a 482 visa but the standard 186 PR pathway is not available to you.
How much does the 482 visa cost in 2026?
The 482 visa application fee is AUD $3,035 for the primary applicant (2–4 year visa) from 1 July 2025. Partners pay $1,515 each and children $760 each. The employer separately pays a nomination fee of $540 and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy ($1,200/year for small business, $1,800/year for large business). Total employer cost for a 2-year visa: $2,940–$4,140 in SAF levy plus the nomination fee.
Does the 482 visa require a skills assessment?
Generally no skills assessment is required for the 482 visa application itself. The employer's nomination covers the occupation requirement. However, some regulated occupations — particularly healthcare — require registration with the relevant Australian body (e.g. AHPRA for nurses and doctors), which effectively functions as skills recognition. If you plan to transition to 186 PR, check whether your occupation needs assessment at that stage.
What happens when my 482 visa expires?
When your 482 visa expires, you must either: have a new 482 visa approved, have lodged a 186 permanent residence application (and be on a bridging visa), or depart Australia. If your employer nominates you again, you can apply for another 482. If you have worked for your sponsor for 2+ years, you may be eligible for the 186 ENS permanent visa. Check your timeline at the 482→186 calculator.
What is the TSMIT and does it apply to 482?
TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) is the older name that many people still use. For the 482 visa, it has technically been replaced by the CSIT (Core Skills Income Threshold) and SSIT (Specialist Skills Income Threshold) since the Skills in Demand reforms. The current CSIT is $76,515 rising to $79,499 on 1 July 2026. Many employers and agents still say "TSMIT" as shorthand — they mean the same thing. For the 494 regional visa, TSMIT technically remains separate.
Can my employer pass the SAF levy cost to me?
No. Under Australian law, employers cannot pass the SAF levy or nomination fee on to the applicant. These are employer obligations. Attempting to recover these costs from sponsored workers is illegal and can result in the employer's sponsorship being cancelled. If an employer asks you to contribute to the SAF levy, this is a serious red flag — report it to the Fair Work Ombudsman.