Work

1 July 2026 changes: wages, visa fees and super

A practical update on minimum wages, 417/462 visa fees and Payday Super rules from 1 July 2026.

By KangaRoute 5 min read
Room for paperwork, notes and planning. AI-generated illustrative image.
Room for paperwork, notes and planning. AI-generated illustrative image.

If you are working in Australia, July's changes are a reason to check your payslip and super account. If you are about to apply for a Working Holiday visa, check the application budget too: minimum pay, visa fees and super payment timings changed from 1 July 2026.

Below are the figures and checks to start with, along with sources from Fair Work, Home Affairs and the ATO. These are general explanations; use the relevant official source to check what applies to your job or visa.

In short

From 1 July 2026:

  • the National Minimum Wage is AUD 26.44 per hour;
  • the weekly reference is AUD 1,004.90 for a 38-hour week;
  • for casual employees covered by the National Minimum Wage, the minimum is AUD 33.05 per hour, including 25% casual loading;
  • minimum award wages increase by 4.75%;
  • first Working Holiday 417/462 visa applications cost AUD 840;
  • second and third Working Holiday 417/462 visa applications cost AUD 1,000;
  • the super guarantee rate remains 12%;
  • under Payday Super, super is paid each payday instead of quarterly.

Minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage is the general minimum for adult employees in the national system who are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026 it is AUD 26.44 per hour or AUD 1,004.90 per week, based on a 38-hour week.

For casual employees covered by the National Minimum Wage, the minimum reference is AUD 33.05 per hour, because it includes the 25% casual loading.

Important: many jobs are not paid only by reference to the National Minimum Wage. Hospitality, retail, horticulture, cleaning, construction and other sectors may be covered by specific awards. In that case, check the correct rate in the relevant pay guide or in Fair Work's Pay and Conditions Tool.

Before deciding: open the official source, check the date and who it applies to.
Before deciding: open the official source, check the date and who it applies to.

Award wages

From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increase by 4.75%, with minimum thresholds set out by Fair Work:

  • the lowest rate in any award for ongoing employment must be at least AUD 1,004.90 per week or AUD 26.44 per hour;
  • entry-level rates that apply for the first 6 months or less must be at least AUD 978.10 per week or AUD 25.74 per hour.

The increase does not always apply from the exact shift on 1 July. It applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. If your weekly pay period started on Monday 29 June and ends on Sunday 5 July, the new rates may apply from the next pay period.

Working Holiday visa fees

Home Affairs has updated visa application charges. For Italian passport holders, the relevant visa is usually the Working Holiday visa subclass 417. From 1 July 2026 the base charges are:

  • First Working Holiday visa 417: AUD 840;
  • Second Working Holiday visa 417: AUD 1,000;
  • Third Working Holiday visa 417: AUD 1,000.

For the Work and Holiday visa subclass 462, the base charges are also:

  • First visa: AUD 840;
  • Second visa: AUD 1,000;
  • Third visa: AUD 1,000.

These are base visa application charges. Extra costs, surcharges, health checks, police certificates, biometrics or specific circumstances may apply. Before paying, always use the official Home Affairs page or the Visa Pricing Estimator.

Superannuation and Payday Super

The super guarantee rate remains 12%. What changes is when employers need to pay it.

From 1 July 2026, Payday Super applies: employers need to pay super in line with payday instead of paying it only quarterly. The frequency follows your wages: weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The payment date and the date the contribution appears in your fund may be different.

The ATO says contributions generally need to reach the super fund within 7 business days after payday, unless a longer timeframe applies. For workers, the practical step is to check payslips and super accounts more regularly.

What to check on your payslip

To check your first payslip at the new rates, have your shift records beside you. Look at:

  • hourly rate;
  • hours worked;
  • casual loading, if you are casual;
  • penalty rates or overtime;
  • gross pay and net pay;
  • tax withheld;
  • super shown on the payslip;
  • pay period;
  • employer name and ABN.

If the rate looks below the minimum, if you do not receive payslips, or if super never appears, ask questions early. Do not wait months.

Where to start with your checks

Take your latest payslip and compare the hourly rate with your award, not just the national minimum. Then check the hours, deductions and super; the amount reaching your bank account is only part of the picture.

For a visa, use the fee shown by Home Affairs when you apply. For super, compare payments with your pay cycle and the ATO deadlines. Payday Super does not mean everyone receives weekly contributions.

Official sources

Keep preparing

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