Australian Visa Options For Motor Mechanics

Did you know that a range of occupations for motor mechanics, including diesel, motorcycle and small engine mechanics, may be nominated for a skilled visa to Australia? There are a range of skilled visa options available for the motor mechanic profession, including a motor mechanic 189 visa and a subclass 190 visa motor mechanic.s

In this article, we take a look at how motor mechanics are classified and defined in Australia for migration purposes and the potential visa options for motor mechanics, including permanent residency pathways. This includes motor mechanic state sponsorship, employer sponsorship and family sponsorship visa options.

But before we discuss the skilled visa options that are available for motor mechanics in Australia, let us first introduce you to some of the key elements that must be considered when assessing your eligibility for a skilled visa in Australia.

Skilled Occupation List

A key component in determining your eligibility for a skilled visa to Australia is based on whether your occupation is included on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for the relevant skilled visa being considered. It is important to be aware that each skilled visa subclass is subject to a specified SOL, which is designed to respond to skill shortages in various industries and regions across Australia. As labour markets change, so too do the relevant SOLs to reflect pertaining market conditions. It is therefore vital that you apply the correct and most up-to-date SOL in assessing your eligibility for a skilled visa to Australia,

Targeted Approach

Certain skilled visa options go one step further by targeting skills shortages in certain geographical areas (including in regional Australia). Employers can also sponsor or nominate suitably skilled applicants to fill vacancies in individual businesses, thereby addressing an employer-specific need. An example of this is an employer sponsored Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa.

There are several skilled visa options available for motor mechanics, with each one designed to meet a specific purpose, as outlined above. These comprise an independent, state sponsored, regional state sponsored,regional employer sponsored, regional family sponsored, employer sponsored and nominated skilled visa as well as a training and temporary graduate skilled visa.

A Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is an example of a regional state or family sponsored skilled visa.

A regional employer-sponsored visa is the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR) visa.

And a permanent residence employer nominated option is the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa.

Each skilled visa subclass is subject to a prescribed set of visa lodgement and grant requirements, a key part of which is the relevant SOL which prescribes the selected skilled occupations which may be nominated for that visa subclass.

Nominating A Motor Mechanic On The Skilled Occupation List

Different SOLs apply to each skilled visa subclass. For example, the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, which is a temporary employer sponsored visa, is subject to a Short‑term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), a Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and a Regional Occupation List (ROL). The skilled occupation list that applies to an occupation determines whether it may be nominated under the short-term or medium-term stream of the subclass 482 visa program.

If the occupation is included on the STSOL, it may be nominated under the short-term stream. If the occupation is included on either the MLTSSL or the ROL, it may be nominated under the medium-term stream. There is also a labour agreement stream which applies where the sponsoring employer has a labour agreement in place, and that agreement specifies the occupation/s that may be nominated for a TSS visa.

All TSS visa holders have a pathway to a permanent residency visa after two years via the Subclass 186 ENS visa (this is discussed further below).

Nominating A Motor Mechanic Under A Labour Agreement

A labour agreement is negotiated between the Australian Government (represented by the Department of Home Affairs) and employers who seek to sponsor overseas workers for their business.

Labour agreements enable approved businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers when there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and the standard temporary or permanent visa programs are not available (for example, the occupation which the employer is seeking to nominate is not included on the SOL for the TSS, SESR or ENS visa programs).

One of the main benefits of entering into a labour agreement is its flexibility as it enables an employer to negotiate terms that meet the needs of the business (different types of agreements allow for varying levels of flexibility). This means that an employer may be able to negotiate certain concessions to the skilled visa criteria that would normally apply under the standard employer sponsored visa grant requirements. This can include requirements relating to English language competency, salary and age thresholds. A labour agreement can also be used to employ overseas workers in new or emerging occupations that are not defined in the ANZSCO.

Under a labour agreement, an employer can sponsor or nominate suitably skilled overseas workers for an employer sponsored skilled visa in accordance with the terms which have been negotiated with the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) in the executed labour agreement (different types of agreements allow for varying levels of flexibility).

There are five types of Labour Agreements, as listed below:

Company specific labour agreements
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)
Project agreements
Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) agreements
Industry labour agreements

To learn more about labour agreements, including the different types of labour agreements and how they operate, please refer to our article on a Labour Agreement Visa.

