Software Engineer Migration to Australia: CSOL, ACS, Visas 482, 189 and PR
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Yes — software engineers (ANZSCO 261313) are eligible to migrate to Australia through several different visa streams. The occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and is eligible for the 482 visa (employer-sponsored), the 189 visa (points-tested independent), the 190 and 491 visas (state-nominated), and the 186 visa (employer-sponsored permanent residence). It is one of the higher-demand occupations and is nominated by most Australian states and territories. Even so, applicants still need to meet the full requirements for skills assessment, English and points relevant to each stream.
ANZSCO and CSOL: where the occupation sits
Software Engineer is classified under ANZSCO code 261313, in Skill Level 1 — the highest level in Australia’s occupational classification system. The code covers roles that design, develop, test and maintain application and systems software. Note that ANZSCO draws clear distinctions between related information-technology codes; if the actual work leans toward business analysis or technology project management, the matching ANZSCO code may differ, and applicants should confirm with the assessing authority before lodging.
The occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) , which means applicants are eligible to enter the SkillSelect system, lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for points-tested visas such as the 189, 190 and 491. Being on the CSOL is also a precondition for an employer to sponsor a 482 visa under the Core Skills Stream.
Skills assessing authority: ACS (Australian Computer Society)
The skills assessing authority for software engineers (ANZSCO 261313) is ACS (Australian Computer Society). ACS is the only body authorised by the Department of Home Affairs to assess skills for occupations in the information and communications technology (ICT) field. A positive ACS assessment is mandatory in order to lodge an EOI into SkillSelect, and in many cases for an employer to sponsor a 482 visa.
ACS offers four assessment pathways: (1) General Skills — for applicants with a degree and work experience; (2) RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) — for applicants without a relevant degree but with practical experience; (3) Post Australian Study — for graduates of Australian education providers; (4) Qualification Only — for certain specific qualification cases. Most applicants will use the General Skills or RPL pathway. The main requirements include an ICT (or related) qualification recognised by ACS as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree or higher, together with practical work experience in the ICT field.
ACS charges an assessment fee (current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official site, as fees may change). Processing typically takes 8–10 weeks from when a complete application is lodged. Applicants should prepare a detailed file including qualifications translated and certified into English, employment reference letters from employers, and documents evidencing their actual role in ICT projects.
Suitable visas: an overview
Software engineers can access four main visa streams in Australia: the 482 visa (Skills in Demand, employer-sponsored for between 2–4 years), the 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme — ENS permanent residence, which may follow the TRT route after enough time on a 482), the 189 visa (Skilled Independent, no sponsor required, based on the SkillSelect points system), and the 190/491 visas (state or territory nomination, based on points combined with a state nomination). Each stream has different requirements, processing times and routes to permanent residence; the right choice depends on each applicant’s specific circumstances.
Visa 482 — employer-sponsored
The 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage — TSS) allows an Australian employer to sponsor a software engineer to work temporarily in Australia. Under the Core Skills Stream (which applies to ANZSCO 261313), the visa may be granted for up to 4 years and can be extended if the employer continues to sponsor. To be eligible for a 482 visa , applicants need relevant work experience as required within the last 5 years, and the salary offered by the employer must be at least the current TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) (check at homeaffairs.gov.au) each year. The English requirement for the 482 is IELTS overall 5.0 (minimum 4.5 in each band) or equivalent, although many employers and states require higher.
On the employer side, the business must be an Approved Sponsor or be in the process of applying to become one. The process has three steps: (1) the employer applies to become an approved sponsor; (2) the employer lodges a nomination for the position; (3) the worker lodges their individual visa application. The whole process typically takes 2–4 months depending on the complexity of the file and the Department’s processing times.
Visa 186 — employer-sponsored permanent residence
The 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme — ENS) is a permanent residence visa for workers nominated by an employer. The most common route for a software engineer holding a 482 visa is the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): after working full-time for at least 2 of the last 3 years for the same employer on a 482 visa, the worker can be nominated and apply for the 186 TRT. Additional conditions include being under 45 years old at the time of application (some exemptions apply), eligible English (usually IELTS 6.0 overall), and a salary no lower than the market rate.
A Direct Entry (DE) route also exists for the 186 visa , for applicants whose skills are assessed by ACS and who meet the requirements without going through a 482. In practice, however, most workers go the 482 route first and then move to the 186 TRT, because this allows them to build experience in Australia, develop a relationship with the employer, and lodge the 186 with a stronger application.
Visa 189 — independent points-tested, no sponsor needed
The 189 visa (Skilled Independent) is a permanent residence visa that requires no employer or state sponsor . Applicants lodge an EOI into SkillSelect and wait to receive an ITA based on their score. The minimum to lodge an EOI is 65 points, but the score actually needed to receive an ITA is usually considerably higher — ranging from 85–90 points depending on the invitation round in recent years (note: the cut-off changes from round to round and is not published in advance by the Department). To reach 85 points, a typical applicant needs to combine age points (best at ages 25–32), English points (IELTS 8.0 overall or equivalent for maximum points), work-experience points inside and outside Australia, and qualification points.
