Are you an approved Australian employer seeking to diversify your workplace with foreign talent and looking to improve your business by hiring skilled workers from overseas? Then the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy may apply to you.

What is the SAF and how will it affect me?

The Skilling Australians Fund is a levy implemented by the Department of Home Affairs effective on 12 August 2018. The levy paid by you will be used to support local Australians in their apprenticeships and trainee programs.
If you are sponsoring any overseas skilled worker and applying for any one of the following visas, the SAF levy would apply to you:

1. The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa
2. The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) 186 visa
3. The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) 187 visa

How much would I be required to pay?

The SAF levy will be required to be paid in full when lodging a nomination for either of the above visa subclasses.
If your business has an annual turnover of less than $10 million, you would be required to pay $1,200 per year for each temporary overseas worker you sponsor; with a one-off payment of $3,000.
If your business has an annual turnover of $10 million or more, you would be required to pay $1,800 per year for each temporary overseas worker you sponsor and a one-off payment of $5,000 for each permanent worker.

Note: if nomination is refused, there is no refund of SAF. You would therefore be best advised to seek the services of a registered and experienced migration agency.

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