Skills Assessment

To be deemed ‘suitably qualified’ for a nominated occupation under the skilled visa program, applicants are required to demonstrate that they possess a minimum level of skills, qualifications and/or employment experience as prescribed by the migration provisions for the relevant skilled visa class which is being applied for. This may include the requirement that an applicant obtains a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation (to be completed by a specified skills assessing body). The skills assessment must be within the accepted validity date (which is normally either three years from the date of issue, or on a date earlier if specified in the skills assessment).

It must also be the correct type of skills assessment. Applicants must have a skills assessment that meets the requirements for the visa for which they are applying. For example, some assessing authorities offer a provisional skills assessment for recent graduates of Australian educational institutions who are applying for a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. A provisional skills assessment issued for this purpose is not a suitable skills assessment for a permanent residence skilled visa application, for example.

Skills Assessments For Motor Mechanics

The prescribed skills assessing body for motor mechanics is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). We provide further information about the TRA requirements for motor mechanics in our discussion below.

English Language

English language criteria also apply, which may require applicants to complete a prescribed English language test and achieve a specified minimum test score (there are exemptions in certain cases). Be aware that English test results are valid for a limited period (depending on the class of visa being applied for and the level of English competency required).

What Are The Possible Skilled Visa Options For Motor Mechanics?

Before we delve into the detail about how motor mechanics may qualify for a visa to Australia, including a subclass 190 visa motor mechanic visa, a motor mechanic 189 visa and motor mechanic state sponsorship, family sponsorship and employer sponsorship options, we begin our discussion by introducing the main types of skilled visas that are available for motor mechanics. We also provide links to further information on these visa options at the conclusion of this article.

Training Visa

The Subclass 407 training visa is a sponsored visa which is designed to help you to improve your skills in your current occupation, area of tertiary study, or to participate in a professional development training program in Australia. The subclass 407 visa is not suitable for applicants whose sole purpose is to perform work in Australia but rather, to engage in workplace-based training.

One of the subclass 407 visa requirements is that you need to be sponsored by an Australian organisation or government agency (including a foreign government). You must also be nominated for the subclass 407 visa (unless your sponsor is a Commonwealth Government agency, in which case you will need to be invited in writing). You need to select from one of three nomination types, depending on the purpose or type of training which you seek to undertake. Each nomination type has specified requirements, one of which requires your occupation to be included on a subclass 407 training visa skilled occupation list.

The subclass 407 visa can be granted for a period of up to two years and permits unrestricted travel to and from Australia for the duration of the visa. You can also include certain members of your family unit as dependent visa applicants, allowing them to accompany you to Australia.

Nomination Type 2: Occupational Training To Enhance Skills

Nomination type 2 requires the occupational training to be a structured workplace-based training program which is designed to meet your training needs, as the nominee.

Motor mechanic occupations are included on the skilled occupation list for the subclass 407 training visa, which means that as a motor mechanic, you may be nominated for this visa provided that you have at least 12 months full-time employment experience as a motor mechanic (in the two years immediately before lodgement of the application) to qualify under nomination type 2.

Please note that the subclass 407 visa is a temporary visa only with no direct pathway to permanent residency in Australia.

To learn more about the subclass 407 training visa program, please see our article on the subclass 407 Training Visa Requirements And Occupations.

General Skilled Migration

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa program offers the following skilled visa options (all of which are points-based) for motor mechanic occupations:

Subclass 189 Skilled (Independent) visa;
Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) visa (a permanent residence visa that requires State Sponsorship approval); and
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa.

The GSM program operates under an invitation-based system, whereby applicants must first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs (the Department). Only upon receipt of an invitation can applicants then proceed to apply for the visa itself. Periodically, we publish a summary of the results for invitations issued in the most recent invitation round (which normally takes place quarterly). We refer you to the latest invitation round results.

Motor Mechanic 189 Visa

The motor mechanic 189 visa grants you immediate permanent residence in Australia. It is a points-tested visa, which means that you need to attain at least 65 points in the migration points test to submit an EOI and to qualify for the motor mechanic 189 visa.

Subclass 190 Visa Motor Mechanic

The same applies to the subclass 190 visa motor mechanic, although you need to be nominated by a State or Territory Government to qualify. The subclass 190 motor mechanic state sponsorship visa is points-tested, which means that you need to attain at least 65 points in the migration points test to apply and to qualify for a subclass 190 visa motor mechanic. This visa option grants you an additional 5 points for the nomination.

