The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has quietly pushed through its most significant rewrite of the territory’s Skilled Migration Nomination Program in a decade. Effective 1 February 2026, self-employed and small-business applicants for the provisional Subclass 491 visa must now show taxable earnings of at least AU$610 a week—up from AU$520—while permanent-residency hopefuls under Subclass 190 must prove AU$1,175 a week, up from AU$1,000. Officials say the higher bar is designed to “attract candidates who can make a sustained, higher-value economic contribution” rather than applicants whose wages sit close to the hospitality-sector award.
More controversially, Canberra has abolished its dedicated fast-track for holders of the Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa and legacy 457 visa holders. From this month, employer-sponsored workers already living in the capital must compete in the same Canberra Matrix points table as offshore applicants. Migration advisers warn the change up-ends workforce-planning assumptions for hospitals, IT firms and defence suppliers that have used the pathway to retain critical staff.
![ACT overhauls skilled-migration rules: higher income thresholds and 482-visa fast-track scrapped]()
For applicants trying to navigate these tighter rules, VisaHQ offers an easy way to confirm eligibility, assemble supporting documents and submit a sound application. Its Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides up-to-date checklists and live assistance, helping both self-employed entrepreneurs and employer-sponsored workers minimise errors and delays.
Recruiters are most concerned about the raised hourly wage floor—now AU$31 before casual loading—for applicants to claim employment points. Sectors such as aged-care, retail and food service, which already face chronic shortages, say they will struggle to lift salaries while containing costs. Businesses that cannot meet the new threshold may look interstate for nomination or increase use of labour-hire arrangements.
The ACT government counters that the reforms align with recommendations in the federal Migration Strategy to tighten integrity settings and lift salary benchmarks, arguing that higher incomes underpin better settlement outcomes. Prospective migrants and sponsoring employers are being urged to review points claims immediately; incorrect or out-of-date income evidence can now trigger an outright refusal without an opportunity to supply further documentation.
More controversially, Canberra has abolished its dedicated fast-track for holders of the Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa and legacy 457 visa holders. From this month, employer-sponsored workers already living in the capital must compete in the same Canberra Matrix points table as offshore applicants. Migration advisers warn the change up-ends workforce-planning assumptions for hospitals, IT firms and defence suppliers that have used the pathway to retain critical staff.
For applicants trying to navigate these tighter rules, VisaHQ offers an easy way to confirm eligibility, assemble supporting documents and submit a sound application. Its Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides up-to-date checklists and live assistance, helping both self-employed entrepreneurs and employer-sponsored workers minimise errors and delays.
Recruiters are most concerned about the raised hourly wage floor—now AU$31 before casual loading—for applicants to claim employment points. Sectors such as aged-care, retail and food service, which already face chronic shortages, say they will struggle to lift salaries while containing costs. Businesses that cannot meet the new threshold may look interstate for nomination or increase use of labour-hire arrangements.
The ACT government counters that the reforms align with recommendations in the federal Migration Strategy to tighten integrity settings and lift salary benchmarks, arguing that higher incomes underpin better settlement outcomes. Prospective migrants and sponsoring employers are being urged to review points claims immediately; incorrect or out-of-date income evidence can now trigger an outright refusal without an opportunity to supply further documentation.
