Key Migration Changes for 2024–2025
The start of the new financial year marks the beginning of a new Australian immigration program, bringing several changes effective from 1 July 2024:
Minimum income thresholds for skilled visas:
$135,000 for highly skilled professionals
(Specialist Skills Income Threshold – SSIT)$73,150 for occupations on the national shortage list
(Core Skills Income Threshold – CSIT)Changes to TSS 482 and 494 Visas | 180-day employment gap
From 1 July 2024, holders of TSS 482 and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 visas will have up to 180 consecutive days to be unemployed, during which they can:
Find a new sponsoring employer
Apply for another visa, or
Make arrangements to depart Australia
During this period, visa holders can work for other employers in occupations not listed in their original nomination. This ensures they can support themselves while seeking new sponsorship.
Unless exempt, visa holders must stop working for their sponsoring employer before working for a different one. While still employed by the sponsor, they must continue working in their nominated occupation.
The total period a person can be unemployed on their visa must not exceed 365 days. Any unemployment period before 1 July 2024 does not count towards the new 180- or 365-day limits.
Increase to TSMIT for sponsored visa holders
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will increase from $70,000 to $73,150 as of 1 July 2024. This applies to new nomination applications for:
TSS 482 visa
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186/187) visas
New nominations must meet either the new TSMIT or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), whichever is higher. However, if the AMSR is lower than the TSMIT, the position is ineligible for nomination.
