On August 25, 2025, the government published amendments to the migration law in the Federal Register, to include the migration commitments of Australia’s new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Migration (International trade obligations relating to labor market testing) Amendment (CEPA) Determination 2025 amends the Migration (International trade obligations relating to labor market testing) Determination (LIN 21/075) 2021 to include CEPA in the list of recognized trade agreements.
The effect of the amendment is to exempt certain employer-sponsored visa nominations from labor market testing (LMT) when they fall within the international trade obligations of the CEPA.
Annex 10A of the CEPA sets out Australia’s commitments in accordance with Chapter 10 (Entry and Temporary Stay for Business Persons) of the CEPA in respect of the entry and temporary stay of business persons.
In particular, this annex notes that contractual service suppliers may be exempt from labor market testing if LMT is inconsistent with Australia’s WTO commitments. Contractual service suppliers are employees of an enterprise of the UAE that has concluded a contract for the supply of a service within Australia and that does not have a commercial presence within Australia, or who are engaged by an enterprise lawfully and actively operating in Australia in order to supply a service under a contract within Australia.
The CEPA was signed by Australian and UAE trade ministers in November 2024.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.