Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot

Progress So Far (as of 31 August 2025)

• 158 employers have entered into a Skilled Refugee Pilot Labour Agreement.

• 164 skilled refugees/displaced people have already been granted permanent residence, representing 368 people including family members.

• Participants have been sponsored by employers across most Australian states and territories.

• Most candidates have originated from Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria.

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Why Employers Are Choosing the Pilot

The Skilled Refugee Pilot provides several advantages that distinguish it from standard skilled visa pathways:

1. Access to a large international talent pool

Through the Pilot and TBB’s Talent Catalog, employers can access over 123,000 skilled refugees worldwide, including IT professionals, engineers, medical professionals, technicians, and more.

2. Additional recruitment and settlement support

TBB:

• Assesses candidate eligibility

• Supports employers throughout the recruitment process

• Coordinates post-arrival settlement assistance

3. Generous concessions to standard visa requirements

The Labour Agreement allows tailored concessions to help employers fill genuine skills shortages.

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Step-by-Step Process

The Skilled Refugee Pilot follows a three-stage pathway:

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1. TBB Endorsement

Both the employer and the skilled refugee/displaced person must receive endorsement from Talent Beyond Boundaries.

TBB:

• Confirms candidate eligibility

• Provides written endorsement to the Department

• Confirms occupation-specific requirements (e.g., registrations)

The Department of Home Affairs does not assess refugee/humanitarian claims for this process.

Employers must contact TBB directly to start the endorsement stage.

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2. Labour Agreement

Once endorsed, the employer submits a request through ImmiAccount for a Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement.

A Labour Agreement:

• Is a written agreement between the employer and the Australian Government

• Allows sponsorship for a skilled visa in an approved occupation

• May include concessions not available through standard visa programs

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3. Nomination & Visa Application

Once the Labour Agreement is approved:

• The employer lodges a nomination outlining the occupation, salary, and Australian market salary evidence.

• The candidate lodges a visa application, including eligible immediate family members (spouse, de-facto partner, dependent children).

Applicants must still meet mandatory health, character, identity, and security requirements.

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Key Concessions Under the Skilled Refugee Pilot

Skills Assessment

• No formal skills assessment required.

• Employers confirm skills/registration suitability.

Work Experience

• Standard requirements (2–3 years) are waived under the labour agreement.

English Requirements

• Functional English only (IELTS 4.5 overall or equivalent).

• No minimum component scores required.

Age

• Age ceiling increased:

  • Under 55 for ENS & SESR

  • No age limit for SID (Subclass 482)

Occupations

• More than 970 occupations are eligible under the Pilot—far broader than standard Skilled Occupation Lists.

Income Concessions

• Up to 10% concession to TSMIT/CSIT where the market salary is lower.

• Specific minimum salary provisions apply for aged-care related occupations (e.g., Nursing Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant, Aged or Disabled Carer).

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Further Information & Support

For TBB Endorsement

Employers and candidates should reach out to Talent Beyond Boundaries for guidance on endorsement and access to the Talent Catalog.

For Department of Home Affairs Support

Business, Industry & Regional Outreach (BIRO) teams are available across each state and territory to assist employers with the Labour Agreement process.

Need Assistance with the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot?

VisaEnvoy can assist employers and skilled refugees with:

• TBB endorsement preparation

• Labour Agreement requests

• Nomination and visa applications (ENS, SESR, SID)

• Compliance guidance

• Strategic workforce planning using the Pilot pathway

If you would like support navigating the Skilled Refugee Pilot or exploring employer sponsorship options, contact VisaEnvoy today.