High-Income Exemption Salary Increase Is Assessed at Application Time
High-income exemption salary increase concerns are common for ENS 186 applicants relying on the age exemption..
Another applicant over 45, paid above the FWHIT for two years, worried that they needed to keep increasing their salary every year to match indexation of the threshold while waiting for their ENS 186 (Temporary Residence Transition stream) application to be decided. Their instinct was that the threshold only needs to be met at the time of application, not at the date of decision.
This understanding is correct. Once the application is lodged, subsequent increments to the FWHIT aren’t relevant. The age exemption is assessed based on your salary in the two years before lodgement, not on post-lodgement earnings. Therefore, you don’t need to chase each annual increase.
Importantly, a high-income exemption salary increase is not required after lodgement if the threshold was met beforehand.
What This Means for Applicants
• Pay above the FWHIT for at least two years immediately before your ENS 186 application.
• After lodgement, future increases to the threshold are irrelevant.
• Continue being paid your agreed salary, but you don’t need to adjust for indexation.
Why Indexation Doesn’t Affect Your Application
Once an ENS 186 application is lodged, assessment is locked to the relevant period before lodgement. While the Fair Work High Income Threshold may increase annually, those changes do not retrospectively apply. This is why applicants meeting the criteria earlier are not required to pursue a high-income exemption salary increase while waiting for a decision.
How VisaTasker Can Help
Australian migration rules can be complex, and every situation is different. Our registered migration agents can review your circumstances and provide clear, practical advice on the best pathway forward for you.
Disclaimer: This article contains general information only and may not apply to your specific circumstances. For personalised guidance on your visa application, please book a consultation with one of our registered migration agents.
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Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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