Australia has increased the minimum salary requirement for Nigerians and other foreign workers applying for employer-sponsored visas to AUD 76,515, equivalent to about N72.5 million.
The new threshold, announced by the country’s Department of Home Affairs, will apply to visa applications submitted between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The policy is aimed at aligning migrant wages with those earned by local workers.
The revised requirement affects several visa categories, including the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, Employer Nomination Scheme, and Skills in Demand visa.
For highly specialised roles, the salary benchmark has been set significantly higher at AUD 141,210, raising the bar for top-tier foreign professionals.
Authorities say the adjustment is part of an annual wage indexation system designed to prevent underpayment of foreign workers and ensure fairness in the labour market.
Under the new rules, employers must meet both the updated salary thresholds and prevailing market rates when hiring foreign workers, tightening compliance requirements.
The changes are expected to make it more difficult for some applicants, particularly in mid-level roles, but could also improve earning potential for successful candidates.
The move comes as Australia faces ongoing labour shortages in key sectors such as finance, technology, and business, despite stricter migration policies.
