Plumber (General) is the main occupation. Gasfitter, drainer, roof plumber and air-conditioning and mechanical services plumber are separate occupations. Each has its own assessment and evidence rules.Choosing the right one matters. Your visa options, your TRA assessment and your reference letters all depend on it. We match your real duties to the right occupation before you apply.
If an approved employer will sponsor you, the 482 is the usual starting point. After two years with the same employer you may move to the 186. The 186 Direct Entry stream needs a positive skills assessment and at least three years of experience.
Regional employer (494)
A provisional visa with a path to PR, for employers outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
No sponsor (189, 190, 491)
You need at least 65 points, a positive skills assessment and competent English. State nomination adds 5 points. A regional visa adds 15. Check your score with our points calculator guide.
Your TRA skills assessment
TRA has separate programs for visa purposes and for licensing. For plumbers, the program that leads to a licence pathway can also matter for your visa. It is called the Offshore Skills Assessment Program, and it issues an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR).The right program depends on your visa, your location and your evidence. We confirm it before you pay any fee. Read our skills assessment guide for the full process.
Each state and territory runs its own plumbing licensing. In Victoria, the Building and Plumbing Commission regulates plumbers.After a successful TRA assessment, you can usually apply to the state for a provisional licence, registration or certificate. Unlike electricians, overseas plumbers have no single national gap training package. Each state decides the path to a full licence. Cost and time differ by state.Tell us where you plan to work. We plan your visa around the licensing path for that state.
Evidence to gather early
1. Your trade qualification or apprenticeship record 2. Any licence or registration from your home country 3. Employer references that describe your actual work, such as installation, repairs and drainage 4. Payslips, tax records and bank statements that match your claimed dates 5. Your passport and English test result
Plumber visa questions
Everything you need to know about the our process.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Do I need an Australian licence before I apply?
It depends on your visa, your state and your timing. Licensing usually follows a TRA outcome, and it affects when you can start work. We map this out before you lodge.
Talk to a Registered Migration Agent
Book a $110 consultation. We will confirm your occupation, your best visa and your next step. Visit our Truganina office or Melbourne CBD office, or meet by phone or video. Need advice fast? An urgent consultation is $220.
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