Employers · Trades and construction
Sponsoring Trades Workers — Occupations, Assessment and Process
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders and fabricators are on the long-term skills list, so a construction or manufacturing business can sponsor them on the 482 and move them to permanent residence on the 186. The steps that decide most trades nominations are the skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia, Australian licensing for the electrical and plumbing trades, and a salary that meets the floor.
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
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →MARN 1576536
Employers: get the trades and construction 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician (General) 341111 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Plumber (General) 334116 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Carpenter 331212 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Bricklayer 331111 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Welder (First Class) 322313 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Fitter-Welder 323213 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Metal Fabricator 322311 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Fitter (General) 323211 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | TRA |
| Construction Project Manager 133111 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | VETASSESS |
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 trade-specific checks are
- Skills assessment: Trades Recognition Australia assesses most trades. For many nationalities a skills assessment is mandatory for the 482; for others it is requested case by case. It looks for a trade qualification as well as experience, and self-taught tradespeople often need recognition of prior learning first.
- Licensing: electricians and plumbers need an Australian licence (often a provisional licence through the Offshore Technical Skills Record or a state process) before they can work unsupervised; the nomination should show how that will happen.
- Salary: trade award rates can sit below the A$79,423 floor; overtime that is not guaranteed does not count towards it.
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.
Check your case
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
Can I sponsor an overseas electrician or plumber?
Yes. Both are on the Core Skills list. The worker needs a Trades Recognition Australia assessment and an Australian licence pathway, and the salary must meet the floor.
Is labouring or general construction work sponsorable?
No. Construction labourer and similar roles are not on the lists. Only listed trades can be sponsored.
Are construction businesses prioritised?
Yes. Since 19 September 2026, construction is a priority sector for processing 482 and 186 applications.
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