Australia needs skilled machinists and CNC operators
Visas for Machinists and CNC Operators Migrating to Australia
We know the Trades Recognition Australia assessment and the sponsorship process this occupation needs.
Machinists, CNC machinists, and toolmakers are in genuine shortage in Australian precision manufacturing, and their occupations appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482), and on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for permanent and skilled independent pathways. The ANZSCO codes most relevant to this group are: 323211 (Fitter), 323212 (Fitter and Turner), 323213 (Fitter-Welder), 323214 (Metal Machinist, First Class), and 323299 (Metal Fitters and Machinists, NEC).
The assessment authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). The pathway from TRA assessment to employer sponsorship or the skilled independent visa follows the same structure as other trade occupations.
VISA OPTIONS FOR MACHINISTS
Employer sponsorship (482, 186): precision engineering workshops and manufacturers that are approved sponsors can nominate machinists and CNC operators. The CSOL listing supports the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream of up to four years, which in turn opens the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition pathway to permanent residence after two years. The nominated salary must be at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, $79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 (checked 10 October 2026).
Fitter (General) 323211, Fitter and Turner 323212, Fitter-Welder 323213 and Metal Machinist (First Class) 323214 are on the MLTSSL as well as the Core Skills Occupation List. Metal Fitters and Machinists nec (323299) is on the Core Skills Occupation List and the STSOL only, so its points-tested route is state nomination (subclass 190, or a state-nominated 491), not the subclass 189. Occupation list placement checked on 10 October 2026.
Skilled independent (subclass 189): for machinists on the MLTSSL, a TRA assessment plus a competitive points score, with no employer required.
State nomination (190, 491): some state programs target precision manufacturing trades.
Skills in Demand (SID) Visa
(Subclass 482)
Custom migration pathways for businesses facing ongoing skills shortages, including DAMA’s, industry-specific Labour agreements and Company Specific Labour Agreements.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)
Secure permanent residency for skilled international employees, strengthening your workforce with long-term expertise.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
This visa provides a way for skilled workers in specific occupations, nominated by their employer for a position in a designated regional area, to live and work in Australia for five years. This visa contains two ‘streams’ with varying conditions and eligibility requirements. Click below to learn more, and contact us for professional advice and assistance.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, with no employer or state nomination required.
TRA ASSESSMENT FOR MACHINISTS
Step 1 Confirm your ANZSCO code
Confirm your ANZSCO code. Fitter and Turner, Metal Machinist (First Class), and related codes have different scope. Confirm the right code for your actual work history at consultation.
Step 2 Gather TRA documentation: trade qualifications
Gather TRA documentation: trade qualifications (apprenticeship, trade certificate), employment references documenting machining tasks, payslips, and CNC operation evidence where applicable.
Step 3 Lodge the TRA application
Step 4 Proceed with EOI in SkillSelect or employer sponsorship on receipt of positive assessment
Step 5 Visa application
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss your visa or sponsorship options. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
Is CNC experience accepted for a TRA machinist assessment?
CNC operation experience is relevant but the TRA assessment is against the ANZSCO occupation definition. A purely CNC operation role may not meet the full trade definition. Employment evidence demonstrating the full range of tasks (setup, tooling, quality checking, manual machining where applicable) strengthens the application.
What employers in Australia need machinists?
Precision engineering workshops, defence manufacturing, mining equipment manufacturers, and general engineering companies. MigrationBuro works with precision engineering employers who have direct sponsorship needs.
Is the machinist occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List?
Yes. Machinist occupations sit on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), so they can be sponsored under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream, granted for up to four years, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years.
Can a sponsored worker's family come to Australia with them?
What is the difference between a 482 and a 186 visa?
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. Registered since 2008, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
