HomeSkilled tradespersonAustralia
Routes to Australia: skilled tradesperson
Skills in Demand (482) needs an employer; points-tested 189, 190 and 491 do not
The employer-sponsored route, the Skills in Demand 482, needs an Australian employer to sponsor you first; your occupation has to be on the Core Skills Occupation List and the salary must clear an income threshold. Separate points-tested skilled routes (189 independent, 190 state-nominated, 491 regional) need no employer sponsor but do need an eligible occupation, a skills assessment and an invitation through SkillSelect. A Trades Recognition Australia assessment can apply, typically nine weeks once decision-ready evidence is submitted. We could not confirm which trades are on any list, income thresholds, or fees.
Match an occupation and passport
Choose an occupation and a passport
0 trades are named in Australia's official demand list, ranked below.
What Australia wants, in its own order
This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.
The routes
Each route below is a separate permit with its own listed requirements. A requirement you do not meet can stop an application for that route, however strong the rest of the case is. A requirement we cannot confirm is shown as unknown, not as a failure.
Skills in Demand visa — Core Skills stream (Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482))
Preview — under verificationEmployer-sponsored temporary visa for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List; you need a sponsoring employer first, and the income threshold and occupation-list placement of your trade are not confirmed here.
Who this is for
- Tradespeople and other skilled workers who already have an Australian employer willing to sponsor them
You must have every one of these
- An employer must agree to sponsor you and lodge a nomination for the role
- Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (Jobs and Skills Australia advises on this list)
- The nominated salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (amount NOT VERIFIED)
- You must meet skills, qualification and English-language requirements; the English test and score are NOT VERIFIED
- Trade occupations: a skills assessment by Trades Recognition Australia applies where the 482 requires one; your passport country must be listed beside the occupation in the TRA table
Source: Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-02; Government or public body) · Smart Move Australia — Skills in Demand visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Skills in Demand visa — Labour Agreement stream (Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482))
Preview — under verificationAvailable only where the sponsoring employer already has a labour agreement with the Australian Government in effect; individuals cannot use it without that employer.
Who this is for
- Workers recruited by an employer that holds a labour agreement
You must have every one of these
- The employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government in effect
Source: Smart Move Australia — Skills in Demand visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Skilled Independent visa (points-tested) (Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189))
Preview — under verificationPermanent visa for invited skilled workers with no employer, state or family sponsor; you need a listed occupation, a skills assessment, enough points and an invitation, and invitations are issued in rounds, not on demand.
Who this is for
- Skilled workers whose occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list and who can score enough points
You must have every one of these
- Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (the list itself is NOT VERIFIED)
- Meet age, English and skills-assessment requirements (limits and scores NOT VERIFIED)
- At least 65 points, stated as the current minimum threshold on Smart Move Australia; the points actually needed to receive an invitation are NOT VERIFIED
- Lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and be invited; an EOI is not a visa application
Source: Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points-tested stream (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-05; Government or public body) · Smart Move Australia — Skilled Independent visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)
Skilled Nominated visa (state or territory) (Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190))
Preview — under verificationPermanent visa that needs nomination by a state or territory government plus an invitation; each government sets its own criteria and the nomination allocations limit how many places exist.
Who this is for
- Skilled workers a state or territory is willing to nominate
You must have every one of these
- Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and a suitable skills assessment
- State or territory nomination; each government sets its own requirements
- At least 65 points (stated on Smart Move Australia)
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect; the invitation comes only after nomination and must be accepted within the period stated
Source: Smart Move Australia — Skilled Nominated visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491))
Preview — under verificationProvisional visa to live and work in regional Australia, requiring a state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible family member; permanent residence needs time lived and worked in a regional area first.
Who this is for
- Skilled workers prepared to live and work in regional Australia
You must have every one of these
- Nomination by a state or territory government, or sponsorship by an eligible family member
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect (SkillSelect covers 491)
- To move to permanent residence (subclass 191), show you lived and worked in regional Australia while on the 491
- Points, occupation list, English and age: NOT VERIFIED
Source: Home Affairs — Regional work visas (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-10-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)
What it costs
How long it takes
Timeline not published by the authority
Home Affairs visa processing times are not yet verified here. TRA states TSS assessments usually take nine weeks from decision-ready evidence (a stage only, not the whole move). Application charges are published by Home Affairs in a script-rendered table and estimator; could not be read here, so no fee is shown.
Published figures for this route
Published figures on how often this route is used, with their sources.
Documents, insurance, housing and money
These needs are the same whichever track you choose, so they are published once for Australia, with sources and check dates.
Quick answers
Which routes to Australia exist on the skilled tradesperson track?
Skills in Demand (482) needs an employer; points-tested 189, 190 and 491 do not
How long does it take?
Timeline not published by the authority. Home Affairs visa processing times are not yet verified here. TRA states TSS assessments usually take nine weeks from decision-ready evidence (a stage only, not the whole move). Application charges are published by Home Affairs in a script-rendered table and estimator; could not be read here, so no fee is shown.
How much does it cost?
The published costs on this page are in different currencies, so there is no single total. Items that are not in that total, such as proof of funds or later permit fees, are labelled on this page where our sources state them.