Australia has increased the minimum salary requirement for Nigerians and other foreign nationals applying for employer-sponsored visas, setting a new baseline of AUD 76,515—approximately N72.5 million for most skilled migration categories.
The updated threshold, announced by the country’s Department of Home Affairs, will take effect for visa applications submitted between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The move is part of ongoing efforts to ensure migrant workers receive wages comparable to those of local employees.
The new salary benchmark will impact key visa pathways, including the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
For highly specialised roles, the bar has been raised even further. Applicants under the Specialist Skills Income Threshold will now need to earn a minimum of AUD 141,210 (about $96,454), reflecting a significant increase for top-tier professionals.
Officials noted that the revised figures are tied to Australia’s wage indexation system, which adjusts migration salary requirements in line with changes in Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings. The policy is intended to protect foreign workers from underpayment while promoting fairness across the labour market.
Credit: Vanguard
