Australia Updates Method for Determining Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)

Key Point  

• Australia introduced amendments to the method for determining the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for employer‑sponsored nominations. 

Salary Rate (AMSR) for Employer‑Sponsored Nominations 

Effective March 25, 2026, Australia introduced amendments to the method for determining the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for employer‑sponsored nominations.  

Key Changes 

The instrument updates how employers must determine AMSR under the Migration Regulations 1994, including: 

• Revised criteria for identifying an equivalent Australian worker, including the same workplace, the same location and equivalent duties. 
• New rules for when an industrial instrument applies, requiring AMSR to reflect the annual earnings set out in that instrument or supported by employment documents. 
• Updated guidance for situations where no equivalent Australian worker exists, allowing AMSR to be determined using industrial instruments (if applicable) or other relevant market information. 

These changes replace the prior AMSR methodology under IMMI 18/033. 

Impacted Applicants 

The updated AMSR method applies to: 

• Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage 
• Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 
• Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme 
• Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (legacy) 

The amendments affect all nominations lodged on or after March 25, 2026, as well as previously lodged but undecided nominations.

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