Employers should budget now for annual indexation of the skilled-visa income settings that sit alongside the market rate requirement. Skilled-visa income thresholds are indexed annually, with updates taking effect on 1 July each year. 

Under the Skills in Demand visa program, sponsors must meet both the market salary rate and the streamspecific threshold for the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. 

The Department has published processing priorities and service-level figures for skilled visas. 

Teaching and healthcare occupations are receiving top priority after designated regional area applications. For the Skills in Demand visa, ‘decision-ready’ applications benefit most. 

The current median decision times for ‘decision-ready’ applications are: 

• 7 business days for Specialist Skills stream cases 

• 21 business days for Core Skills stream cases 

In practice, that means:  

• front-loading the health, character, and (where required) skills assessments;  

• aligning the employment contract to the market rate and the relevant stream threshold; and  

• attaching the financial capacity evidence the Department expects to see with modern nominations. 

Accredited sponsors continue to receive priority across employer-sponsored programs, so accreditation remains worth the effort if you hire at scale. 

The Core Skills Occupation List is now set. The List uses the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 2022 for the Skills in Demand visa and the Employer Nomination Scheme. 

Many roles carry caveats that narrow eligibility. 

Map each role to the correct ANZSCO 2022 code and check the applicable caveats early. If a caveat applies, reevaluating the position or moving streams may be necessary. 

Compliance settings tightened over the past year. 

Sponsors must notify the Department of Home Affairs of key changes, such as a sponsored worker ceasing employment or significant duty changes, within 28 days. 

The Department is also highlighting its monitoring powers across right-to-work checks, market rate evidence and record-keeping. It publishes sanctions for sponsors who fall short. 

A prohibited-employer regime can also bar businesses from hiring additional temporary visa holders for a period, with names published by the Australian Border Force. 

The most effective mobility programmes are making three adjustments now.  

• Firstly, they are sharpening application preparation to hit the Department’s ‘decision-ready’ mark and to avoid caveat pitfalls under the new Core Skills Occupation List. 

• Secondly, they are refreshing notification and compliance systems to meet the 28-day window. 

• Lastly, they are upskilling on sponsor obligations, migrant worker protections and the consequences for non-compliance.