Welder Migration to Australia: CSOL, TRA, Visas and the PR Pathway
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
A welder (Welder — First Class, ANZSCO 322313) is one of the skilled trades in continuous demand in Australia, particularly in industrial construction, mining, shipbuilding and renewable energy. This occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), meaning it is eligible for the 482 visa (employer-sponsored), the 186 visa (employer-sponsored permanent residence), the 189 visa (points-tested independent) and the 190/491 visas (state-nominated). To migrate in this occupation, the mandatory first step is to complete a skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia’s (TRA) Job Ready Program (JRP).
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
The welding occupation is classified under ANZSCO code 322313 (Welder — First Class), within Skill Level 3. This code covers people who weld and cut metal using arc welding methods (MIG, TIG, Stick), gas welding and other specialised welding techniques. “First Class” in the ANZSCO title is the way the ANZSCO system classifies the occupation, not a separate welding grade — all welders in the Australian migration system use code 322313 (ANZSCO 2022; the old code 322314 is no longer in effect).
Occupation 322313 appears on both the CSOL and the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List), meaning applicants are eligible to lodge an EOI through SkillSelect for the 189 visa (independent) and the 190 and 491 visas (state-nominated).
The skills assessing authority: TRA via the Job Ready Program
The skills assessing authority for welders is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), a federal government agency within the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. For applicants trained overseas, TRA requires completion of the full Job Ready Program (JRP) — there is no shortcut.
The JRP has four main stages: initial registration (Job Ready Registration — JRR), an interim report (Job Ready Interim Assessment — JRIA), a final assessment (Job Ready Final Assessment — JRFA), and the issuing of the skills assessment outcome (Skills Assessment Outcome). Applicants need to accumulate at least 1,725 hours of supervised paid work in the welding occupation in Australia, and must work under the supervision of a registered employer recognised by TRA. The full JRP usually runs from 12 to 24 months, depending on how quickly the experience is accumulated.
Beyond the work hours, applicants may need to complete gap training (additional training) if their skills do not yet meet Australian standards. JRP registration fees and the assessment-stage fees change from year to year — check the current fees directly on the TRA site before registering.
Suitable visas: an overview
Welders have three main visa groups: the 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage — employer-sponsored, temporary), the 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme — employer-sponsored, permanent), and the 190/491 visas (state or territory nomination). A common pathway is the 482 first, then a transition to the 186 TRT after 2 years of continuous work with the same sponsoring employer to obtain permanent residence.
The 482 visa — employer-sponsored
The 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage) Core Skills Stream allows an employer approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) to sponsor an applicant for a specific position. The maximum visa duration is 4 years. Applicants need a valid skills assessment outcome from TRA (via the JRP), must meet the English requirement, and the proposed salary must meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT — check the current figure on the Department of Home Affairs site). The employer must also demonstrate that no suitable Australian worker could be found (Labour Market Testing) before sponsoring.
The 186 visa — employer-sponsored permanent residence
The 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) is a common permanent residence pathway after holding a 482 visa. Under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) pathway, applicants need to work 2 years full-time for the same sponsoring employer within the most recent 3 years, meet the competent English requirement (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent), and have that employer continue to sponsor them. The welding occupation (322313) is eligible for the 186 visa under both the TRT pathway and the Direct Entry (DE) pathway.
The 190 and 491 visas — state nomination
Many states and territories — particularly Western Australia (WA), Queensland (QLD) and South Australia (SA) — regularly include the welding occupation on their nomination lists, depending on local labour demand at any given time. The 190 visa is a permanent visa, requiring a minimum EOI score of 65 points plus 5 state points; the 491 visa is a 5-year temporary regional visa, adding 15 points, with a pathway to permanent residence via the 191 visa after 3 years. Applicants need to lodge an EOI through SkillSelect and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the state before lodging a formal application.
English requirement
For the 482 visa Core Skills Stream, applicants need competent English — a minimum of IELTS 6.0 in each skill (or the equivalent PTE Academic 50 in each part, or equivalent TOEFL iBT). The 186 TRT visa also requires competent English. The 190 and 491 visas require sufficient English at the EOI and visa-lodgement stages, usually at competent or proficient level depending on the score you aim to achieve.
Beyond the administrative requirement, welders working in an industrial environment in Australia need English good enough to read technical documents, understand WHS safety procedures and communicate with colleagues — a practical requirement that matters no less.
Reference salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed pay. Actual pay depends on the city or region, level and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, award classification level, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (figures from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers group (ANZSCO 3223) is 1,688 AUD/week — roughly 7,310 AUD/month or 87,800 AUD/year on a simple conversion of 52 weeks per year (a pre-tax figure, a reference point only, not guaranteed pay). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the highest, and a figure for the whole occupational group rather than a single position.
Salary range from job listings (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job listings. At the time of updating, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the salary range from SEEK; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Welders/structural steel workers fall under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award (MA000010). This is a legal minimum floor, distinct from market pay; the specific rate depends on classification level, type of work, allowances and overtime. Look it up using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers occupation profile (ANZSCO 3223): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/3223-structural-steel-and-welding-trades-workers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Pathway to permanent residence: a summary
The common pathway: complete the JRP in Australia → receive a positive assessment outcome from TRA → be sponsored by an employer for a 482 visa → work 2 years for the same employer → the employer lodges a 186 TRT visa application → receive permanent residence. The full pathway usually runs 4 to 6 years from the start of the JRP. In parallel, applicants can lodge an EOI on SkillSelect to track state-nomination opportunities through the 190 or 491 visas.
Common mistakes
- Wrong ANZSCO code: Some welders are directed to the wrong ANZSCO code (for example, the code for a boilermaker or sheet metal worker). Always confirm that your actual work matches the ANZSCO 322313 (Welder First Class) description before lodging a JRP application.
- Using the old code 322314: ANZSCO 2022 renamed the code: Welder (First Class) is now 322313. An application lodged with code 322314 will be refused or cause delays.
- Changing employer before completing 2 years for the 186 TRT: Moving to a different employer before meeting the requirement means restarting the time count for the TRT pathway.
- Not checking the state list before lodging an EOI: The list of nominated occupations changes with each opening round — check the state’s official site before setting your expectations.