At VJ Consulting and Education, we work with skilled migrants across a wide range of occupations — from nurses and teachers to tradespeople and engineers — and the pathways vary considerably depending on your specific role, qualifications, and state of intended residence.
Can I immigrate to Australia as a nurse?
Yes — nursing is one of the strongest occupation categories in the Australian skilled migration system, with multiple visa pathways and consistent state nomination availability across most jurisdictions.
The assessing body for nurses is ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council). Before lodging an expression of interest, an overseas-trained nurse must obtain a positive ANMAC skills assessment and, critically, achieve registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). AHPRA registration is a condition of working as a nurse in Australia, not just a formality — many applications stall here because applicants underestimate the English language requirements and the additional bridging training AHPRA sometimes mandates.
For the points-tested stream, Registered Nurse (General) appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which means it is eligible for the independent 189 visa, state-nominated 190 visa, and regional 491 visa. The 190 visa is often the faster pathway for nurses because most states actively nominate registered nurses and the additional 5 nomination points bring a competitive points score within reach for candidates who might otherwise wait years for a 189 invitation.
Alternatively, nurses employed by an Australian health service can be sponsored through the 482 Skills in Demand visa, with a direct transition pathway to the 186 employer nomination visa after meeting the required period of employment. In practice, this employer sponsorship route is increasingly used by hospital networks in regional areas where recruitment shortages are acute.
The application fee for the 190 visa is AUD $4,640As of July 2025 · homeaffairs.gov.au for the primary applicant. Processing times at the 75th percentile for the 190 are 15 monthsAs of June 2025 · homeaffairs.gov.au, though nomination availability is the first bottleneck to resolve before processing time becomes relevant.
Can I emigrate to Australia as a teacher?
Yes, but with an important structural complexity that catches many applicants off guard: teaching registration in Australia is state-regulated, meaning you cannot simply obtain a national assessment and apply to live anywhere. In applications handled by VJCE, teachers frequently underestimate this structural complexity, and those who seek occupation-specific guidance early tend to navigate the state nomination landscape more confidently.
The skills assessment body for teachers — AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) — issues assessments at the national level. However, to actually work as a teacher, you must also register with the relevant state teaching authority (for example, the Victorian Institute of Teaching or the NSW Education Standards Authority). These state bodies have their own qualification equivalency requirements, and some do not recognise overseas qualifications without additional bridging units or supervised teaching hours.
For visa purposes, secondary school teachers (ANZSCO 241411) and primary school teachers (ANZSCO 241213) both appear on the MLTSSL, making them eligible for the 189, 190, and 491 visas. Early childhood teachers have a separate ANZSCO code and are assessed differently. The 190 state nomination pathway is the most practical route for most overseas teachers, because several states — particularly those with documented shortages in mathematics, science, and special education — actively target teachers in their nomination programs.
Points score requirements for a 190 teacher nomination vary by state but typically require at least 65 pointsAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au before the 5 nomination points are applied. Teachers who are younger, hold a master's degree, and have strong English scores (competent or proficient on IELTS) are best positioned. In practice, a science or mathematics secondary teacher with 8 years of experienceAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au can reach a competitive score more readily than a generalist primary teacher with fewer years of practice.
Can I immigrate to Australia as an electrician?
Yes — electrician is one of the trades most consistently in demand across Australian states and territories, and the migration pathway is well-established, though it requires careful navigation of the trade licensing system that operates alongside the visa process.
The assessing authority for electricians is TRA (Trades Recognition Australia), which assesses overseas trade qualifications and experience against Australian standards. The TRA assessment involves a technical review of your qualifications and, in many cases, a trade assessment interview or practical component. A positive TRA assessment is the prerequisite for lodging an expression of interest under ANZSCO 341111 (Electrician General).
Electrician appears on the MLTSSL, so the 189, 190, and 491 pathways are all available. The 491 regional visa deserves particular attention for tradespeople: regional areas have acute shortages of licensed electricians, and several state and territory governments actively nominate electricians for the 491. The additional 15-pointAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au granted for the 491 regional nomination can make the difference between waiting years and receiving an invitation within months.
A critical practical point: a TRA skills assessment does not grant you the right to work as a licensed electrician in Australia. State-based licensing is mandatory and separate. An overseas-trained electrician typically needs to apply to the relevant state electrical licensing authority — for example, Energy Safe Victoria or NSW Fair Trading — and may need to sit a regulatory knowledge examination and undergo supervised work hours before obtaining a local licence. Applicants who plan for this licensing step before arriving are in a far stronger position than those who discover it after landing.