Motor Mechanic State Sponsorship Visa And Family Sponsored Subclass 491 Visa

The subclass 491 visa is also a points-tested visa. This means that to apply and qualify for a subclass 491 visa, you will need to gain at least 65 points. This visa option grants you an additional 15 points for the nomination/sponsorship. Eligible subclass 491 visa holders may qualify for a Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after three years.

A motor mechanic may be nominated by a State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative for a Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa.

The term of the subclass 491 visa is five years. As a subclass 491 visa holder (including any accompanying visa dependents), you must live, work and study only in a designated regional area of Australia.

Subclass 491 visa holders have unrestricted rights to travel to and from Australia during the visa term and are also entitled to enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public health system.

Employer Sponsored Skilled Visa

Motor mechanics may qualify for a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, which is an employer sponsored temporary visa (under the medium-term stream). A TSS visa for a motor mechanic may be granted for up to four years.

The subclass 482 visa also provides motor mechanics with a pathway to permanent residency with an employer nominated Subclass 186 visa (which is discussed below) after two years.

Employer Nominated Skilled Visa

Applicants seeking an employer nominated permanent residence visa who are prepared to commit to remaining with their nominating employer for at least two years from visa grant may consider a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa.

The subclass 186 employer nominated visa comprises of a Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Labour Agreement stream. The TRT option provides a pathway to permanent residence for all TSS subclass 482 visa holders after two years. This pathway is also available under the labour agreement stream in certain instances. The Direct Entry stream is for eligible applicants who automatically qualify for permanent residence.

Employer Sponsored Regional Visa

The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa is a provisional visa which provides a pathway to permanent residence with the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after three years if you meet specified requirements at that time. The term of the subclass 494 visa is five years.

As a SESR visa holder, you are required to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. You can travel to and from Australia on an unrestricted basis over the visa term. You are also entitled to enrol in Medicare.

Which Motor Mechanic Occupations May Qualify For A Skilled Visa To Australia?

For migration law purposes, each nominated occupation is defined based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The ANZSCO occupational classification system provides a general description of each occupation, skill level, registration and/or licensing requirements and the tasks and duties that may be required to be performed as part of each occupation. Each occupation is assigned a unique ANZSCO code, which is used to identify the occupations that are eligible for a skilled visa for Australia.

The following occupational category for motor mechanics contained in ANZSCO may be nominated for a skilled visa to Australia (classified as a minor group):

Automotive Electricians and Mechanics (minor group 321).

Each minor category is then broken down into unit groups of occupations. The next level below this are specific occupations, which are each identified using an ANZSCO code. Skilled visa eligibility is, in part, based on whether your occupation appears on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for the skilled visa that you are seeking to apply for.

Our discussion will follow the ANZSCO structure as we have outlined above. We will start by looking at the minor group listed above. We will then explore the unit groups that makes up this minor group. We then conclude with the most important component in this discussion, that being the specific motor mechanic occupations that may be nominated for a skilled visa to Australia.

Minor Group 321 – Automotive Electricians and Mechanics

Let us now take a look at ANZSCO minor group 321 for Automotive Electricians and Mechanics.

ANZSCO General Description: Automotive Electricians and Mechanics repair and maintain automotive electrical systems and motor vehicle and other internal combustion engines. Mechanical Engineering Trades Workers are excluded from this minor group.

ANZSCO Skill level: Most occupations in this minor group have a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV.

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Tasks Include:

diagnosing electrical and mechanical faults in motor vehicles and small engines
dismantling engines and electrical systems
repairing and replacing worn and defective parts
installing electrical equipment and electronic components in motor vehicles
testing and adjusting electrical and mechanical systems and parts after repair for proper performance
performing scheduled maintenance on motor vehicles

The 321 minor group comprises the following unit groups:

3211 Automotive Electricians; and
3212 Motor Mechanics.

Set out below are the specific motor mechanic occupations that may be nominated and therefore may qualify for an Australian skilled visa.

Unit Group 3212 – Motor Mechanics

The motor mechanics unit group consists four motor mechanic occupations, with the following common elements.

ANZSCO General Description: Motor Mechanics repair, maintain and test motor vehicle and other internal combustion engines and related mechanical components. Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitters are excluded from this unit group.

ANZSCO Skill level: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV.

