Licence fees and costs

Labour hire licence fees are a standard business cost for all labour hire providers in Victoria.

There are 4 types of fees:

• application fee
• annual licence fee
• renewal application fee
• certified copy or extract of the register fee.

Application fee

You must pay an application fee when you submit your application for a new labour hire licence.

This non-refundable fee is the cost associated with assessing your application.

If your application is successful, you will be granted a labour hire licence for up to 3 years.

Annual licence fee

The annual licence fee is separate to the application fee and must be paid for your licence to remain current.

You must pay an annual licence fee:

• when your licence is granted
• at the start of each 12-month period after your licence is issued until the licence expires.

This fee is the cost associated with your labour hire licence for a 12-month period.

You will receive a notification about payment via the Labour Hire Licensing Online portal:

• at the time your licence is granted
• 6 weeks prior to the start of each 12-month period after the licence is issued until the licence expires.

Renewal application fee

You must pay a renewal application fee when you apply to renew your licence.

Certified copy or extract of the register fee

If needed, you can request a certified extract or certified copy of the Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers. You will need to pay a fee.

You can also export data from the register for free at any time by visiting the Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers.

Fees: 2023-24 financial year

* 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 the value of a fee unit will be $15.90.

Fees are automatically indexed for inflation on 1 July every year. For more information about fee indexation, please visit the Department of Treasury and Finance’s website.

Definition of turnover

Turnover means the total ordinary income that is derived in the course of running a business, as defined in clause 3 of the Labour Hire Licensing Regulations 2018 (Vic). 

To verify your business's total ordinary income, you usually need to provide the following:

• the turnover for the business in the 4 quarters before the fee is due (for an existing business)
• the projected turnover of the business for the next 4 quarters (for a new business).

If you believe there are particular circumstances meaning your business activity statements (BAS) do not accurately show your business's total ordinary income (e.g. your BAS is for a consolidated tax group, or includes capital transactions), email our Enquiries team at enquiries@labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au.

Once we have reviewed your circumstances, we will contact you regarding next steps. In the case of consolidated tax groups, we may ask you to provide additional information verifying your business's total ordinary income.

Changing business tiers

Your business tier will be reviewed automatically when you go to pay your annual licence fee and licence renewal fee in the Labour Hire Licensing Online portal. 

If your business tier has changed, you will need to declare your turnover and provide BAS or activity statements (AS) for the previous 4 quarters.

If the business tier remains the same

If your turnover for the previous 4 quarters means your business tier remains the same, you must make a declaration that your business tier has not changed.

You can make this declaration when you go to pay your annual licence fee and licence renewal fee in the Labour Hire Licensing Online portal.

Certified copy or extract fee: 2023-24 financial year

From 1 July 2023, the fee to apply for a certified copy or extract of the Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers is $15.90, plus 50 cents for every page in excess of 20 pages, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Payment can be made by Visa or Mastercard (credit or debit) via the Labour Hire Licensing Online portal.

In some special circumstances, an annual licence fee can be reduced or waived.

Special circumstances require:

• a significant event outside the business’s control
• evidence linking the event to a downturn in the business’s turnover
• a significant impact on the business as a result of the decline in turnover.

Special circumstances are not:

• ordinary cycles of business, loss of business, or insolvency
• seasonal factors
• short-term events
• disruptions to the normal operation of a business resulting from business decisions, including mergers and restructures.

You will need to provide:

• details of the event that was outside your business’s control
• evidence that the event caused your downturn in turnover
• evidence that the event had a significant and material impact on the business, including your Business Activity Statements (BAS) or Activity Statements (AS).

Business supports

If your business is facing difficulties, you may be eligible for a range of business supports. For more information, please visit the Business Victoria website.

How to apply

The nominated officer for the labour hire licence can make an application to reduce or waive a fee by:

• phone - 1300 545 200
• email enquiries@labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au.

For more information about how to submit the form, please visit the Applying for special circumstances using the LHLO portal page.

When a refund will be issued

A refund will only be issued in the exceptional circumstances where an applicant has made a genuine mistake, such as: 

• making a double payment (for example, paying the same application fee more than once) 
• lodging an incorrect application type (for example, applying as an individual instead of an organisation). In this instance, the application fee will only be refunded once the correct application has been lodged and the fee has been paid.

When a refund will not be issued

In accordance with the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic), a refund will not be issued if:

• an application is withdrawn
• an application for renewal is withdrawn
• a licence is refused, suspended or cancelled.

This includes when an applicant:

• no longer intends to provide labour hire services
• forms the view that they no longer provide labour hire services
• believes their application may be refused
• decides to sell their business.

For more information on refunds, visit LHA’s Refund Policy page.