SAF Levy

The SAF levy replaced the previous requirement for employers to demonstrate they have spent a certain percentage of their payroll on contributing to an industry training fund or on training their Australian employees in order to sponsor/nominate overseas workers. The previous requirement used to apply for 457, 186 and 187 visas.

The payment of the nomination training contribution charge is meant to offset expenditure from the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF), a training fund administered by the Department of Education and Training.

The calculations and amount of the SAF levy are as follows:

TSS 482 Nominations:

ENS 186 & RSMS 187 Nominations:

There are no exemptions from paying the SAF levy, except where a nomination is lodged for the occupations of Minister of Religion (including Bishops) and Religious Assistants under the Labour Agreement streams of the TSS or ENS visas.

Refund of the SAF levy:

Refunds are generally not available for the Levy paid for TSS nominations, however it is possible under the following:

1. where a nomination was made because of a mistake by the Department;
2. where a nomination under the Labour Agreement stream is withdrawn because the nominated occupation is not included in the relevant labour agreement or because the number of nominations permitted for the yearly ceiling has been reached;
3. where a nomination is withdrawn because the information in the nomination used to calculate the SAF levy was incorrect;
4. where a nomination is withdrawn because the employer has withdrawn their application to be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor or where that application has been refused;
5. where a 482 visa is granted on the basis of the nomination and the visa holder fails to commence employment in the position associated with the nomination; and
6. where the period of stay proposed in the nomination was more than 1 year and a 482 visa holder that was granted their visa on the basis of that nomination ceases to be employed within 1 year after commencing employment. In these circumstances, the amount to be refunded will be the SAF levy paid less the amount of the SAF levy that would have been payable if the proposed period of stay were 1 year.