Tasks include:

detecting and diagnosing mechanical and electrical faults in engines and parts
dismantling and removing engine assemblies, transmissions, steering mechanisms and other components, and checking parts
repairing and replacing worn and defective parts and reassembling mechanical components, and referring to service manuals as needed
performing scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications and engine tune-ups, to achieve smoother running of vehicles and ensure compliance with pollution regulations
reassembling engines and parts after being repaired
testing and adjusting mechanical parts after being repaired for proper performance
diagnosing and testing parts with the assistance of computers
may inspect vehicles and issue roadworthiness certificates or detail work required to achieve roadworthiness
may respond to vehicle breakdown service calls

Skill assessing authority: TRA

Skilled Occupation List: Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

Skilled Visa Options:

Subclass 189 Skilled (Independent) visa
Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) visa
Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa
Subclass 407 Training visa
Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (Medium Term Stream)
Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (Graduate Work Stream)*
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (State or Territory nominated)
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (Family sponsored)
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (Employer sponsored stream)

* Potential applicants may also qualify under the Post-Study Work Stream, which does not apply a Skilled Occupation List.

As outlined above, there are a range of skilled visa options that are available for motor mechanic occupations. This includes eligibility for immediate permanent residency in Australia with the subclass 190 visa motor mechanic and motor mechanic 189 visa. You may also qualify for a subclass 491 motor mechanic state sponsorship visa (or family sponsorship), which provides a pathway to permanent residency after three years.

A description of the occupations in the motor mechanics ANZSCO group are listed below.

ANZSCO Occupation	ANZSCO code	ANZSCO Description
Motor Mechanic (General) Alternative Title: Automotive Light Mechanic Specialisations: Automatic Transmission Mechanic Automotive Airconditioning Mechanic Brake Mechanic Ground Support Equipment Fitter (Air Force) Roadside Mechanic Vehicle Mechanic (Army)	321211	Maintains, tests and repairs petrol engines and the mechanical parts of lightweight motor vehicles such as transmissions, suspension, steering and brakes. Registration or licensing may be required.
Diesel Motor Mechanic Specialisation: Automotive Heavy Mechanic	321212	Maintains, tests and repairs diesel motors and the mechanical parts of trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles such as transmissions, suspension, steering and brakes. Registration or licensing may be required.
Motorcycle Mechanic	321213	Maintains, tests and repairs the mechanical parts of motorcycles. Registration or licensing may be required.
Small Engine Mechanic Specialisations: Chainsaw Mechanic Lawnmower Mechanic Outboard Motor Mechanic	321214	Maintains, tests and repairs engines of chainsaws, lawn mowers, garden tractors and other equipment with small engines. Registration or licensing may be required.

To learn more about the skilled visa options that are available for small engine mechanics, please refer to our article on Migrate To Australia As A Small Engine Mechanic.

Skill Assessments For Motor Mechanics

As noted in our introduction, the prescribed skills assessing body for motor mechanics is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). It has a number of skills assessment programs, depending on your country of passport, where you studied and the type of visa that you are seeking to apply for. The TRA Pathfinder is a good starting point to determine which skills assessment program to select based on your individual circumstances. Detailed guidelines are also available for each TRA assessment program.

We outline below the criteria for some of the main TRA skills assessment programs.

Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA)

A PSA will verify your:

identity; and
Australian qualifications.

If your assessment is successful, the outcome letter can be used to apply for a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa.

To apply for the Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA), you must have:

a current and valid passport
an Australian qualification directly relevant to the occupation you are applying for.

This qualification must be from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Before you apply, you should read the PSA Applicant Guidelines and check you can meet the requirements for submitting a decision-ready application.

A successful PSA outcome also means you meet the pre-requisite requirement to participate in the JRP, however, you must apply for the JRP within 3 years from the date of your PSA outcome.

TSS Skills Assessment

The TSS program is for applicants who need a skills assessment as part of their temporary skills shortage (subclass 482) visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.

The TSS outcome shows if you have the skills and experience needed at the required level to work in Australia in your nominated occupation.

To register for a TSS, you must have:

the required amount of employment experience in your occupation. You can check the TSS Applicant Guidelines.
your country of passport listed next to your occupation in the table below.

If your occupation or country of passport is not listed in the table below, you are not eligible for a skills assessment under the TSS Program. However, you may still be eligible for an assessment under other TRA programs.

Offshore Skills Assessment

The OSAP is for applicants who need a skills assessment as part of their skilled migration visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.

The OSAP outcome shows if you have the skills and experience needed at the required level to work in Australia in your nominated occupation.

To register for OSAP, you must be:

applying for a skilled migration visa to Australia (excluding 485 or TSS visas)
working in a nominated occupation and hold a passport from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR)
an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, an Electrician or a Plumber.

