Electrical engineer migration to Australia: CSOL, Engineers Australia, 482 and 190
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Electrical engineers (ANZSCO 233311) can migrate to Australia through several pathways. The occupation sits on the CSOL , is points-tested for the state-nominated 190 and 491 visas, and can also be sponsored by an employer through the 482 visa. The 189 (Skilled Independent) visa does not apply to this occupation, and the 186 visa is not available by Direct Entry — the most practical route is to work on a 482 for two years and then transition to the 186 Transition to Permanent Residence (TRT) stream. Applicants should note that an engineering degree is mandatory and that a CDR skills assessment through Engineers Australia must be completed before lodging the visa.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
Electrical engineers are classified under ANZSCO code 233311, at Skill Level 1 — the highest skill level in Australia’s occupation classification system. This code covers professionals who design, develop and supervise electrical systems, electrical equipment and electricity-distribution infrastructure. It is important to distinguish ANZSCO 233311 (Electrical Engineer — requiring a university degree) from ANZSCO 341111 (Electrician — requiring a trade qualification). These are entirely different occupations in terms of qualification requirements, assessing authority and visa pathway.
The electrical engineer occupation (233311) appears on the CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List), which means it is eligible for the 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visas under the points-tested stream. Being on the CSOL also allows an employer to sponsor a 482 Core Skills stream visa. Demand for electrical engineers in Australia is currently high, particularly in Queensland (renewable energy), Western Australia (resources), and South Australia.
Assessing authority: Engineers Australia
The only recognised assessing authority for the electrical engineer occupation (ANZSCO 233311) is Engineers Australia (EA). It is the largest engineering professional body in Australia and is authorised by the Department of Home Affairs to carry out migration skills assessments. An Engineers Australia assessment outcome is valid for three years from the date of issue.
For an engineering degree obtained outside Australia, applicants must lodge their assessment through the CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) pathway. The CDR is a set of documents demonstrating an individual’s technical competence, with three main components: (1) Career Episodes — three written accounts describing real engineering projects in which the applicant acted in an engineering role; (2) Summary Statement — a table mapping competencies against the Engineers Australia standard; and (3) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — a record of ongoing professional development. Alongside the CDR, applicants must provide copies of their degree, academic transcripts, and evidence of work experience.
The CDR assessment fee is currently (current fee — check the assessing authority’s official website) (check directly on the Engineers Australia website, as the fee may change). Processing typically takes 12 to 16 weeks once the application is complete. Engineers Australia also runs a plagiarism check on every CDR — the content must be written entirely by the applicant and reflect their own genuine experience.
Suitable visas: an overview
Electrical engineers (ANZSCO 233311) are eligible for three main visa groups: the 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage) under employer sponsorship; and the 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visas under state nomination, based on points. The 189 (Skilled Independent) visa does not apply to this occupation. The 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa is not available under Direct Entry — applicants need to work at least two years on a 482 before lodging the 186 TRT (Transition to Permanent Residence).
Visa 482 — employer-sponsored
The 482 Core Skills stream allows an Australian employer to sponsor an electrical engineer to work temporarily for up to four years (renewable) . To sponsor, the employer must be a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) approved by the Department of Home Affairs, must demonstrate a genuine recruitment need, and must commit to paying a salary that meets the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold), currently (current TSMIT) per year. In addition to TSMIT, the salary must match the market salary rate for an equivalent position in Australia — for electrical engineers, this usually means an actual salary considerably higher than TSMIT.
Applicants need a valid Engineers Australia skills assessment before lodging the 482 visa, apart from a limited number of exceptions. A degree in electrical engineering or a related field is a prerequisite. The employer is responsible for lodging the sponsorship application first, after which the applicant lodges the visa application. The process has three steps: (1) the employer registers as an SBS; (2) the employer lodges a nomination for the specific position; (3) the applicant lodges the 482 visa application.
The pathway from 482 to permanent residence
After working at least two continuous years on a 482 visa with the same employer (or a subsequent employer in the same field), an electrical engineer can lodge the 186 visa under the Transition to Permanent Residence (TRT) stream. This is the most widely used route to permanent residence for employer-sponsored applicants. When lodging the 186 TRT, the applicant must demonstrate enough time worked in the nominated occupation, meet the English requirement, and have no health or character issues. The employer must also continue the sponsorship and show that the position still meets a genuine need.
