Multiple advertisement platforms
Minimum number of advertisements (typically 3) across different platforms. At least one must be Workforce Australia (formerly JobActive).
SID Nominations · Advertising Rules · 2026 Standards
Labour Market Testing is a condition of most SID nominations.
Our employer team Brian Park and Sourabh Aggarwal plans LMT campaigns from Brisbane, Darwin, and Gold Coast offices. Before sponsoring an overseas worker, Australian employers must demonstrate attempts to recruit locally. Here are the 2026 LMT rules: what advertising counts, how long the evidence window is, and where exemptions apply.
Core LMT rules
Four advertising requirements.
LMT requires specific advertising in the lead-up to nomination.
4-week minimum advertisement period
Advertisements must run for at least 4 weeks. Shorter periods generally not sufficient.
Within 4 months of nomination
LMT must have occurred within 4 months before nomination lodgement. Older advertising usually not admissible.
Specific content requirements
Advertisements must include job title, main duties, salary or salary range, location, and application method. Generic ads do not count.
Exemptions
Three categories of LMT exemption.
Some nominations are exempt from LMT. Checking exemptions before running ads saves time.
Trade agreement obligationsSome trade agreements exempt nominations of specific nationalities or occupations. Check current exemptions.
Intra-corporate transfereeSenior executives transferring within multinational companies sometimes qualify for exemption. Specific criteria apply.
Specialist Skills stream nominationsSome Specialist Skills stream nominations have reduced LMT requirements given the salary threshold. See SID streams.
Labour agreements and DAMAsDAMAs and labour agreements have their own LMT frameworks.
Evidence preparation
Three evidence categories.
LMT evidence must be systematic and verifiable.
Advertisement records
Screenshots, URLs, and confirmation from platforms. Dates visible. Platform reference numbers where available.
Applicant records
Records of applicants received (numbers, qualifications, decisions). Shows genuine recruitment attempt.
Decision reasoning
Brief reasoning for why local applicants did not meet requirements. Not rejection of every applicant in a discriminatory manner.
LMT is a common source of nomination refusal.
Refusals often come from ads that did not run long enough, did not include required content, or were not on the required platforms. Planning LMT before starting advertising saves refusals. Generic HR ads rarely meet migration requirements on their own.
Common questions
The questions we hear most.
For LMT compliance, book with Brian Park.
Can I use LinkedIn ads for LMT?
LinkedIn can count as one platform, but Workforce Australia is generally still required as one of the three. Check current platform requirements.
What salary range should I advertise?
Realistic market range for the role. Overstating to attract fewer applicants undermines the testing; understating can mislead.
Can I advertise through a recruitment agency?
Yes. Agency ads can count. Keep evidence of the agency engagement and campaign.
What if we received many applications but none suitable?
Strengthens the LMT evidence. Decision records showing why local applicants did not meet requirements support the nomination.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.