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Overall, Australia sets a maximum number of places for its migration program every year. And, for 2020 and 2021, the total number of places available is capped at a ceiling of 160,000. Some of these require your profession to be on the Skilled Occupation List. Now, here are some of the key highlights: 

  • 79,600 places allocated in the Skill stream 

  • 77,300 places have been allocated to the Family stream 

  • Only 6,500 places allocated to Skilled Independent visas

Full list of the new occupations for NSW

Below is a list of the 10 new occupations that NSW added to its Skilled Occupation List in February 2021. 

  • 233211 Civil Engineer 

  • 233212 Geotechnical Engineer 

  • 233214 Structural Engineer 

  • 233215 Transport Engineer 

  • 233511 Industrial Engineer 

  • 233512 Mechanical Engineer 

  • 233513 Production or Plant Engineer 

  • 312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson 

  • 312212 Civil Engineering Technician 

  • 312999 Building and Engineering Technicians 

Work as Engineer in Australia? 

Engineers Australiaexternal icon is the designated authority for assessing skills and competencies related to engineering occupations in Australia. Engineers Australia works with the Department of Home Affairsexternal icon, migration agents, and international organisations. And it helps to develop streamlined migration skills assessment procedures for engineers, like you! 

Every year, Engineers Australia helps thousands of engineers in and outside of Australia achieve their goals. So, whether you are a foreign student that needs an assessment for a new visa, or a skilled engineer seeking a new life in our beautiful country, contact Engineers Australia for help. 

When you register as an engineer in Australia, you may need to prove your English language proficiency. IELTS is officially accepted by Engineers Australia.

What is Australia’s points system for immigration?

When you’re thinking of migrating to Australia as a Permanent Resident (PR), you may come across points-based visas. We’ll explain what this is and how the Australian PR points calculator works.

Full list for Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) in NSW

The full list of occupations NSW is currently nominating for the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas can be found below. Please be aware that these lists are subject to change without notice. So, it’s good to keep checking the NSW Governmentexternal icon website. Information about minimum eligibility criteria and how invitation rounds work can be found on the dedicated Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190)external icon website. Or, information on how to apply for regional NSW nomination can be found on our Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)external icon website. 

ANZSCO Code Occupation
133211 Engineering Manager
134211 Medical Administrator
134212 Nursing Clinical Director
134214 Welfare Centre Manager
233211 Civil Engineer
233212 Geotechnical Engineer
233214 Structural Engineer
233215 Transport Engineer
233511 Industrial Engineer
233512 Mechanical Engineer
233513 Production or Plant Engineer
233911 Aeronautical Engineer
233913 Biomedical Engineer
233916 Naval Architect
233999 Engineering Professionals nec
254411 Nurse Practitioner
254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health)
254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)
254421 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical)
254425 Registered Nurse (Paediatric)
254499 Registered Nurses nec
261111 ICT business Analyst
261112 Systems Analyst
261311 Analyst Programmer
261312 Developer Programmer
261313 Software Engineer
262112 ICT Security Specialist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson
312212 Civil Engineering Technician
312311 Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
312312 Electrical Engineering Technician
312999 Building and Engineering Technicians nec

How does the points test work for Australian skilled migration?

When you apply for an independent skills migration visa, you need to meet a minimum pass mark. Each visa has its own pass minimum points score. For example, you need a minimum of 65 points to be able to submit an expression of interest for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) visa. The Department of Home Affairs has an online Australian PR points calculatorexternal icon

Points can be claimed for a few different personal factors: 

  • age 

  • English proficiency 

  • employment experience 

  • educational qualifications 

  • community language qualifications 

  • the skills of your partner 

  • you can also get extra points if you have been invited to apply for a visa by a state or territory government agency. 

Access the points calculatorexternal icon 

Use IELTS for Migration

Your visa options 

If you like the opportunity to live, study or work in Australia, there are many visa options available to you. There is a study visa, skilled, sponsored work visa and business visa. Some of these may lead to Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia.

Your IELTS options 

The IELTS Academic test has been developed if you wish to study at university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or if you want to join or gain entry into a professional institution. The IELTS General Training test has been developed to test your every-day, non-academic English.

Immigration and the law 

Legislation about immigration changes frequently. It’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairsexternal icon website for changes that may apply to you. If you are interested in Australian student visas, work visas, or looking to migrate permanently, you need to lodge an application with the Australian Government. You may want to consider getting support from a lawyer or migration agent.