AMSR Flexibility Changes 2026: 482, 494, 186, 187
AMSR Flexibility Changes 2026: What Sponsors of the 482, 494, 186 and 187 Need to Know
From 25 March 2026, the Migration Legislation Amendment (Annual Market Salary Rate) Instrument 2026 gave sponsoring employers more flexibility in how they calculate the Annual Market Salary Rate for nominations under the Skills in Demand (482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187) visas.
The reform does not change the underlying income thresholds. It changes how an employer can demonstrate the correct market rate when there is no directly equivalent Australian worker already in the business.
What the Annual Market Salary Rate actually is
The AMSR is the test that confirms a sponsored worker is being paid no less than an equivalent Australian worker would earn in the same role, on top of meeting the applicable income threshold. It exists to stop sponsorship being used to undercut local wages.
What changed on 25 March 2026
- Employers can now use an alternative methodology to determine the AMSR based on relevant employment documents, where an equivalent Australian worker exists in the business
- Where no equivalent Australian worker exists, employers can rely on relevant market information to establish the rate
- Where a Fair Work or other industrial instrument applies, employers can still use it, but now have more flexibility in how they apply it
- The changes apply to nominations lodged on or after 25 March 2026, and to earlier nominations that had not yet been decided
How this interacts with income thresholds
The AMSR operates alongside, not instead of, the applicable income threshold. For the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187) visas, the salary must still meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, AUD 76,515 for nominations to 30 June 2026, rising to approximately AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026. For the Skills in Demand (482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (186) visas, the Core Skills Income Threshold applies, at the same AUD 79,423 level from 1 July 2026.
What this means for employers
Employers sponsoring a role without a directly comparable Australian employee, a genuinely new position for example, now have a clearer, documented way to justify their proposed salary, rather than relying solely on published salary surveys that may not reflect the specific role or region.
What this means for applicants
For prospective visa holders, the reform should reduce the number of nominations delayed or refused purely on AMSR documentation grounds, provided the employer follows the correct methodology and still meets the relevant income threshold.
How Australian Shores supports employers through the AMSR changes
We help sponsoring employers apply the correct methodology and documentation for each nomination type.
- AMSR methodology selection for 482, 494, 186 and 187 nominations
- Income threshold compliance checks against the current CSIT and TSMIT figures
- Nomination and visa application preparation for both employer and employee
- Ongoing compliance advice for sponsors managing multiple nominations
| Sponsoring a role without a clear comparable salary?
Get advice on the correct AMSR methodology for your nomination before you lodge. Call +61 2 7251 5333 Email [email protected] www.australianshores.com |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Annual Market Salary Rate?
It is the requirement that a sponsored worker be paid no less than an equivalent Australian worker in the same role, on top of meeting the applicable income threshold for their visa subclass.
What changed with the AMSR from 25 March 2026?
Employers gained more flexibility in how they determine the AMSR, including using relevant employment documents where an equivalent Australian worker exists, or relevant market information where one does not.
Which visas does the AMSR flexibility reform apply to?
The Skills in Demand (482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187) visas.
Does the AMSR change affect the minimum salary threshold?
No. The AMSR flexibility reform changes how employers evidence the market rate. It does not change the Core Skills Income Threshold or Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, which are indexed separately each year.
Do the AMSR changes apply to nominations lodged before 25 March 2026?
The new methodology applies to nominations lodged on or after 25 March 2026, and to earlier nominations that had not yet been decided by that date.
Can I still use a Fair Work industrial instrument to set the AMSR?
Yes. Where a relevant Fair Work or industrial instrument applies, employers can still use it, with more flexibility in how it is applied under the 2026 reform.