The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has unveiled the most significant rewrite of its Skilled Migration Nomination program in five years, lifting minimum income thresholds and scrapping the dedicated fast-track for Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa holders. Announced on 17 February and effective 1 February 2026, the changes mean provisional 491 applicants must now prove taxable earnings of at least AU$610 a week (up from AU$520) while 190 permanent-residence hopefuls face a new floor of AU$1,175 a week (up from AU$1,000).
The headline shock for employers is the abolition of the separate 482/457 pathway. Sponsored workers already in Canberra will have to compete in the standard Canberra Matrix alongside offshore candidates, eroding what had been a reliable transition route to permanent residence. Territory officials say the shift will “prioritise sustained, higher-value economic contribution” and discourage churn among temporary visa holders.
ICT, healthcare and construction employers—sectors that dominate 482 sponsorships—must now audit salary bands and retention budgets. Mobility managers should update relocation packages to ensure new hires meet the tougher wage evidence rules; failure to hit the threshold could derail nomination prospects and trigger costly redeployments to other states.
![Canberra Overhauls Skilled-Migration Rules: Higher Pay Floors and No Fast Track for 482 Visa Holders]()
Whether you’re an employer recalibrating your sponsorship pipeline or a skilled professional eyeing Canberra, VisaHQ’s dedicated Australia page (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers step-by-step guidance on visa options, document checklists and real-time status alerts, simplifying what can otherwise be a daunting compliance exercise.
Migration agents predict a short-term surge in interstate transfers as affected workers look to friendlier state programs. In the medium term, the reforms may push more employers toward direct employer-nomination visas, which carry higher government charges but offer greater certainty.
The ACT overhaul is being watched closely by other jurisdictions. If Canberra succeeds in raising average salaries without shrinking its talent pool, states such as South Australia and Tasmania are likely to follow suit, accelerating the nationwide trend toward “quality-over-quantity” skilled migration.
The headline shock for employers is the abolition of the separate 482/457 pathway. Sponsored workers already in Canberra will have to compete in the standard Canberra Matrix alongside offshore candidates, eroding what had been a reliable transition route to permanent residence. Territory officials say the shift will “prioritise sustained, higher-value economic contribution” and discourage churn among temporary visa holders.
ICT, healthcare and construction employers—sectors that dominate 482 sponsorships—must now audit salary bands and retention budgets. Mobility managers should update relocation packages to ensure new hires meet the tougher wage evidence rules; failure to hit the threshold could derail nomination prospects and trigger costly redeployments to other states.
Whether you’re an employer recalibrating your sponsorship pipeline or a skilled professional eyeing Canberra, VisaHQ’s dedicated Australia page (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers step-by-step guidance on visa options, document checklists and real-time status alerts, simplifying what can otherwise be a daunting compliance exercise.
Migration agents predict a short-term surge in interstate transfers as affected workers look to friendlier state programs. In the medium term, the reforms may push more employers toward direct employer-nomination visas, which carry higher government charges but offer greater certainty.
The ACT overhaul is being watched closely by other jurisdictions. If Canberra succeeds in raising average salaries without shrinking its talent pool, states such as South Australia and Tasmania are likely to follow suit, accelerating the nationwide trend toward “quality-over-quantity” skilled migration.
