Correct as at 1 July 2026
Australian Immigration Settings & Considerations 2026-2027
The May Budget indicated that visa application charges are expected to generate increasing revenue over the forward estimates, rising from $4.7 billion to over $7 billion. The 25% increase announced for most visa application charges on 1 July 2027, indicates that the Government is aggressively pursuing this target. The Government’s focus moving into this new financial year is stated as seeking to reform the permanent migration to identify migrants who drive productivity and Australia’s long‑term prosperity.
The Migration Planning Levels for 2026-27 are unchanged in absolute numbers (185,000 places), but there has been a redistribution of quotas within the Skilled migration stream, which emphasises employer-sponsored, skilled independent, and state-nominated skilled visas over talent and regional skilled visas. In addition, the Government has signalled an emphasis on onshore processing, indicating a focus on supporting onshore talent and tightening offshore access. Presumably, a further measure to assist in reducing politically sensitive net overseas migration (NOM) figure, while maintaining access to critical skills, where NOM is the net overseas migration and is a measure of the difference between permanent and long‑term arrivals and departures.
Table 1. Migration Planning Levels for FYE2025 versus FYE2026
| Migration Program | Visa Category | 2025–26
Planning Level |
2026–27
Planning Level |
| Skilled Migration Program | |||
| Commonwealth Program | Skilled Independent | 16,900 | 21,090 |
| Talent and Innovation1 | 5,300 | 3,500 | |
| Employer Program | Employer-Sponsored | 44,000 | 58,040 |
| State and Territory Program | Regional | 33,000 | 14,110 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 33,000 | 35,500 | |
| Total Skilled Program | 132,200 | 132,240 | |
| Australian Family Program | |||
| Partner & Child | Partner | 40,500 | 41,500 |
| Child | 3,000 | 3,500 | |
| Parent & Other Family | Parent | 8,500 | 7,060 |
| Other Family | 500 | 400 | |
| Total Family Program | 52,500 | 52,460 | |
| Special Eligibility | 300 | 300 | |
| Total Migration Program | 185,000 | 185,000 | |
Note: (1) The Talent and Innovation category includes the National Innovation Visa, as well as the Global Talent, Distinguished Talent and Business Innovation & Investment visas, which are closed to new applications. The 2025-26 planning level has been adjusted to reflect this.
The NOM is estimated at 305,000 for 2024-25 and decreased to 295,000 in 2025-26. It is expected to decline further to 245,000 in 2026-27, before stabilising at around 225,000 from 2027-28 onwards.
Hence, there is a clear emphasis on prioritising onshore outcomes and restricting and targeting offshore migration to selective cohorts that are highly skilled. For employers seeking to attract overseas nationals to permanent skilled roles, this will mean forward planning for less immediate starts. Alternatively, adopting a two-stage strategy of applying for a 1-year temporary Skills in Demand (SID) visa via subclass 482, to relocate the employee quickly and then sponsoring for permanent residence when the candidate is onshore, will hasten ability to commence the role.
Key Updates for 2026-2027
A number of key immigration thresholds increased in line with CPI on 1 July 2026, per the table, below:
Table 2. Threshold that must be met at the time of nomination lodgement from 1 July 2026
| Indexed Minimum Income Thresholds | Amount from
1 July 26 |
Relevance to Eligibility |
| Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) | $190,100 | Applicants seeking to rely on the age exemption from the under 45-year age requirement must demonstrate that their earnings exceed FWHIT (this applies to eligible applicants under subclass 186 Temporary Resident Transition stream).
