Australian Visa Bureau   »   Visas and Immigration   »   Australia Skilled Migration   »   Australia Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List   »  Tradespersons

SOL for Tradespersons

The previous Skilled Occupation List (SOL) has been replaced. Please refer to the current Australian SOL for details of which occupations will be eligible under the updated General Skilled Migration program.

Tradespersons listed here may apply for skilled migration to Australia.

Tradespersons and related workers perform a variety of tasks, applying a body of trade or industry specific technical knowledge and operate a wide variety of complex precision machinery or plant machinery to complete several stages in the fabrication and maintenance of products.

All occupations in this major group have a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Certificate III or higher qualification. Relevant experience is required in addition to the formal qualification.

 Take The Online Visa Assessment

Tasks performed by Tradespersons and Related Workers typically include:

• Fabricating, repairing and maintaining individual metal, wood, glass and textile products;
• Repairing and maintaining motor vehicles and electrical and electronic machinery and equipment;
• Constructing buildings, ships and boats;
• Applying protective and decorative finishes to surfaces;
• Operating printing and binding equipment;
• Preparing and cooking food;
• Propagating and cultivating plants;
• Hairdressing;
• Operating chemical, petroleum, gas and power generation plants and equipment; and
• Providing technical and other assistance for the production, recording and broadcasting of artistic performances.

Trades Persons must have obtained a relevant qualifications and completed a qualifying training period. After qualifying, they must have also worked in the trade for at least 3 years.

Trade Assessment

Assessments in these trades are against specified criteria:

• Acceptable formal training outside Australia. This entails a pass mark in a formal trade test conducted by a government-approved body of that country, and a Trade Certificate or Diploma must be supplied. This test must be preceded by a formal apprenticeship not shorter than 3 years. The applicant must be able to evidence that an apprenticeship contract existed between the applicant and an employer. A copy of the Apprenticeship Contract must also be supplied; and
• The applicant must have been working in the trade for a period of not less than 3 years AFTER completion of the apprenticeship. (A total of 6 years combined.) If the Trades Person intends to act as Main Applicant for Skilled Migration, he/she must have been in paid employment in the trade (or closely related occupation) for at least 12 out of the last 18 months prior to applying for the visa. He/she must have undertaken the full range of work normally performed by a tradesperson in Australia, and is capable of performing that work in Australia. This is determined by the: Breadth or depth of knowledge; Range of skillsVariability of operating environment; and Level of autonomy required to perform the set of tasks.
  
  These are defined in the TRA criteria manual approved by the Central Trades Committees under the TRR Act.

Recognition as a Tradesperson

Where a person never entered into an apprenticeship contract or completed a trade test, TRA may consider the applicant as a qualified tradesperson if:

• The person has been working in the trade full time for at least 6 to 9 years;
• Can prove employment as such;
• Have completed some sort of vocational training in the trade; and
• All claims can be substantiated with extensive documentation.

New Offshore Assessment Process

As of 1st July 2007, the TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) changed the way they assess certain trade occupations, with a new pre-migration skills assessment service coming into action, ran through the Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) VETASSESS and Victoria University.

For certain occupations, a practical test was added, making for a three stage offshore assessment process. This new arrangement applies to applicants in the following trade occupations

• General Electrician
• General Plumber
• Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
• Motor Mechanic
• Bricklayer
• Carpenter and Joiner
• Electrical Powerline Tradesperson
• Electrical Cable Jointer
• Diesel Motor Mechanic
• Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
• Metal Fabricator
• Sheet Metal Trades Worker
• Vehicle Painter
• Welder (First Class)
• Electrical Linesworker

Additionally, these changes mean that the assessment methodology now comprises of three stages:

• Self assessment: a free self assessment tool for potential applicants to gauge their suitability for the assessment process.
• Paper based pre-assessment:an initial paper based pre-assessment that would take into account qualifications and work experience in the relevant trade.
• Practical assessment: a technical interview and practical assessments.

 Take The Online Visa Assessment