To register you must have:

the required amount of employment experience in your occupation. You can check the OSAP Applicant Guidelines
a skills assessment through OSAP if your country of passport is on the list next to your occupation in the table below.

If your country of passport is not next to your occupation in the table below, you can still register for an assessment under OSAP if:

you can travel to Australia or another OSAP-nominated country for an assessment; and
you get the right visa for that country before you travel to that country for a skills assessment.

Migration Skills Assessment

The Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) is for applicants who need a skills assessment as part of their skilled migration visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.

The MSA outcome recognises if you have the skills and experience needed at the required level to work in Australia in your nominated occupation.

You can only use a successful MSA outcome for your visa application to Home Affairs for migration purposes

To apply for MSA, you must:

have a qualification directly related to your nominated occupation
have the required amount of directly relevant employment in your occupation
read the MSA Applicant Guidelines for employment requirements
have your occupation listed on a skilled occupation list (with TRA listed as the relevant assessing authority).

Please refer to the TRA website for further information.

Get More Information

Skilled Visa Options For Selected Occupations

Please refer to our series of articles on the skilled visa options that are available for selected occupations below:

Visa Options For Professionals

Skilled Trade Visa Options In Australia

Australian Immigration And Visa Options For Doctors

Australian Immigration And Visa Options For Nurses

Australian Visa Options For Engineers

Migrate To Australia As A Plastics Moulder Machine Operator, Fabricator, Welder Or Technician

How To Migrate To Australia As A Pig Farmer Or A Senior Piggery Stockperson

Migrate To Australia As A Small Engine Mechanic

Migrate To Australia As A Sandblaster

Employer Sponsored Regional Visa

For further information on the subclass 494 regional employer sponsored visa, please see the following articles:

Skilled Regional Visa Australia

Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme

Regional Sponsored Visa Requirements

Employer Sponsored Visa

To learn more about an employer sponsorship visa, please see the following articles:

Employer Sponsored Visas

Employer Nomination Migration Scheme

Labour Agreement Visa

482 Visa Employer Obligations

457 Visa Replacement

Employer Sponsor Visa Requirements

Changes To 457 Temporary Work Skilled Visa

Business Requirements For Accredited Sponsorship

Self Sponsor Visa Australia

Does 482 Visa Require Skills Assessment

Subclass 482 – A Guide to Temporary Skill Shortage

Permanent Residence Eligibility Extended For Certain Subclass 457 And 482 Visa Holders

How To Sponsor An Employee For A Work Visa Or Permanent Residency

Overview Of Australian Work Visas And Employer Sponsorship

Guide To Australian Sponsorship Visa Costs

How To Become A Sponsor

Labour Market Testing Requirements

Skilled Visa

To learn more about applying for a skilled visa, please see the following articles:

Australian Skilled Migration Visa List

General Skilled Migration Visa Options

SAF Skilling Australians Fund Levy

General Skilled Migration Visa Points

Subclass 491 Regional Visa

Subclass 190 State Sponsorship Visa

Australian Skilled Occupations List

Australian Permanent Resident Visa Case Study

State Sponsorship Visas In Australia

South Australia State Sponsorship Opportunities

Skilled Regional Visa Australia

Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme

Regional Sponsored Visa Requirements

Visa Options For Professionals

Skilled Trade Visa Options In Australia

English Requirements For Skilled Visas

Adelaide 190 Visa

491 Visa Adelaide

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Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about applying for a skilled visa for motor mechanics, including immediate permanent residency subclass 190 visa motor mechanic and a motor mechanic 189 visa, as well as pathways to permanent residency in Australia with the subclass 491 motor mechanic state sponsorship (or family sponsored) visa.

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In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of the Australian visa options for motor mechanics, including immediate permanent residency subclass 190 visa motor mechanic and a motor mechanic 189 visa, as well as pathways to permanent residency in Australia with the subclass 491 motor mechanic state sponsorship (or family sponsored) visa.

We have also covered the TRA skills assessment requirements for motor mechanics, and have provided links to further information so that you can learn more about the motor mechanic visa Australia options that are available and the TRA skills assessment criteria.

Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are seeking to apply for a skilled visa to Australia as a motor mechanic, including a subclass 190 visa motor mechanic, motor mechanic 189 visa, or a subclass 491 motor mechanic state sponsorship (or family sponsored) visa, as being fully informed will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your case. A migration professional can help you to do this.

For up-to-date advice on the skilled visa options that are available for a motor mechanic to migrate to Australia, book your confidential consultation with a migration agent in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide.