Carpenter Migration to Australia: CSOL, TRA, Visa 482, 190, 491 and PR
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Yes — carpenters (ANZSCO 331212) can migrate to Australia through several different pathways. The occupation appears on the CSOL , making it eligible for the subclass 482 visa (employer-sponsored), the subclass 189 visa (points-tested independent), and the state-nominated 190 and 491 visas. The direct subclass 186 route is uncommon — the most practical pathway is the 482 first, then transitioning to permanent residence after at least 2 years of work.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
Carpenters are classified under ANZSCO code 331212, within Skill Level 3 — an occupation requiring formally trained trade-level skills, equivalent to a vocational qualification (Certificate III or IV in Australia). The scope of ANZSCO 331212 includes: timber framing, installing floorboards, plasterboard ceilings, doors, staircases and timber components in residential and commercial construction.
On its position on the occupation list: ANZSCO 331212 appears on the CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List), the list of occupations eligible for the subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream, and also eligible to be considered by states for nomination on the 190 and 491 visas. CSOL listing does not mean automatic acceptance — a visa applicant still needs to complete a skills assessment and meet the specific conditions of each visa.
Assessing authority: TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) via the Job Ready Program
The skills assessing authority for carpenters is TRA (Trades Recognition Australia), part of the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. For candidates with overseas trade experience (and no Australian trade qualification), TRA assesses through the Job Ready Program (JRP). This is a multi-stage process, not a one-off assessment like other professional occupations.
The Job Ready Program has these main steps: (1) lodge an application and be accepted into the program; (2) work in the trade in Australia for a minimum of 12 months or more (typically 12–18 months in practice); (3) complete the Final Trade Assessment — a hands-on, in-person skills test conducted by TRA; (4) receive the assessment outcome. JRP fees apply for the registration stage (check the current fee on the assessing authority’s official website) and for the Final Trade Assessment (check the current fee on the assessing authority’s official website) (fees can change — check directly on the TRA website before lodging). The total time to complete the JRP is typically 12 to 18 months, counted from when you begin working in Australia until the final assessment outcome.
To begin the JRP, candidates generally need a visa that permits work in Australia (for example, a subclass 482 visa, a student visa, or a WHV 417/462). This means many overseas-trained carpenters enter Australia on a 482 visa first, complete the JRP during their employment, then use the TRA outcome to lodge a permanent residence visa afterwards. The skills requirement is at least real work experience in the carpentry trade, with an employment history evidenced by employment contracts, payslips and employer confirmation.
Suitable visas: an overview
Four main visa groups suit carpenters wanting to migrate to Australia: the subclass 482 (employer-sponsored, provisional, can lead to permanent residence via the 186 TRT), the subclass 189 (points-tested independent, no sponsor required), the subclass 190 (state-nominated, permanent residence directly) and the subclass 491 (state- or family-nominated in regional areas, 5-year provisional leading to the permanent 191 visa). Each route has its own conditions for EOI points, skills, English and state requirements.
Subclass 482 — employer-sponsored
The subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage visa) under the Core Skills stream is the most widely used route for carpenters to come and work in Australia. To be sponsored on a 482 visa, the candidate needs an employer approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS), an employment contract with a salary meeting the current TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — check the rate at homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging), and evidence of relevant skills and experience. The employer must demonstrate they could not find a suitable Australian worker (Labour Market Testing) before nominating.
On the candidate’s side, you must meet the skills requirement for ANZSCO 331212 — typically a TRA assessment outcome or a recognised equivalent trade qualification, together with relevant work experience. The 482 Core Skills stream is granted for up to 4 years. While holding a 482 visa, the worker is tied to the sponsoring employer, but may apply to change employers in certain circumstances.
The pathway from 482 to permanent residence
After working on a 482 visa for at least 2 continuous years with the same employer (or a related employer), the candidate becomes eligible to lodge the subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream . This is the most practical permanent residence route for a carpenter holding a 482 visa. Additional requirements include: the employer nominating for a full-time position, a minimum market-rate salary, and meeting the English requirement (typically IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). Note that not every employer is willing to nominate for a 186 visa — this should be discussed clearly before signing an employment contract.
