The occupation decides the pathway before the business decides anything
Whether an occupation can be sponsored at all, and under which pathway, is set by an occupation list specific to that pathway — a trade or a profession carried on one list is not automatically carried on another, and some entries are excluded from a stream where the position sits within a defined type of business. This page indexes the occupations we are asked about most often in Western Australia, with a short section on each, and links to the pathway pages for the fuller criteria.
Subclass 482 SID Visa Skills in Demand, up to four years, across the Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams. → Subclass 186 ENS Visa Employer Nomination Scheme, a permanent visa reached via Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition or a labour agreement. → Subclass 494 SESR Visa Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional, five years in regional Australia, then Subclass 191. →Not sure your occupation qualifies?
Tell us the role and we will check it against the current occupation lists for each pathway.
Source: Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Parts 482, 186 and 494, compilation F2026C00667, 1 July 2026. Occupation lists: Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/089), Compilation No. 3, F2025C01064; Migration (Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/093), Compilation No. 4, F2026C00263.
Occupations we are asked about most, by field
The lists below are examples grouped by field, not a complete or current occupation list. Whether a specific occupation is sponsorable, and under which pathway, depends on the occupation list in force for that pathway at the time of nomination — we check the current instrument against the specific role and ANZSCO code at consultation.
Construction trades
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Bricklayer
- Painting Trades Worker
- Plumber (General)
- Electrician (General)
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
- Fitter (General)
- Welder (First Class)
- Diesel Motor Mechanic
- Metal Fabricator
- Structural Steel Construction Worker
- Construction Project Manager
Teaching
- Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
- Primary School Teacher
- Secondary School Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- Vocational Education Teacher
- University Lecturer
- English as a Second Language Teacher
Community and healthcare
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Midwife
- Enrolled Nurse
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Disability Support Worker
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Social Worker
- Medical Practitioner (General)
These lists are illustrative examples, not the current occupation list for any pathway, and are not exhaustive. Occupation lists are set by instrument for each visa program and are amended from time to time — confirm the current list and the correct ANZSCO code for a specific occupation before relying on it.
What we would ask at the outset
- What is the occupation, and what does the person actually do day to day?
- Is the candidate already in Australia, and if so, on what visa and conditions?
- Which passport does the candidate hold?
- Has the position been advertised, and if so, where and when?
- For a trade occupation, does the candidate hold a relevant licence, registration or trade qualification already?
The answers determine which occupation list and which pathway genuinely apply, and whether a skills assessment or a specific exemption is in play before any advertising or nomination begins.
Frequently asked questions
Employer My occupation is not listed on this page. Can it still be sponsored?
Possibly. This page covers the occupations we are asked about most often; it is not the full list of sponsorable occupations. Whether your occupation sits on the relevant list for subclass 482, 186 or 494 depends on the current instrument for that pathway, which we check against the specific occupation and ANZSCO code at consultation.
Employer Does every trade occupation need a skills assessment?
Not always, and not for every passport. A mandatory skills assessment applies to specified occupations for applicants holding certain passports, assessed by the authority the relevant instrument names for that occupation. Exempt-applicant routes exist — including an existing 457/482 holder in the role, a qualification obtained in Australia or a permitted country, or an already-held licence, registration or membership — and whether one applies should be checked before assuming an assessment is required.
Source: Migration (IMMI 18/039: Mandatory Skills Assessment—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2018, sections 5 to 7, Compilation No. 2, compilation date 14 December 2024, F2025C00062.
Employer Can sponsoring a worker in one of these occupations guarantee the visa is granted?
No. Being on the right occupation list is one requirement among several. The nomination and the visa are decided separately, and the visa application carries its own criteria for the individual applicant, including a genuine intention to perform the occupation, relevant work experience and the English requirement for the pathway.
Check your occupation against the current lists
Australian Migration Co is a migration practice based in Perth. Adam Kocoglu is a Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2418576, and acts in employer sponsorship matters throughout Western Australia. We cannot tell you what a decision will be, and no registered agent will do so. We can confirm which list your occupation sits on and what the nomination will need to show.
Book a consultation See all sponsorship pathwaysWritten by Adam Kocoglu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2418576. Adam Kocoglu is the principal of Australian Migration Co, a registered migration agent in Perth, and acts for Western Australian employers in sponsorship, nomination and visa matters. Further information about Adam Kocoglu, migration agent Perth.
Information current at 22 September 2026. Occupation lists and skills assessment requirements are amended from time to time; the entries above are amended without notice by the Department of Home Affairs. This page is general information, not immigration assistance for your matter, and does not constitute or imply a guarantee of any outcome.