Applicants applying for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) must demonstrate the ability to earn at least FWHIT. |
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | $79,423 | The minimum annual base salary that an applicant, nominated for a subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream, must be paid. |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | $146,576 | The minimum annual base salary that an applicant, nominated for a subclass 482 visa under the Specialist Skills stream, must be paid. |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | $79,423 | This impacts nomination applications for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187). |
Arrangements for Payment of Immigration Charges and Levies
The query often arises as to which charges and levies must be paid by the employer and which DHA charges and levies can be paid by either employer or employee in accordance with legal requirements and sponsor obligations. The requirements are such that we advise that arrangements for payment of immigration related charges and levies be apportioned as per Table 3., below:
Table 3. Immigration charges and levies and who can pay for these charges/levies
| Visa Subclass | DHA Charge | Payment Must Be Made By | Comments |
| 407 | Nomination | Employer | This fee cannot be recovered from the applicant |
| 400 / 407 /408 | Visa | Employer / Applicant | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement in writing |
| 482 | Nomination | Employer | This fee cannot be recovered from the applicant |
| SAF Levy | Employer | This fee cannot be recovered from the applicant | |
| Visa | Employer / Applicant | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement | |
| 186 / 187 | Nomination | Employer | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement in writing |
| SAF Levy | Employer | This fee cannot be recovered from the applicant | |
| Visa | Employer / Applicant | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement in writing | |
| 858 | Visa(1) | Employer / Applicant | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement in writing |
| 417, 485, 600 | Visa | Employer / Applicant | This fee may be recovered from the applicant by prior agreement in writing |
Note: (1) While nomination via Form 1000 is required, no charge applies
In all instances where payment of a fee is recovered from the applicant, agreement in writing must be reached prior to application lodgement and the fees incurred. The employer must not seek reimbursement from an employee for the sponsorship fee, subclass 482 nomination charge, or for the SAF Levy (whether it applies to a 482 nomination or a 186/187 nomination). Although we do not recommend it, an employer may seek reimbursement for a subclass 186 nomination charge (or any subclass 187 certification fee), however, agreement on such an arrangement must be reached in writing prior to lodgement of any application. For the avoidance of doubt, sponsorship fees cannot be recovered from the applicant.
As a general comment, the payee of professional fees for immigration assistance should follow the guidelines on payee applied for nomination fees. Hence, if professional fees include nomination assistance, and the nomination fee must be paid for by the employer, then the professional fees cannot be recovered from the applicant.
DHA Visa Application Charges (VAC) From 1 July 2026
For the majority of visa application charges, DHA announced a staggering 25% increase on 1 July 2026. The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship’s explanatory statement cited that:
‘Cross-government consultation occurred during the 2026-27 Budget process to inform the Government’s decision in relation to increasing the VAC’
There are no increases to nomination charges or the SAF Levy. The DHA charges quoted in Table 4., below are correct as at 1 July 2026. These are payable by credit card or BPay. The nomination charge as well as the SAF Levy must be paid in one transaction, and separately the visa application charges in one transaction.
Table 4. DHA charges and levies payable to the at time of application lodgement from 1 July 2026
| Subclass | Application Type | DHA Charge ($)1,2 |
| Temporary Activity Visas | ||
| 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) | Visa application – primary applicant | 535 |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 535 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 135 | |
| 407 – Training | Nomination application | 170 |
| Visa application – primary applicant | 535 | |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 535 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 135 | |
| 408 – Temporary Activity (Researcher / Invited Participant / Entertainment etc) | Visa application – primary applicant | 535 |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 535 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 135 | |
| Employer Linked Visas (require nomination by employer) | ||
| 482 – Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (both Core Skills & Specialist Skills streams) | Nomination application | 330 |
| SAF Levy – upfront fee based on 4-year nomination(3) | 7,200 | |
| Visa application – primary applicant | 4,015 | |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 4,015 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 1,005 | |
| 186 – Employer Sponsored Nomination OR
187- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent Residency) |
Nomination application | 540 |
| SAF Levy – upfront one-off fee(3) | 5,000 | |
| Visa application – primary applicant | 6,140 | |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 3,070 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 1,535 | |
| Secondary Instalment of the VAC – each dependent over 18 years(5) | 4,890 | |
| Other Visas and Charges | ||
| Second onshore 407, 408, 482 | Subsequent temporary application charge(4) | 700 |
| 858 – National Innovation Visa (NIV) | Visa application – primary applicant | 6,235 |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 3,120 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 1,560 | |
| Secondary Instalment of the VAC – each dependent over 18 years(5) | 4,890 | |
| 417 – Working Holiday (first visa) | Visa application – primary applicant | 840 |
| 485 – Graduate Temporary | Visa application – primary applicant | 5,750 |
| Visa application – each dependent over 18 years old | 2,875 | |
| Visa application – each dependent under 18 years old | 1,450 | |
| 600 – Visitor Visa | Visa application – primary applicant applying onshore in Australia | 630 |
Notes:
- Fees are correct as at 1 Jul 2026 and are GST-free. For the above and other subclass current fees per DHA site
- Credit & debit card surcharge of 1.4% applies to government charges
- The Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) Levy was introduced on 12 August 2018
- Applies when applicant has previously held a temporary visa applied for and obtained in Australia
- Secondary instalment of the visa application charge (VAC) applies to each applicant aged 18 years or over that cannot demonstrate functional English