Quick answer: If a 482 Skills in Demand nomination requires Labour Market Testing, Sunday 31 May 2026 is the last realistic day to post compliant LMT ads if the goal is to lodge by 30 June and stay within the current AUD 76,515 Core Skills Income Threshold. From 1 July 2026, the CSIT is expected to increase to AUD 79,499.
If you are planning to lodge a 482 Skills in Demand nomination before 1 July 2026, this week matters.
For cases that require Labour Market Testing, the job must generally be advertised for at least 28 days before the nomination can be lodged. Working backwards from 30 June 2026, Sunday 31 May 2026 is the last realistic day to post compliant LMT advertisements if you want the nomination lodged before the new salary threshold applies.
From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold, or CSIT, for the 482 Skills in Demand visa is expected to rise from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,499. Any relevant nomination lodged from 1 July 2026 will need to meet the new figure, as well as the applicable Australian Market Salary Rate where that amount is higher.
Why Sunday 31 May matters
The key issue is not just the 1 July salary increase. It is the 28 day Labour Market Testing period that can push a planned nomination past 30 June if the ads are not live in time.
If LMT applies and the advertising has not started by Sunday 31 May, there may not be enough time to complete the required advertising period, prepare the nomination and lodge before the salary threshold changes.
That means a case that could have been planned around the current AUD 76,515 threshold may need to meet the new AUD 79,499 threshold instead.
For employers: why existing ads may not be enough
Some employers assume they are covered because they already have job ads running. In many cases, those ads do not satisfy the LMT rules.
To be useful for a 482 Skills in Demand nomination, the advertising needs to be compliant. Among other things, it should generally be:
- Continuously live for at least 28 days
- Posted within the correct time period before the nomination is lodged
- Published on acceptable channels
- Specific to the nominated position
- Clear about the position title, duties, skills or experience required, sponsor name and salary or salary range where required
Generic standing ads, old ads, incomplete ads or ads on the wrong channels may not count. If the only available remedy is to start the 28 day advertising period again, the case may run past 30 June.
If you are not certain that the ads you already have running will qualify, the time to check is now, not after the deadline has passed.
For visa applicants: check whether LMT applies to your nomination
Not every 482 nomination will need Labour Market Testing. If your citizenship is covered by one of Australia’s relevant International Trade Obligations, LMT may not apply to your nomination.
That can make a major timing difference. If an LMT exemption applies, your employer may not need to wait 28 days before lodging the nomination, provided the rest of the nomination is ready and the salary requirement is met.
Examples of countries that may be relevant to ITO exemptions include China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom. This is not a complete list, and the exemption must be checked against the specific nomination before relying on it.
If an exemption does not apply, the Sunday 31 May deadline may be critical if the employer wants to lodge before 1 July under the current CSIT.
What employers should do today
1. Confirm whether Labour Market Testing applies to the nomination.
2. Audit any existing ads to confirm whether they are compliant.
3. Check whether the role meets the current salary threshold and the applicable Australian Market Salary Rate.
4. If compliant ads are not already running, prepare and post them before the end of Sunday 31 May 2026.
5. Prepare the nomination documents early so the case is not delayed after the advertising period finishes.
What applicants should do today
1. Ask your employer whether Labour Market Testing has already been completed.
2. Confirm whether an International Trade Obligation exemption may apply to your nomination.
3. Check whether the offered salary meets the current threshold and whether it will still meet the new threshold from 1 July 2026.
4. Do not assume that a job ad is compliant just because it is already online.
5. Get advice before the deadline if the timing is unclear.
Next step
Need to lodge before 1 July? Book a Free Discovery Call today.
Frequently asked questions
Can we use job ads that are already running?
Possibly, but only if they meet the LMT requirements. Ads that are too generic, missing required details, too old or posted on the wrong channels may not be enough.
Does every 482 nomination require LMT?
No. Some nominations may be exempt because of Australia’s International Trade Obligations or other specific circumstances. This should be checked carefully before assuming LMT is or is not required.
What happens if we miss the 31 May deadline?
If LMT applies and compliant ads are not live in time, the case may not be ready to lodge before 1 July. That could mean the new salary threshold applies.
Does the new threshold affect nominations lodged before 1 July?
The new salary threshold is intended to apply to relevant nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. Cases lodged before that date are generally assessed against the threshold in force at the time of lodgement, but all other nomination requirements still need to be met.
Need to know where your case sits?
If this affects you as an employer, as an applicant or as someone who is not yet sure where they sit, book a Free Discovery Call with Bravo Migration.
A registered migration agent can help confirm whether LMT applies, whether existing ads are likely to qualify and what needs to happen before Sunday 31 May 2026.
Book a Free Discovery Call at bravomigration.com.au
General information only. This is not legal advice. Migration law and policy can change, and eligibility depends on individual circumstances.
