Engineering and construction professionals seeking to work in Australia have a variety of visa options available. Explore permanent and temporary visa pathways, including employer-sponsored and independent programs.
417 Working Holiday Visa
- This is the cheapest and easiest visa to come to Australia on
- It’s an initial 1-year visa with the option of a second or third year if you complete specified work (this is a specific amount of time working in specific industries in certain regional areas – Please note: There is a list of regional postcodes and not all regional areas are in these postcodes, so you always need to check)
- You need to be under 35
- This is a solo visa so you can’t include a partner or children
- Have enough money in your bank account to initially support yourself in Australia (3,000 euro, the equivalent of $5000)
Please note: From July 2024, those who have British passports will not be required to do specified work to obtain a second or third year WHM visa. These passport holders will also be able to come to Australia on a second or third year WHM visa if they previously used their first year WHM visa, irrespective of what passport they used for their first WHM visa.
Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visa
- This is an employer sponsored visa
- Your occupation must be on the skilled occupation list
- This is a 2-year or 4-year visa (depending on your occupation, although most engineering occupations are 4 years)
- You must have 2 year’s experience working in the occupation you are being nominated in (Please note: From 23 November 2024, this will reduce to 1 year experience)
- Work only for your sponsor
- This visa is a pathway to PR after 2 years
Please note: Although most engineering occupations require at least a Bachelor’s degree. However, for those who do not have a Bachelor’s degree, there are options based on work experience (Generally over 3 to 5 year’s experience for certain engineering occupations, including Construction Project Manager)
Employer Nomination Scheme visa 186 Direct Entry
- You must be nominated by an Australian employer
- Occupation needs to be on the skilled list
- Have a positive skills assessment
- Have at least 3 years’ work experience
- Be under 45
- You must be licensed or registered if it is required in the State you are working in
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
- This is a permanent visa
- You need to be under 45
- It’s points based (you get points for education, occupation, etc)
- You don’t need a job or an employer
- You need to do a Skills Assessment in your occupation
- You need to submit an Expression of Interest to the Federal Government
- Then you wait to be invited to apply for the visa (Please note – there are currently only about 2 invitations per year, so this visa is recommended where time is not an issue.)
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 190)
- Similar to 189 visa but it’s a State based visa so you are invited to apply by the individual states
- This is a permanent visa
- You need to be under 45
- It’s points based (you get points for education, occupation, etc)
- You don’t need a job or an employer,
- You need to do a Skills Assessment in your occupation
- You need to submit an Expression of Interest to the State Government
- Different States have different rules and occupation lists
- Invites are more frequent for 190 visa
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
- This is a 5-year visa, but you are eligible to apply for PR after 3 years
- You need to live and work in Regional Australia
- Be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
- Have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a skills assessment for the occupation
- Be invited to apply
- Satisfy the points test
Please note for all Australian visas you need to pass the Character Test and meet the Health Requirements
