Australia continues to be a top destination for engineers worldwide, offering numerous opportunities in various sectors. Whether you are an IT, civil, or mechanical engineer, migrating to Australia could unlock both career growth and an improved quality of life. In this guide, we’ll cover key pathways, visa options, and everything you need to know about working as an engineer in Australia.
Reasons to Migrate
Australia is well known for its high quality of life, offering a balanced work-life dynamic, competitive salaries, and excellent healthcare and education systems. Engineers in Australia also enjoy strong employment prospects, especially given the nation’s demand for professionals across various engineering disciplines. Whether you’re looking to grow your career or secure a better future for your family, Australia offers a stable and rewarding environment.
Notable Updates on Migration Strategy
In recent months, Australia has ramped up efforts to attract skilled engineers. The government has been increasing its skilled migration intake, particularly in fields critical to Australia’s infrastructure and technology sectors. Changes in the latest Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa invitation rounds have shown a growing emphasis on engineering professionals. For instance, recent rounds have invited a significant number of engineers at the low points threshold starting from 75 points.
Migration Pathways
Several visa subclasses are tailored to engineers wishing to migrate to Australia, including:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) – A points-based visa that doesn’t require employer sponsorship. With this stream, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) will assess your eligibility and occupation suitability to the needs of Australia based on information you disclosed in your Expression of Interest (EOI) to invite you to apply for the visa.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa) – Requires state or territory nomination.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa) – For engineers willing to work in regional areas.
- Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa) – Allows skilled engineers to work in Australia on a temporary basis through employer sponsorship, addressing labour shortages in specific industries.
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) – Provides a pathway to permanent residency for engineers who are nominated by their employer for a permanent position, often after working on a subclass 482 visa.
With the most recent round of 189 visa invitations, Australia demonstrated a marked focus on inviting engineers, particularly in IT, civil, and electrical fields.
Skills Assessment
Engineers seeking skilled migration to Australia must undergo a skills assessment by the relevant authority to verify their qualifications and experience.
Engineers Australia is the primary assessing body for most engineering sectors. They offer four streams for assessment for accredited qualifications:
- Australian qualifications (must be qualifications accredited by Engineers Australia)
- Washington Accord
- Sydney Accord
- Dublin Accord
These accords relate to international agreements that ensure your engineering qualifications are recognised in Australia.
For engineers whose qualifications do not fall under these accords, the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway is available. The CDR assessment requires engineers to demonstrate their skills and competencies through detailed reports on their engineering projects.
Global Engineering Accreditation: Universities Recognised by Accords
A few examples of universities and countries whose engineering degrees are accredited under the Washington, Sydney, or Dublin Accords, ensuring they meet Australian standards:
- Malaysia: Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) – Dublin & Sydney Accords
- South Africa: University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) – Sydney Accord
- Bangladesh: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) – Washington Accord
- China: Tsinghua University – Washington Accord
These universities’ degrees are recognised on a face-value basis, making the migration process smoother for graduates applying under Engineers Australia’s Skills Assessment.
However, please note that your degrees must be conferred in the same year or after your country’s accrediting representatives join the accord. This means that, for example, if you graduated and gained your degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2022, you would not qualify under the Washington Accord stream as Bangladesh joined the Washington Accord in 2023
Other sectors, such as ICT engineers, might require assessments through different authorities like ACS (Australian Computer Society). ACS assesses your qualifications, work history, and specific skills based on your chosen occupation relating to ICT.
Government Policies for Attracting Talented Engineers
Australia’s state governments are proactively prioritising engineers in high-demand fields. For instance, Western Australia (WA) has introduced policies that prioritise ICT engineers due to the state’s rapid tech sector growth. Similarly, other states may focus on civil or mining engineers to support major infrastructure projects. Engineers who align with these state priorities often receive faster processing and higher chances of receiving a state nomination.
Practising Registration Requirements
In some Australian states, engineers in specific disciplines need to meet registration requirement before they can practice. For instance, engineers in the civil, structural, or mechanical sectors might need to register in states like Victoria or Queensland, where regulatory bodies ensure that only qualified professionals provide engineering services.
Case Study: A Successful Migration Journey
A.T., an IT engineer from Vietnam, successfully migrated to Australia with the help of our team at Migration Affairs. After completing his skills assessment with ACS, A.T. applied for the 189 visas after being invited by the Department not long after he submitted his EOI. His prior experience in software engineering and regional education in Adelaide scored him an invitation. Today, A.T. is thriving in his new role at a leading Australian tech firm, enjoying both career advancement and a new lifestyle in Brisbane.
Closure of Subclass 476 visa – New Options Being Developed:
The Subclass 476 Visa (Recognised Graduate Visa) permitted recent engineering graduates from select universities worldwide to live, work, or study in Australia for up to 18 months, providing an opportunity to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residency. However, as of July 1, 2024, the visa is no longer available for new applicants, ending a popular pathway for many new graduates.
However, note recent migration updates suggest that Australia is working on more streamlined migration pathways, especially for sectors facing critical skill shortages, including engineering. Be sure to stay informed by checking the Migration Strategy updates, which may offer new pathways tailored for engineering graduates looking to contribute to Australia’s growing industries.
Conclusion
With strong demand for engineers across multiple disciplines, Australia offers a wealth of opportunities for those ready to take the next step in their careers. Whether you’re eyeing the cities or regional areas, the right visa pathway and preparation can unlock a rewarding future. At Migration Affairs, we are here to guide you through every step of your migration journey, ensuring a smooth transition to your new life in Australia.
Contact Migrations Affairs to speak with our immigration experts for tailored advice on the circumstances and eligibility.
Changes to the migration program can occur without notice. The above information is not intended to be legal advice and is correct as of the date of writing this article.