The minimum English requirement for the 189 visa is “Competent English” (IELTS 6.0 in each band), but to reach a competitive score in SkillSelect, most applicants need to invest in achieving “Superior English” (IELTS 8.0 in each band, which gives 20 points instead of 0). Given the high level of competition in 189 invitation rounds, this is the stream that requires the most investment in English and the longest wait.
Visas 190 and 491 — state nomination
The 190 visa (Skilled Nominated) is a permanent residence visa nominated by a state or territory, adding a further 5 points to the SkillSelect total. The 491 visa (Skilled Work Regional) is a temporary regional visa adding a further 15 points, with a route to permanent residence via the 191 visa after 3 years living and working in a designated region. Most Australian states and territories include software engineers on their 190/491 nomination lists, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT — though each state’s list and nomination conditions change frequently in line with local labour-market needs.
Each state has its own requirements on top of the federal ones: some require a minimum EOI score (for example, from 65 or 70 points), some require the applicant to have local employment or a connection to the state (living, working, studying), and some open applications only in quarterly intakes. To qualify for the 191 from a 491, a 491 holder must live and work in the designated region for at least 3 years while also meeting a set income threshold during that period.
English requirements
English requirements differ by visa. For the 482 visa, the minimum is IELTS overall 5.0 (no band below 4.5) or an equivalent PTE Academic score — this is the “Vocational English” level. For the 189 and 190 visas, the minimum to be eligible is “Competent English” (IELTS 6.0 in each band, no exceptions), and to obtain maximum points in SkillSelect (20 points) you need “Superior English” (IELTS 8.0 in each band). For the 186 visa, “Proficient English” (IELTS 7.0 in each band) is usually required for the Direct Entry route, while TRT may accept a lower level under certain specific conditions.
For software engineers applying through ACS, ACS itself also has its own English requirements during the assessment — applicants typically need to demonstrate the ability to read technical documentation and communicate professionally in English. Check ACS’s specific English requirements on its official site before lodging an assessment, as they may be updated.
Indicative salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on city/region, level and experience, specialist technology, type of company, full-time/contract status, the compulsory superannuation contribution (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 Software and Applications Programmers occupation group (ANZSCO 2613) are 2,537 AUD/week — equivalent to about 10,990 AUD/month or 131,900 AUD/year on a simple 52-weeks-a-year conversion (pre-tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and a figure for the whole occupation group (covering many programming roles).
Salary ranges from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of updating, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the SEEK range; you should look it up directly and compare against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Most programming/software-engineering roles are specialist occupations that are award-free; in that case the legal minimum floor is the National Minimum Wage together with the employment contract. Check using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Software and Applications Programmers occupation profile (ANZSCO 2613): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2613-software-and-applications-programmers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Road to permanent residence: a summary
The most common pathway for software engineers is: (1) complete the ACS skills assessment, (2) obtain a 482 visa sponsored by an Australian employer, (3) work full-time for the same employer for at least 2 years, (4) be nominated and apply for the 186 TRT visa to reach permanent residence. In parallel, those with high English scores (IELTS 8.0 in each band) and a competitive SkillSelect score can lodge an EOI for the 189 or 190 visa to reach permanent residence sooner, without waiting out the time on a 482. The 491 route (regional nomination) is also feasible and is often easier to obtain a nomination for than the 190, with a route to permanent residence via the 191 after 3 years living and working in the region.
Common mistakes
- Wrong ANZSCO code: Many people identify their code as 261314 (Software Tester) or 261111 (ICT Business Analyst) when their actual role fits 261313 (Software Engineer) better. ACS assesses based on the actual content of the work, not the job title — compare the job description carefully against the ANZSCO definition before lodging.
- Lodging an ACS application without evidence of the ICT role: A reference letter that only states the job title and dates is not enough; ACS requires a specific description of ICT duties and projects. A file lacking detail is the most common cause of an unsuitable assessment result.
- Underestimating the English requirement for 189/190: Achieving IELTS 6.0 is only enough to lodge an EOI, but at that score the chance of receiving an ITA for the 189 visa is very low. Investing in raising IELTS to 8.0 in each band can make a large difference to a competitive score.
- Overlooking state nomination requirements: Many people lodge an EOI and then wait for a state nomination without proactively checking each state’s specific list and conditions. Each state has its own registration portal, different opening times and sometimes a local-connection requirement.
- Confusing TSMIT with the actual salary: TSMIT (current TSMIT level) is the minimum floor, but employers must also pay the correct market salary (AMSR). If the contracted salary is below the market rate for an equivalent position, the application may be refused regardless of whether it exceeds TSMIT.