Can I migrate to Australia as a chef?
Yes, chef (ANZSCO 351311) is on the MLTSSL and therefore eligible for the 189, 190, and 491 visas — but the competitive reality of this occupation makes strategy more important than eligibility alone.
The assessing body for chefs is TRA (Trades Recognition Australia). A positive TRA assessment requires evidence of formal culinary qualifications and a minimum of three years of relevant post-qualification experienceAs of current · tradescertification.gov.au, with the actual trade assessment conducted either in Australia or through an approved overseas provider. The assessment is rigorous: TRA evaluates practical skills against Australian trade standards, not simply paper qualifications.
The challenge for chefs is points competition. Because chef has been on the skills list for many years and attracts high volumes of applicants, EOI invitation cutoffs for the 189 are demanding. An applicant seeking a 189 invitation without employer support realistically needs 80 or more pointsAs of July 2025 · homeaffairs.gov.au to receive an invitation within a reasonable timeframe. For chefs who cannot reach that score, the 190 state nomination or the 491 regional pathway are the more accessible routes.
A parallel strategy worth considering is the 482 Skills in Demand visa via employer sponsorship. Many restaurants and hospitality operators — particularly in regional areas and resort destinations — hold standard business sponsorship approval and are willing to sponsor skilled chefs. The 482 does not require a points score, and after two to four years of sponsored employmentAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au (depending on the stream), the chef can transition to the 186 employer nomination visa for permanent residence. For chefs who have a job offer in hand, this employer pathway is often faster and more certain than competing in invitation rounds.
Can I move to Australia as a plumber?
Yes — plumber (ANZSCO 334111) is on the MLTSSL, meaning all three points-tested visa streams are available, and plumbing sits among the trades with the most consistent state nomination activity.
As with other trades, the skills assessment authority is TRA. The TRA process for plumbers mirrors the electrician pathway: a qualifications review followed by a technical assessment component. Applicants with overseas plumbing qualifications that do not directly correspond to Australian Certificate III standards may be required to undertake supplementary training or provide additional evidence of competency.
The state licensing requirement is, if anything, more complex for plumbers than for electricians. Each state and territory regulates plumbing work independently, and the scope of work permitted under a licence varies. A gasfitter's licence, a drainer's licence, and a roof plumber's licence are often separate credentials in Australia, whereas overseas applicants may hold a single combined licence. Applicants should research the licensing requirements of their intended destination state before committing to a location.
From a points strategy perspective, the 491 regional visa is particularly well-suited for plumbers. Regional construction and infrastructure projects create sustained demand for licensed plumbers outside the major cities, and territory governments — particularly the Northern Territory and South Australia — have historically maintained active plumber nomination programs. The 15-pointAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au available for regional nomination, combined with the lower competition for 491 invitations compared to the 189, makes this the recommended starting point for most plumbing applicants who have not yet reached a highly competitive points score.
Can I move to Australia as an engineer?
Yes, and engineering represents one of the broadest categories in Australian skilled migration, covering civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, chemical, and software engineering disciplines — each with its own ANZSCO code and, in some cases, its own assessing authority. VJ Consulting advisers commonly find that engineering applicants benefit most from clarifying their specific ANZSCO classification upfront, as the breadth of the category can lead to misaligned skills assessments if the nominated occupation does not closely reflect the applicant's actual work history.
Engineers Australia (EA) assesses most engineering disciplines. For software engineers and ICT-related roles, the assessing body is ACS (Australian Computer Society). The EA assessment pathway depends on qualification origin: graduates from accredited Washington Accord universities typically follow the standard assessment; graduates from non-accredited institutions undergo a more detailed competency demonstration process, which can take considerably longer.
The points competition for engineering is intense in certain disciplines. Civil and software engineering in particular attract high volumes of EOI submissions, and 189 invitation cutoffs for these occupations have reached 90 or more pointsAs of July 2025 · homeaffairs.gov.au in recent invitation rounds. Mechanical and structural engineering occupations have seen somewhat lower cutoffs, creating genuine differentiation between disciplines that applicants often overlook.
For engineers who cannot reach the points threshold for a 189, the analytical framework here is: 190 state nomination versus 491 regional nomination versus employer sponsorship via the 482 visa. The 482 is particularly relevant for engineers with a specific employer, because it bypasses the points competition entirely and allows continuous Australian work experience to build toward the 186 permanent visa. Engineers with five or more years of post-qualification experience gain 15 pointsAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au for experience alone, which is a meaningful base before English, age, and qualification points are added. Applicants who hold a doctorate from an Australian university gain an additional 5 pointsAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au through the Australian study requirement bonus.
