If you’re pursuing a career as an electrician or plumber in Australia, it’s essential to understand that these are licensed trades, which means they follow a unique pathway to permanent residency (PR). Unlike many other trades, electricians and plumbers cannot use the standard Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) Job Ready Program. We’ve created a general guide to help you navigate this journey.
1. Study Electro-Technology or Plumbing
Begin by enrolling in a recognised course in electro-technology or plumbing. Completing these courses is crucial as they form the foundation of your skills and qualifications. Pathways to Aus is proudly partnered with numerous schools in cities across Australia. Reach out to us and we’ll present you with exciting school options for your course. We offer FREE SERVICES from consultation, school application assistance, and student visa application assistance.
2. Provisional Skills Assessment and Graduate Work Visa
Once you’ve completed your studies, the next step is to apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). A Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) is the initial step in assessing the skills of international students who have completed electro-technology and plumbing course trade qualifications. This assessment is necessary before applying for the Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485).
Required Documents for Provisional Skills Assessment:
- Letter of Completion from your education provider
- Academic Diplomas
- Academic Transcripts
Do note that in order to apply for general skilled migration you would need to pass a skills assessment and pass a points test. To pass the skills assessment you would have your education and past work experience assessed. The pathway for an Electrician however, is not the same as most other trades (because it is licensed). The process in order to apply for a skill assessment is different as you cannot participate in the job ready program.
Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485) – Post Vocational Stream
Provided that you have applied for the provisional skills assessment, you will be given a reference number. You can use this number to apply for your visa application. After graduation, you can apply for the Graduate Work Visa. This visa allows you to work in Australia temporarily, gaining practical experience in your trade.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Under 35 years old
- Completed at least 2 academic years of study in Australia
- Course must be on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
- Application within 6 months of graduation
- Competent English level (IELTS 6.5 overall)
- No prior Temporary Graduate or Skilled Graduate visa
- Skills and qualifications assessed by a skills assessor
If you undertake study in Australia for a minimum of 2 years, in a trade occupation that is on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List, you may qualify for the Temporary Skilled Graduate Visa – Graduate Stream. This visa allows the holder 1.5 – 2 years unlimited work rights in Australia.
3. Full Skills Assessment
In order to apply for a full skill assessment, you may generally need to have more work experience than you can build up during the graduate work visa. Electricians need to obtain the Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) through TRA for a full skills assessment. This includes a paper-based assessment, technical interview, and possibly practical assessments.
To gather the required work experience for a full skills assessment, you may need another visa like a Training Visa (Subclass 407), Working Holiday Visa (WHV), or a Temporary Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482). The 482 visa, however, will be replaced soon with the new Skills in Demand Visa. Check more about this new visa here.
For Electricians and Plumbers:
Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR): Obtain the OTSR through TRA, which includes:
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- Documentary evidence of your qualifications and work experience.
- A technical interview and practical assessment (if required).
- The assessment will be conducted by a registered training organization (RTO) approved by TRA.
Skills will be assessed by:
- Trades Recognition Australia – TRA
- You would need to apply through the OSAP pathway
Key Requirements:
- Relevant Cert III qualification
- 3 years or 4 years of full-time work experience within the last 10 years
- 12 months of recent full-time work in the nominated occupation if holding an Australian occupational licence.
Overview Process To Pass a Skill Assessment
Step 1: Gather the documentation
Step 2: Paper based assessment
Step 3: Technical and practical if required assessment
Step 4: Received OTRS (skill assessment)
4. Applying for Permanent Visas
Once you have a positive skills assessment, you can submit an expression of interest in order to apply for PR through visas like:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa)
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa)
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa)
How We Help
While the path to permanent residency for electricians and plumbers is more complex due to licensing requirements, it is achievable with the right steps. Navigating the path to permanent residency can be more complex and is recommended to seek advice from migration experts. For personalised advice and assistance, contact us today at Pathway to Aus. Our experienced team can help you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth transition to your new life in Australia.