If the applicant does not want to depend on an employer or wants more flexibility, a parallel route is to lodge an EOI (Expression of Interest) on SkillSelect for the 190 or 491 visa while working on the 482. The two pathways can be pursued at the same time.
Visas 190 and 491 — state nomination
The 190 visa (Skilled Nominated) requires nomination by a state or territory and leads directly to permanent residence. The 491 visa (Skilled Work Regional) requires living and working in a regional area for at least three years, after which you can lodge a 191 visa to transition to permanent residence. Electrical engineers are eligible for both of these visas because the occupation appears on the CSOL.
States that frequently nominate electrical engineers include Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), and Tasmania (TAS). Each state runs its own nomination programme with different requirements, typically including: a high enough total EOI score (often 65 points or more after the 5-point nomination boost), the required English standard, relevant work experience, and in many cases a job in that state or a commitment to settle there. Applicants should follow each state’s invitation rounds directly on the state’s official website, as the conditions change frequently.
English requirements
English requirements vary by visa. For the 482 Core Skills stream, the minimum is IELTS Academic or General with an overall score of 5.0 (no band below 5.0), or an equivalent score on PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge C1 Advanced. In practice, however, many employers and some states require a higher level.
For the 190 and 491 visas (points-tested), the English level directly affects the EOI score: “Competent English” (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent) is the minimum to apply; “Proficient English” (IELTS 7.0 in each band) adds 10 points; and “Superior English” (IELTS 8.0 in each band) adds 20 points. Given the competitive scores on SkillSelect at present, achieving Proficient or Superior English is a significant advantage.
Indicative salary
The figures below are indicative reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on the city or region, level and experience, sector and company size, full-time/contract status, the compulsory superannuation contribution (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Official labour-market benchmark: 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 Electrical Engineers occupation group (ANZSCO 2333) are 2,553 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 11,060 AUD/month or 132,800 AUD/year on a simple conversion at 52 weeks/year (pre-tax, an indicative reference only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither a minimum nor a maximum, and a figure for the whole occupation group rather than a single position.
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 been able to verify a salary range from SEEK; you should look it up directly yourself and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Professional engineers are usually covered by the Professional Employees Award (MA000065), or by their contract where the contract rate is higher. This is a statutory minimum floor, distinct from the market salary; the exact figure depends on the classification level and the contract. Look it up with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Electrical Engineers occupation profile (ANZSCO 2333): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2333-electrical-engineers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
The pathway to permanent residence: a summary
The most common route for an electrical engineer is: (1) complete the CDR and receive the Engineers Australia assessment outcome; (2) find an Australian employer to sponsor a 482 Core Skills visa; (3) work at least two years on the 482; (4) lodge a 186 TRT visa to transition to permanent residence. In parallel or as an alternative, the applicant can lodge an EOI on SkillSelect to be state-nominated for a 190 visa — particularly suitable where the EOI score is high (80 points or more) or where they are working in a high-demand state such as QLD or WA.
Common mistakes
- Confusing electrical engineer with electrician: ANZSCO 233311 (Electrical Engineer) and 341111 (Electrician) are entirely different occupations. An electrician is not eligible to lodge under code 233311, and vice versa. Declaring the wrong ANZSCO code leads to a refused assessment or visa.
- Copying a CDR from a template or having someone write it for you: Engineers Australia applies a strict plagiarism check. A CDR found to contain content that is not the applicant’s own is rejected permanently and may attract a ban on re-submission. The CDR must reflect the applicant’s own genuine experience.
- Lodging an EOI with English only at Competent level (IELTS 6.0): At today’s competitive levels, an EOI score at Competent English is often not enough to receive an invitation. Investing in raising your English to Proficient or Superior has a much greater impact than other factors.
- Not checking each state’s specific conditions: Every state has its own nomination conditions that change from year to year and round to round. Some states require a local job; others only open nomination for certain priority sectors. Lodging an EOI without reading the state guidance carefully is a waste of time.
- Ignoring the “market salary rate” requirement when negotiating salary with a 482 employer: An acceptable salary must not only exceed TSMIT (current figure — check homeaffairs.gov.au) but also be on par with the market rate. Accepting a below-market salary to secure employer sponsorship can lead to a refused nomination.