For employers
Labour Agreements for Australian Employers
When standard sponsorship doesn't fit, a labour agreement lets you sponsor overseas workers on negotiated terms, including occupations and concessions not otherwise available.
About the Labour Agreements forn Employers
A labour agreement is a formal agreement between an employer and the Australian Government that lets the employer sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers. It is used where there is a demonstrated need that the standard skilled visa programs cannot meet. Labour agreements can include industry templates, company-specific agreements and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
Workers can then be nominated for the Labour Agreement streams of the 482, 186 and 494 visas, under the terms set in the agreement.
What a labour agreement can offer
- Occupations not on the standard lists, where agreed
- Negotiated concessions, for example on English or salary
- A pathway to permanent residency through the 186 or 494
- Terms tailored to your industry or region
What you will need to show
- A genuine need that standard programs cannot meet
- Commitment to training and employing Australians first
- Labour market testing, unless an exemption applies
- Ongoing compliance with the agreement terms
Employers pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy with each nomination: AUD1,200 or AUD1,800 a year of the nominated stay for a 482, or a one-off AUD3,000 or AUD5,000 for a 186 or 494, depending on whether annual turnover is under AUD10 million. The levy cannot be passed on to the worker.
Based on Department of Home Affairs information (October 2026). Visa costs, thresholds, occupation lists and processing times can change, so always confirm current details on the Department of Home Affairs website or ask our team. This page is general information, not migration advice for your circumstances.
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Labour Agreements forn Employers FAQs
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
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An agreement between an employer and the Australian Government that allows the employer to sponsor overseas workers on negotiated terms.
The Labour Agreement streams of the Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) visas.
Yes. If your agreement is due to expire, you need to request a new one before it ends.
A Designated Area Migration Agreement: a regional type of labour agreement.
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