Employers · Engineering
Sponsoring Engineers — Occupations, Assessment and Process
Civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers are on the long-term skills list, which opens employer sponsorship and every points-tested visa. Engineers Australia assesses them, and whether an overseas degree needs the competency demonstration report pathway is the first question for any candidate.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Salary floor (Core Skills)
- A$79,423 + super
- Nomination charge
- A$330 + SAF levy
- Visa
- 482 Skills in Demand, then 186
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Employers: get the engineering nomination right the first time.
In the extended consultation I check the role against the occupation, the salary against the floor and market rate, and the candidate against the assessment and the visa, then give you a fixed quote in writing for the sponsorship, nomination and visa.
What it costs. $550 inc. GST for 60 minutes by video with Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536), credited in full against our professional fee if you engage WIDEN. Advice confirmed in writing after the call. There is no free consultation or free assessment.
Which occupations can be sponsored
| Occupation | List | Employer and skilled visas | Assessed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer 233211 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
| Structural Engineer 233214 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
| Mechanical Engineer 233512 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
| Electrical Engineer 233311 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
| Telecommunications Network Engineer 263312 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
List status from the Department of Home Affairs occupation lists as recorded on this site; check the searchable Core Skills list for any occupation not shown.
What the engineering-specific checks are
- Engineers Australia assessment: accredited degrees (Washington Accord and others) go through a simpler route; other degrees need a competency demonstration report. The assessment can take months and should start before the nomination.
- Professional engineer or technologist: the occupation level matters; a nomination for Civil Engineer requires duties at professional level.
- Regional demand: many engineering roles sit in regional areas, where the 494 and state nomination add routes.
The process for the employer
- Standard Business Sponsorship: approval of the business as a sponsor, valid five years. A business already approved skips this.
- Labour market testing: the role advertised in Australia for at least 28 days within the four months before the nomination, including on Workforce Australia, unless an exemption applies.
- Nomination: the position, its duties, the occupation code and the salary, which must be at least A$79,423 a year plus superannuation (the Core Skills Income Threshold) and the market rate for the role.
- The visa: the worker applies for the 482, with the skills assessment where the occupation or their nationality requires it, English, health and character.
- After two years in the role, the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream to permanent residence.
Cost and timing
Government charges to the employer: the sponsorship application A$420, the nomination A$330, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 a year of nomination for a business with turnover under A$10m, A$1,800 a year above it. The visa application charge is A$4,015 for the main applicant. None of the employer charges may be passed on to the worker. Processing runs in months, not weeks; current processing times are tracked monthly, and since 19 September 2026 nominations in priority sectors are processed first.
General information only, current at October 2026; not advice on your own case. Outcomes depend on the Department’s assessment of each application; no registered migration agent can guarantee a result (Code of Conduct, Migration Agents Regulations). Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
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Tell Keshab your situation. He reads it personally and replies within a business day with which route fits you and whether a consultation is worth your money. Not an assessment of your file, no advice on it, no obligation.
How this works: Keshab reads every case check himself and replies personally, usually within a business day: which route fits, what it turns on, and whether a consultation is worth your money. If it is, he offers you a time; if it is not, he says so.
Ready now? Skip the form. Pick a time and talk to Keshab directly — your documents on the table, a straight answer, and a written summary afterwards. $330 inc. GST, credited toward your fee if you engage.
Pick a time — no enquiry needed →Questions we get asked first
Do engineers need a skills assessment for a 482?
Engineers Australia assessment is mandatory for some nationalities and commonly requested. It is required for the points-tested visas.
Can a graduate engineer be sponsored?
Yes, if the role is at professional level and the salary meets the floor. Many graduates use the 485 first and the points route alongside.
Is engineering a priority sector?
Engineering in construction and resources falls within the priority sectors for processing since 19 September 2026.
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