The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy, Explained for Employers

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 3 September 2026

TL;DR: The SAF levy is a mandatory training-fund charge an Australian employer pays each time it nominates a worker for a sponsored visa. For the Skills in Demand 482 it's $1,200 per year of the nomination for small businesses (turnover under $10M) or $1,800 per year for larger businesses, paid upfront for the full nomination length. For the permanent 186 it's a one-off $3,000 (small) or $5,000 (large). It is the employer's cost by law and cannot be passed to the worker.

The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is usually the single biggest line item when an Australian business sponsors an overseas worker — and the one employers are most often surprised by. It funds training for Australian workers and is charged per nomination. This guide explains exactly how much it is, when you pay it, the rules on who bears it, and the narrow circumstances in which it's refundable. For a full cost picture, pair this with Migratio's sponsorship cost estimator.

How much the SAF levy is

The levy scales by your business's annual turnover and by the visa. For the temporary Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482), it is $1,200 per year of the nominated period for small businesses (annual turnover under $10 million) and $1,800 per year for larger businesses ($10 million or more) — and it is paid upfront for the entire nomination length. So a small business nominating a worker for four years pays 4 × $1,200 = $4,800 in one go. For the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), the levy is a one-off $3,000 for small businesses and $5,000 for larger businesses. These amounts are indexed and can change on 1 July each year, so confirm the current figures before you lodge.

When you pay it

The SAF levy is paid in full at the time you lodge the nomination — not in instalments and not after approval. For a 482 nomination you pay the whole multi-year amount upfront based on the length of the nomination you're requesting. This is a deliberate cash-flow point: a four-year 482 nomination for a single worker can mean nearly $5,000 of levy payable on day one, on top of the nomination and sponsorship charges. The permanent 186 levy is likewise payable at nomination.

Who pays — and why it can't be passed to the worker

The SAF levy is the employer's cost, full stop. It is unlawful to ask the sponsored worker to pay it or to recover it from them indirectly (for example by reducing their salary, charging a 'sponsorship fee', or deducting it from pay). Doing so is a breach of your sponsorship obligations and can lead to your sponsorship being barred or cancelled, plus penalties. The worker may pay their own visa application charge, but the SAF levy, the nomination charge and the sponsorship application are employer costs.

When the SAF levy is refundable

Refunds are limited and shouldn't be assumed. The levy is generally refundable only in specific situations — for example where the sponsorship and nomination were approved but the worker's visa application is refused on health or character grounds, where the worker doesn't commence work, or where a nomination fee was paid in error. A change of mind, a withdrawn nomination, or a refusal on other grounds typically does not attract a refund. Because the levy is large and paid upfront, the practical safeguard is a correctly prepared nomination the first time — the most common way employers lose the levy is a refused nomination, not a refund rule. Check the current refund criteria on the Department of Home Affairs website before relying on a refund.

Budgeting for it

Treat the SAF levy as the anchor of your sponsorship budget and build the rest around it: add the Standard Business Sponsor application (if you're not already approved), the nomination charge per role, optionally the worker's visa charge if you're covering it, and migration agent fees. Migratio's sponsorship cost estimator does this maths for your turnover, visa type and nomination length in a few clicks. And remember the levy sits on top of an ongoing salary commitment — at least the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,423) or Specialist Skills Income Threshold ($146,576), and at least the market rate.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the SAF levy for a 4-year 482?

For a small business (turnover under $10M) it's 4 × $1,200 = $4,800, paid upfront at nomination. For a larger business it's 4 × $1,800 = $7,200. Unlike visa application charges, the SAF levy did not move at the 1 July 2026 indexation — it is set separately under the Skilling Australians Fund charge legislation.

Can I make the worker pay the SAF levy?

No. The SAF levy is the employer's cost by law and cannot be recovered from the worker by any means. Attempting to do so breaches your sponsorship obligations and can cost you your sponsor status.

Is the SAF levy refundable if I change my mind?

Generally no. Refunds apply only in limited circumstances (such as a visa refused on health/character grounds after the nomination was approved, or the worker not commencing). A withdrawn nomination or change of mind usually isn't refundable — confirm current rules with Home Affairs.

Do small businesses pay less?

Yes. Businesses with annual turnover under $10 million pay $1,200 per year (482) or $3,000 one-off (186); larger businesses pay $1,800 per year or $5,000 one-off.

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