What is the SAF Levy for the 482 visa?

When sponsoring an employee for a Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 422 visa, businesses must pay a levy called the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF). Introduced in 2018, the SAF levy replaces training benchmarks that had existed before.

The SAF levy is payable in full when the sponsoring employer submits the nomination application for a TSS 482 visa.

The government also charges AUD AUD330 to nominate a worker.

The amount depends on the size of your business and the time the sponsored worker will be in Australia.

Business size SAF levy for TSS 482 visa
Small (annual turnover less than $10 million) AUD1200 per year or part thereof
Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more) AUD1800 per year or part thereof

Example: a business with an annual turnover of more than AUD10 million per year that wishes to nominate a TSS 482 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.

The SAF levy provides funding for apprenticeships and traineeships in occupations that are in high demand and currently rely on skilled migration or have future growth potential, including in regional Australia.