Changes to Minimum Salary for 457 and ENS visas, May 2006

Minimum Salaries for applicants sponsored for 457 and ENS visas were changed as of the 2nd of May 2006. This will apply to nominations for 457 and ENS visas lodged on or after May 2nd. That is, so long as the nomination was lodged prior to 2/5/2006, a visa can still be granted even if the salary is not now at the minimum level.

The changes are as follows:

Category/Occupation	Old Minimum	New Minimum	% Change
IT Professionals & IT Managers	$50,775	$57,300	12.9%
Other Occupations	$39,100	$41,850	7.0%
High Salary Skill Option for ENS	$151,500	$167,000	10.2%

Note that superannuation, bonuses and living allowances cannot be counted towards meeting these minimum salary levels.

The percentage increases, particularly for IT professionals and the ENS high salary skill option, are quite significant and in excess of average wages growth. This may in part be a response by DIMA to recent press about high numbers of overseas employees being sponsored for jobs in Australia.

New Gazette Notices have been issued for the list of occupations approved for 457 and ENS visas. However, there appear to be no additions or removals of occupations from these lists.