Government data matching signals new era of visa compliance enforcement
Government data matching signals new era of visa compliance enforcement
The Australian Government’s latest move to intensify oversight of skilled visa holders marks a significant escalation in employer compliance monitoring, according to BDO Migration Services Principal Lawyer, Rebecca Thomson.
The Australian Government has intensified its oversight of skilled visa holders with a new data-matching initiative that marks a significant escalation in monitoring employer compliance.
A one-off data exchange between the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will see visa records cross-checked against payroll data, targeting both sponsoring employers and subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders.
This program is reviewing approximately 58,000 visa holders (and their employers) across three financial years, and it may form the foundation for ongoing cross-agency compliance monitoring if successful.
According to Rebecca, the move “signals a shift in how compliance is monitored – from passive audits to proactive, data-driven surveillance.”
Under the initiative, Home Affairs will compare its visa data with the ATO’s Single Touch Payroll records to identify potential breaches.
“Specifically, the data-matching will assess whether employers are meeting their sponsorship obligations (paying the correct salary, sticking to the nominated role and lawful conditions) and whether visa holders are working only for their approved sponsor as required,” she said.
“Any discrepancies between what was approved in a visa nomination and what’s recorded in payroll could trigger an investigation. This systematic scrutiny represents a new level of real-time verification in the skilled visa program’s integrity measures.
“This program makes it very clear that compliance is no longer just expected — it’s being verified in real time. Employers can’t afford to assume they’re meeting obligations simply because no one’s asked questions yet.”
While the immediate focus is on subclass 482 visa holders, the implications are broader.
“This sends a strong message across the skilled migration landscape,” Rebecca said.
“It highlights the need for employers to have robust internal processes, accurate payroll systems and clear records to demonstrate compliance — not just at the point of application, but throughout the life of the sponsorship.”
She said industries with high reliance on skilled migrants — such as health, construction, IT, and hospitality — should treat this as a call to action.
“We are advising clients to review their employment contracts, contractor arrangements, and internal controls now. With Home Affairs and the ATO working together, enforcement will become more precise and harder to challenge after the fact. Being proactive is no longer optional — it’s essential.”
For media enquiries:
Tate Papworth
Manager, Media
E: Tate.Papworth@bdo.com.au
Ph: 0433411189