For Employers · Published 2026-11-10 · Updated 2026-11-10
How to Sponsor a Plumber on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
To sponsor a plumber on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, your business must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, then nominate the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market salary rate. Plumber (General) is on the Core Skills Occupation List as ANZSCO 334116 with no caveats, and the other plumbing occupations on that list carry no caveats either. The extra step with plumbers is licensing: plumbing is licensed by each state and territory, so an overseas-trained plumber usually goes through a Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) assessment, then works under supervision on a provisional or restricted licence before getting a full licence. There is a pathway to permanent residence through the subclass 186 visa.
This guide covers the plumber-specific points. For the full employer process, see our pillar guide on how to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482 visa.
At a glance
| Plumber (General) | |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO code on the Core Skills Occupation List (482, 186) | 334116 |
| ANZSCO code on the skilled and regional lists (189, 190, 491, 494) | 334111 |
| 482 Core Skills (CSOL) | Yes, no caveats |
| 186 Direct Entry | Yes (TRA) |
| Skilled visas (189 / 190 / 491) | MLTSSL |
| Regional 494 | Yes |
| Mandatory 482 skills assessment for some passports | No |
| Licence needed to work | Yes, state or territory licence |
The code difference matters on paper. The Core Skills Occupation List uses 334116, while the lists for the points-tested visas and the 494 still show Plumber (General) as 334111. Use the code from the list for the visa you are lodging.
Which plumbing occupation fits the role?
The nomination must match what the person actually does. As well as Plumber (General), these plumbing occupations are on the Core Skills Occupation List with no caveats:
- Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber (334112)
- Drainer (334113)
- Gasfitter (334114)
- Roof Plumber (334115)
- Fire Protection Plumber (334117)
If the role is mainly gasfitting, drainage, roofing, airconditioning or fire services work, one of the specialist codes may fit better than Plumber (General). Pick the code from the duties, not the job ad title. The licensing route below is the one TRA describes for Plumber (General). For the specialist occupations, check the assessment and licensing route with TRA and the state regulator before choosing the code.
The licensing pathway: assessment, provisional licence, full licence
Plumbing work in Australia is licensed by each state and territory, and an overseas qualification does not give a licence on its own. The usual route for a general plumber is:
- TRA-approved skills assessment. The plumber is assessed by a provider approved by Trades Recognition Australia. TRA says a successful applicant receives an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), which is used to apply to a state or territory licensing authority for a provisional licence, registration or certificate. The OTSR is not itself a licence.
- Provisional or restricted licence. With the OTSR, the plumber applies to the state or territory licensing body. TRA notes there is no nationally agreed gap-training package for migrant plumbers, so each state and territory sets its own pathway. In NSW, an OTSR holder may be eligible for a provisional tradesperson certificate in plumbing, drainage and gasfitting, issued for 1 or 3 years and not renewable.
- Gap training, supervised work and a full licence. The plumber completes Australian context gap training and a period of supervised employment. In NSW, the relevant Certificate III is also needed before applying for a contractor licence or supervisor certificate.
What this means for you: the sponsored role has to work for someone who cannot yet sign off their own work, and you need a licensed plumber to supervise. Home Affairs also asks 482 applicants in licensed occupations for evidence from the licensing authority that they hold, or can meet, the licensing requirements. Check the rules in each state where the plumber will work before you nominate.
What does it cost to sponsor a plumber?
Employer-side government costs (indexed and subject to change):
- Standard Business Sponsorship: around $420, usually valid for around five years, with unlimited nominations.
- Nomination: around $330 per position.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200 per year of the visa if your annual turnover is under $10 million, or $1,800 per year otherwise, paid upfront at nomination. It can never be recovered from the worker.
The visa application charge, usually paid by the worker, is A$4,015 for the main applicant (Home Affairs pricing checked 10 November 2026). See every 482 charge.
On salary, you must pay at least A$79,423 and the annual market salary rate for a plumber in your location, whichever is higher. For reference, Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings for plumbers of $1,990 a week. Use our 482 sponsorship cost calculator for the government costs.
Does the plumber need a skills assessment for the visa?
Plumber is not one of the occupations in the Home Affairs instrument that makes a skills assessment mandatory for 482 applicants with certain passports, although Home Affairs can still ask for one. For the 186 Direct Entry stream, a positive skills assessment from TRA is required. Because licensing runs through a TRA-approved assessment and the OTSR, plan on an assessment for almost every overseas-trained plumber, and start early: it often sets the timeline.