Can childcare workers get PR in Australia?
Yes, but the pathway depends critically on the level of qualification held — and this is where many applicants make an error that costs them months of preparation time.
There are two distinct ANZSCO categories relevant to childcare: Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (ANZSCO 241111), which requires a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and is assessed by AITSL; and Child Carers (ANZSCO 421111), which is a different occupation with a Certificate III or Diploma level qualification requirement, assessed by ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority). The distinction matters enormously because only the teacher occupation appears on the MLTSSL, making it eligible for the 189 visa. The child carer occupation appears on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), which limits access to the 190 and 491 pathways only.
For applicants holding a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent), the practical recommendation is the 491 regional visa. Several state and territory governments actively nominate early childhood workers under the 491 because childcare shortages in regional areas are severe. The 15-pointAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au make the 491 accessible for applicants who score in the 65 to 75 pointsAs of current · homeaffairs.gov.au range before nomination.
For applicants with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, the 190 state nomination and 189 independent pathways are both viable, though points competition applies. In practice, this occupation tier is well-positioned relative to many other skilled occupations because the combination of genuine shortage demand and multiple visa stream eligibility gives qualified candidates real optionality.
Is there a shortage of nurses in Australia 2026?
Yes — and the shortage is structural rather than cyclical, which has direct implications for visa strategy. From cases processed at VJCE, the ongoing nursing shortage means demand for well-prepared applications remains notably high, though eligibility alone does not guarantee a straightforward outcome — thorough documentation of clinical experience consistently makes a meaningful difference.
The Australian Government's Jobs and Skills Australia workforce analysis has consistently flagged registered nursing as a critical shortage occupation. Projections indicate that Australia will face a shortfall of around 85,000 nursesAs of 2025 · jobsandskills.gov.au by the early 2030s if current training and migration intake trajectories continue. The shortage is not uniform: it is most acute in aged care, regional and rural settings, mental health nursing, and perioperative nursing.
From a migration strategy perspective, this shortage translates into three tangible advantages for overseas-trained nurses. First, registered nursing has remained on the MLTSSL without interruption, preserving access to all three points-tested visa streams. Second, most state and territory nomination programs actively prioritise nursing, meaning 190 and 491 invitations are more consistently available for nurses than for many other occupations. Third, employer-sponsored pathways are genuinely accessible: health services from metropolitan hospital networks to rural health hubs hold standard business sponsorship approval and actively recruit internationally.
One important nuance: the shortage does not eliminate the requirements that make nursing migration demanding. AHPRA registration remains rigorous, English language standards are high (most states require IELTS 7.0 in each bandAs of current · ahpra.gov.au for international nurse applicants under the standard pathway), and recognition of specialist qualifications — particularly for ICU, emergency, or midwifery-trained nurses — can require additional bridging. Applicants who prepare their AHPRA application in parallel with their TRA/ANMAC assessment and visa EOI are in a meaningfully better position than those who treat these as sequential steps.
Next Step
Occupation eligibility is only the starting point — the stronger your understanding of how your specific ANZSCO code performs in current invitation rounds, and which state or employer pathway suits your points score, the better your chances of receiving an invitation rather than waiting indefinitely. If you are unsure which visa stream to prioritise or how to structure your assessment sequence, VJ Consulting offers profession-specific migration advice from MARA-registered agents who can map your occupation against current program settings before you commit to a pathway.
This article is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processing times change regularly — always verify details on the relevant authority's official website before making decisions. For advice specific to your circumstances, consider consulting a MARA-registered migration agent.
References
- Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Occupation Lists and visa subclass eligibility: homeaffairs.gov.au
- Trades Recognition Australia — Skills assessment information and processing times: tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council — Skills assessment for nurses: anmac.org.au
- AHPRA — Registration standards for overseas-trained nurses: ahpra.gov.au
- Engineers Australia — Skills assessment process and Washington Accord recognition: engineersaustralia.org.au
- AITSL — Teacher skills assessment for migration: aitsl.edu.au
- ACECQA — Assessment for early childhood workers: acecqa.gov.au
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Workforce shortage data and projections: jobsandskills.gov.au
- Department of Home Affairs — Points test calculator and invitation statistics: homeaffairs.gov.au
Related reading
For the full framework covering every occupation category, visit the Can My Occupation Work? stage; if you want to cross-check your specific role against current eligible jobs and visa pathways, Australia's Skilled Occupation List 2026: Eligible Jobs and Visa Pathways is the natural next step.
