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Employers must pay the applicable nomination training contribution charge referred to as the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
The purpose of the SAF levy is for employers to contribute to the broader skills development of Australians.
The levy funds are managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)
The Department of Home Affairs calculate the required SAF levy amount which is payable in full at the time of lodging a nomination application using information provided in the online nomination application.
Employers must not pass the SAF levy on to the visa applicant.
The SAF Levy will be payable on Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS 482 visa), subclass 186 and 187 nomination applications;
The Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill, passed by the Parliament of Australia, was implemented on 12th August 2018. Employer sponsored applications will incur the new training levy from this date.
The bill imposes a nomination training contribution charge (known as the Skilling Australians Fund levy) on employers nominating workers under the temporary and permanent employer sponsored migration programs.
The levy will replace the current training benchmarks for employers sponsoring workers on 457, ENS and RSMS visas from March 2018. It will also be the requirement for the new TSS visa.
For the purpose of the levy, businesses with turnover of less than $10 million per year are considered small business and businesses with turnover of $10 million or more per year are defined as large business:
👉 size of the sponsoring business and
👉 proposed period of stay of the overseas worker in Australia.
| Business size | TSS visa | ENS / RSMS and SESR visas |
|---|---|---|
|
Small (annual turnover less than $10 million) |
AUD 1200 per year or part thereof |
AUD 3000 one-off |
|
Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more) |
AUD 1800 per year or part thereof |
AUD 5000 one-off |
Example: a business with an annual turnover of more than AUD10 million per year that wishes to nominate a TSS worker for a period of 4 years would be liable to pay a levy of AUD7,200 (4 years x AUD1,800).
Levy payments are tax deductible.
Sponsors who are party to a labour agreement must also pay the levy.
Only ministers of religion and religious assistants nominated under the Labour Agreement streams of the TSS or ENS visas are exempt.
For payment options, see how to pay.
Note:
👉 The nomination application form lets you select only 1 of the radio buttons for a 1, 2, 3 or 4 year nomination period. The levy payment is calculated based on the selected option.
👉 You must pay the levy when you submit your nomination application. This includes where a nomination application is being lodged to allow a TSS visa holder to change employer or occupation.
👉 From 18 February 2022, Skilled Regional (Provisional) visas were extended, including SESR, for three years for visa holders affected by COVID-19 international travel restrictions. This extension was made free of additional Visa Application Charges and the SAF Levy.
It is important to note that companies employing someone on a sc457 visa are required to meet their Training Benchmark obligations until 12 August 2018.
Refunds are generally not available for the Levy paid for TSS nominations, however it is possible under the following:
👉 applications where the employer’s sponsorship (SBS) application is refused
👉 applications where the employer’s sponsorship is approved, but the employee’s subsequent visa application is refused based on character or health grounds.
👉 When an approved TSS 482 visa holder does not actually commence work with the sponsor.
👉 When a TSS 482 visa holder ceases work with their sponsoring employer in the first 12 months of employment. The refund will be calculated based on the balance of the years remaining on the visa.
There will be no refund if the nomination is withdrawn or refused.
The SAF levy may be refunded where a written request has been made by the person who paid the nomination fee and the SAF levy. The fee may also be refunded where the delegate considers it is reasonable in the circumstances to refund the fee without receiving a written request.
