The SAF Levy on Visa 482: Who Pays, How Much, and When?
The SAF levy — the Skilling Australians Fund levy — is a mandatory fee the employer must pay each time it sponsors a visa 482. It is one of the less-discussed costs, but it has a large bearing on whether a company decides to sponsor.
What the SAF levy is
The SAF levy was introduced in 2018 as a mechanism to fund training and skills development for Australians. The rationale is: if a company hires a foreign worker instead of training an Australian, it should contribute to this fund.
This fee is non-refundable and cannot be passed on to the worker — it is a legal obligation of the employer.
The SAF levy amount
The SAF levy depends on the size of the company:
Small business (turnover under $10 million AUD per year): 1,200 AUD for each year of the visa
Large business (turnover of $10 million AUD per year or more): 1,800 AUD for each year of the visa
How the total SAF levy is calculated
The SAF levy is calculated on the total visa period and paid once when the nomination is lodged.
Example for a visa 482 with a 2-year term:
- Small business: 1,200 AUD × 2 = $2,400
- Large business: 1,800 AUD × 2 = $3,600
For a 4-year visa:
- Small business: $1,200 × 4 = $4,800
- Large business: $1,800 × 4 = $7,200
Who pays the SAF levy
The employer pays the SAF levy. By law, the employer cannot require the worker to repay this amount, whether directly or indirectly. Requiring the worker to “repay the SAF levy” — in any form — breaches the law and can lead to the company’s SBS being cancelled.
When the SAF levy is paid
The SAF levy is paid at the same time as the nomination fee — when the employer lodges the nomination for each 482 employee. It is not paid year by year — it is paid once for the entire visa period.
If the visa is cancelled early or the worker leaves the company, the SAF levy is not refunded.
A partial refund if the visa is shorter than expected?
The SAF levy is not refunded — even when:
- The nomination is refused (in this case the SAF fee may be partly refunded under specific policy — check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- The visa is granted but the worker leaves Australia early
- The nomination is approved but the personal visa is refused
Note: where the nomination is refused before it is processed, the SAF levy may be refunded. Check the current policy.
The effect on the sponsorship decision
The SAF levy is one of the reasons many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) hesitate to sponsor a 482. On top of the SAF levy, the employer must also pay the nomination fee and may have to pay migration agent costs.
Understanding the real total cost helps you present the case more clearly to an employer when proposing sponsorship.