The worker also needs at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the last 5 years, plus the English, health and character requirements for the 482.
How long does it take?
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of 482 Core Skills visa applications were finalised within 8 months, and 75% of nominations within 7 months. Lodging the nomination and visa together lets them run in parallel. See the 482 processing times by stream, updated monthly.
Add the time for the skills assessment and labour market testing before you lodge, and allow for the licensing steps after arrival.
Do I have to advertise the job in Australia first?
Usually, yes. Labour market testing generally requires two advertisements, running for at least four weeks, within the four months before you lodge the nomination. If the salary is below A$96,400, the ad must show it. Some nationals are exempt under international trade obligations.
Keeping the plumber long term
After at least two years of sponsored employment in the three years before applying, you can generally nominate the plumber for the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream (permanent residence), in the same occupation as the most recent 482 nomination. Plumber (General) is also on the MLTSSL, so points-tested visas such as the 189 and 190 may be open to them, and it is listed for the regional subclass 494 visa. See also our guide to the construction trades pathway to PR.
Is this general advice?
This is general information, not personal migration advice. Thresholds, fees, occupation lists and licensing rules change, and the right pathway depends on your business, your state and the candidate. Before you advertise or lodge anything, speak with a registered migration agent.
Sources & last checked: verified 10 November 2026 against the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (Plumber (General) 334116 and the other plumbing occupations, Core Skills Occupation List, no applicable circumstances), the Subclass 186 occupations instrument (Plumber (General) 334116, assessing authority TRA), the LIN 19/051 skilled occupation lists (plumber (general) 334111, MLTSSL), the LIN 19/219 subclass 494 occupations instrument (plumber (general) 334111), IMMI 18/039 (mandatory skills assessment occupations, which do not include plumbers), Trades Recognition Australia: plumbers, the NSW Government page on overseas qualifications for building and trade licences, the Department of Home Affairs salary requirements and labour market testing pages, and Jobs and Skills Australia. Fees and processing times on this page come from the same Home Affairs data as our visa fees and processing times pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor a plumber on a 482 visa?
Yes. Plumber (General) (ANZSCO 334116) is on the Core Skills Occupation List with no caveats, and so are Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber (334112), Drainer (334113), Gasfitter (334114), Roof Plumber (334115) and Fire Protection Plumber (334117). An approved Standard Business Sponsor can nominate the role under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream, provided the salary meets the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. Because plumbing is licensed, plan for the licensing steps as well as the visa.
Why does the plumber ANZSCO code differ between occupation lists?
The Core Skills Occupation List, which is used for the 482 and the 186, lists Plumber (General) as 334116. The occupation lists used for the points-tested visas (189, 190 and 491) and for the regional 494 still list Plumber (General) as 334111. Use the code shown on the list for the visa you are lodging.
Can an overseas plumber work straight away in Australia?
Not as a fully licensed plumber. Trades Recognition Australia says a successful applicant receives an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), which is used to apply to a state or territory licensing authority for a provisional licence, registration or certificate. The OTSR is not itself a licence. The plumber then applies to the state or territory licensing body for a provisional or restricted licence, works under supervision and completes gap training before a full licence. In NSW, for example, an OTSR holder may be eligible for a provisional tradesperson certificate in plumbing, drainage and gasfitting, which is issued for 1 or 3 years and cannot be renewed.
Does a sponsored plumber need a skills assessment?
Plumber is not one of the occupations in the Home Affairs instrument that makes a skills assessment mandatory for 482 applicants holding certain passports, although Home Affairs can still ask for one. A positive skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia is needed for the 186 Direct Entry stream, and in practice the licensing route for an overseas-trained plumber starts with a TRA-approved assessment anyway.
How much does it cost to sponsor a plumber?
Budget for Standard Business Sponsorship (around $420), the nomination fee (around $330 per role) and the Skilling Australians Fund levy ($1,200 per year of the visa if your turnover is under $10 million, $1,800 per year otherwise, paid upfront and never recoverable from the worker). Add the skills assessment, licensing and gap-training costs, and a salary of at least A$79,423 and the market rate.
Can a sponsored plumber get permanent residence?
Yes. After at least two years of sponsored employment in the three years before applying, the employer can generally nominate the plumber for the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. Plumber (General) is also on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (so points-tested visas such as the 189 and 190 are possible) and on the occupation list for the regional 494 visa.
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