Australia Adds UAE CEPA to List of LMT Exemptions – What Employers and UAE Professionals Need to Know
As of 26 August 2025, the Migration (International Trade Obligations Relating to Labour Market Testing) Amendment (CEPA) Determination 2025 formally adds the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to the list of trade deals exempting employers from standard Labour Market Testing requirements when sponsoring skilled workers from the UAE.
Labour Market Testing (LMT) normally requires employers to prove that no suitable Australian worker is available before sponsoring a foreign skilled worker. Under CEPA, this requirement is waived for eligible UAE nationals, aligning Australia’s migration policy with its broader trade commitments.
What is Labour Market Testing (LMT)?
Labour Market Testing (LMT) is one of the requirements that every Australian business must meet to sponsor foreign workers. To pass the LMT process, Australian companies must demonstrate that they made an effort to hire local talent but were unable to find a suitable one, so they must hire an overseas skilled worker.
The purpose of LMT is to:
- Give Australians the first chance to fill open positions to preserve local jobs.
- Avoid unnecessary reliance on foreign workers when local talent is available.
- Make sure hiring procedures are transparent and equitable.
However, to promote mobility and cross-border cooperation, free trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnership agreements often offer LMT exemptions.
What the CEPA Exemption Means for Employers
This exemption brings significant advantages for employers looking to sponsor a UAE national, such as:
- Faster & simpler sponsorship: Employers no longer need to demonstrate unsuccessful attempts to hire locally when nominating UAE skilled workers under eligible sponsored-scheme visa categories.
- Improved access to talent: Sectors with UAE-based experts can now tap into skilled workers more easily, particularly in industries with strong bilateral ties, such as technology, energy, and professional services.
- Consistency in trade and migration policy: The exemption supports Australia’s commitment under CEPA to facilitate skilled mobility and modernise its economic partnerships.
A Powerful Advantage for UAE Nationals and Business
Under CEPA, migratory benefits extend beyond fees and quotas. They grant real flexibility in visa processing:
- UAE professionals can now be sponsored through sponsorship scheme visas, such as the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) or Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186), without undergoing the LMT process.
- This exception streamlines the visa pathway for UAE-based specialists aiming to take on roles in Australia.
What this means for your business or career
The inclusion of CEPA in the LMT exemption means an excellent opportunity for both Australian businesses and skilled workers. Here’s how:
- Australian business: If you’re hiring from the UAE, you can now nominate professionals without conducting LMT. It saves significant time and resources.
- Skilled UAE professionals: your path to Australia may now be more straightforward when securing a job offer with an Australian business.
This LMT exemption under CEPA represents a significant shift in Australia’s approach to trade-aligned migration. It demonstrates Australia’s commitment to its first trade agreement with a country in the Middle East. It opens up new possibilities for streamlined skilled migration from the UAE.
If you’re an employer looking to sponsor UAE talent or a UAE-based skilled worker exploring migration to Australia, our Registered Migration Agents are ready to assist. We will help you leverage CEPA, ensure compliance with current laws, and guide you through a smooth visa application process.
Book an appointment now to begin the process:
How ONEderland Consulting Can Assist You
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