An alternative route is, while holding the 482 visa, to complete the TRA assessment, accumulate EOI (Expression of Interest) points on SkillSelect, and lodge an EOI for state nomination on the 190 or 491 visa in parallel. If invited, you can pivot to a permanent residence visa through the state rather than relying entirely on the sponsoring employer.
Subclass 190 and 491 — state nomination
The subclass 190 is a permanent residence visa nominated directly by a state, while the subclass 491 is a 5-year provisional visa for regional areas, which can later transition to the permanent subclass 191. For carpenters, the states that regularly include ANZSCO 331212 on their nomination lists include South Australia (SA), Western Australia (WA) and Queensland (QLD) — however, these lists change each financial year and with local labour-market conditions, so check each state’s website regularly.
To be nominated by a state, candidates generally need: the minimum EOI points required by the state (often 65 or more on SkillSelect’s 100-point scale), a TRA skills assessment outcome, the English requirement, and in many cases work experience or a connection to that state (living, studying or working there). Carpenters (ANZSCO 331212) appear on the MLTSSL , making them eligible for the subclass 189 points-tested independent visa — a route that needs no employer sponsor but requires a competitive EOI score. With the 491 visa, after living and working in the designated region for at least 3 years and meeting the income requirement, the applicant becomes eligible to lodge the subclass 191 visa to become a permanent resident.
English requirements
English requirements depend on the visa being applied for. For the 482 Core Skills stream: the minimum is IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent PTE Academic 36, TOEFL iBT 35) in each band — although many employers require more in practice. For the 190 and 491 visas: the usual requirement is IELTS 6.0 (or PTE Academic 50, TOEFL iBT 60) in each band, although some states may accept a lower level in particular cases.
For the 186 TRT (permanent residence through an employer sponsor): the English requirement is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) in each band, or it can be met by holding a passport from an English-speaking country such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland. For internationally trained candidates, IELTS preparation should start early, as this is often the most time-consuming part of the application.
Reference salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed wages. Actual pay depends on city/region, level and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, award classification, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Carpenters and Joiners group (ANZSCO 3312) are 1,760 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 7,630 AUD/month or 91,500 AUD/year on a simple 52-weeks-per-year conversion (pre-tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed wage). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult, pre-tax earners — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and it covers the whole occupation group.
Advertised salary range (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not verified the SEEK range; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal floor (minimum): Carpenters/construction workers fall under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020). This is the legal minimum floor, distinct from market pay; the specific level depends on the work classification. Check using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Carpenters and Joiners occupation profile (ANZSCO 3312): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/3312-carpenters-and-joiners
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Pathway to permanent residence: summary
The most common permanent residence route for an internationally trained carpenter is: enter Australia on a 482 Core Skills visa (employer-sponsored), complete the TRA skills assessment via the Job Ready Program in the first 12–18 months, work a full 2 years with the same employer, then be nominated for a 186 TRT visa to gain permanent residence. In parallel, or as an alternative, the candidate can accumulate EOI points and lodge a state nomination application (190 or 491 visa) if they have enough points and the state has an open list for ANZSCO 331212 — a route that does not depend on a sponsoring employer and can be faster in favourable market conditions.
Common mistakes
- Not checking TSMIT before accepting a job: Many candidates accept a job at a salary below the current TSMIT (check homeaffairs.gov.au), which means the employer cannot lawfully sponsor a 482 visa or the application is refused.
- Skipping the Job Ready Program in the early stages: Some carpenters focus only on the work without starting the JRP early — which unnecessarily adds 1–2 years to the wait for permanent residence.
- Not reading state nomination conditions carefully each financial year: Each state’s occupation list and requirements change every year. Many candidates rely on outdated information and prepare an application for a state that has closed its list.
- Assuming a 482 sponsor will automatically nominate for the 186 visa: There is no legal obligation requiring the employer to do this. It needs to be clearly agreed in writing before starting work.
- Neglecting English preparation: The IELTS 6.0 required for the 190/491 and 186 visas is much higher than the 5.0 for the 482. Many candidates only discover at the permanent residence stage that their English is not sufficient and must spend a further 6–12 months retaking the test.