Permanent Residency Pathways for Construction Workers - Skilled Occupations That Support Australia’s Housing and Infrastructure Needs

Your skills are in high demand in Australia. As the nation expands its housing and infrastructure, the need for experienced professionals in construction, engineering, and related trades has never been greater. This growing demand creates clear, direct visa pathways to Australian Permanent Residency (PR) for qualified individuals like you.

1. Construction Trades

Carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, tilers, electricians and many other construction workers are essential for residential and commercial building projects. Many of these occupations are included on the skilled occupation lists.

Visa pathways include

1. Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (employer-sponsored)
   • Main Requirements: Must be sponsored by an approved employer, have at least one  year of relevant work experience, have the occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and meet English language criteria. You may be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency after two years holding a 482 visa.
2. Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) - 482 visa to 186 PR
   • Main Requirements: The applicant needs to hold a 482 visa for at least 2 years, and the employer must nominate them for permanent residency. Generally, the applicant must also be under 45 years old.
3. Subclass 186 Direct Entry stream – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) – PR through employer nomination
   • Main Requirements: Requires a nomination from an Australian employer, a positive skills assessment,at least three years of work experience, have the occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), and competent English.
4. Subclass 189 - Skilled Independent, and 190/491 - State Nominated visas
   • Main Requirements: Based on a points system. Requires a positive skills assessment, must be invited to apply, and be under 45 years of age. The Subclass 190 and 491 also require a nomination from a state or territory government. Each state has different criteria and occupation lists.
5. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)
   • Main Requirements: Available in specific regions of Australia. Employers in these areas can sponsor overseas workers, often with concessions for skills, language, and age requirements (up to 55 years old).

Work Visa Lawyers Tip: Our team helps tradespeople prepare for Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) skills assessments and lodge strong skilled visa applications.

2. Engineers

Civil, structural, and electrical engineers are vital for infrastructure development and housing projects.

Visa pathways include

1. Subclass 482 → 186 (TRT) pathway
   • Main Requirements: Begin with an employer-sponsored 482 visa, then transition to the 186 PR visa after working for your employer for a specified period (usually two years).
2. Subclass 186 - Direct Entry pathway
   • Main Requirements: Requires a nomination from an Australian employer, a positive skills assessment, at least three years of relevant work experience, and competent English.
3. Subclass 189/190 - Skilled visas via points or state nomination
   • Main Requirements: A points-based system where candidates need a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia, must meet a points threshold, and be invited to apply. The 190 visa requires state nomination.
4. Subclass 491 - Regional provisional visas leading to 191 PR
   • Main Requirements: Requires nomination by a state/territory or an eligible family member to live and work in a designated regional area. This visa provides a pathway to the permanent 191 visa.

Work Visa Lawyers Tip: We assist engineers with Engineers Australia skills assessments and points-tested visas.

3. Surveyors & Architects

Surveyors and architects support the planning and design side of housing and urban development. These roles are also recognised on the skilled lists.

Visa pathways include

1. Subclass 482 - Employer sponsorship
   • Main Requirements: Requires sponsorship from an approved Australian employer, relevant qualifications, and English language proficiency.
2. Subclass 186 - ENS PR pathway
   • Main Requirements: Can be accessed via the Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition stream. Requires a positive skills assessment and relevant work experience.
3. Subclass 189/190 - Skilled PR visas
   • Main Requirements: A points-tested pathway requiring a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing body, an invitation to apply, and meeting the points threshold.
4. Subclass 491 - Regional provisional visa
   • Main Requirements: Requires nomination from a state or territory to live and work in a regional area, providing a pathway to permanent residency.

Work Visa Lawyers Tip: We provide advice for surveyors and architects navigating migration and state nomination requirements. Check our Employer-Sponsored Visa Services.

4. High-Demand Construction Occupations & Recent Invitation Rounds

Recent Subclass 189 invitation rounds have highlighted the strong demand for construction trades. In the last three 189 visa  rounds, many of these occupations received invitations with a minimum of just 65 points. This demonstrates a clear opportunity for skilled tradespeople seeking permanent residency in Australia.

Examples of occupations invited include:

• Carpenters and Joiners (with 65 points)
• Bricklayers (with 65 points)
• Plumbers (with 65 points)
• Electricians (with 70 points)

Work Visa Lawyers Tip: We stay on top of migration trends and can advise you on your points score and chances of receiving an invitation.

Building Australia’s Future

From trades and engineers to surveyors and project managers, skilled professionals are central to Australia’s housing and infrastructure development. If you’re qualified in these areas, there are clear visa pathways available.

How Work Visa Lawyers Can Help

At Work Visa Lawyers, our Adelaide-based team—founded by Immigration Lawyer Chris Johnston in 2011—specialises in Australian visa pathways for skilled workers.

Since 2011, we’ve helped thousands of skilled workers, families, and businesses with their migration matters. Whether you’re a carpenter, engineer, or architect, we can help you plan your pathway to Australia.

Book a consultation to explore your visa options.

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What Are Interim Allocations for State 190 or 491 Visas?

The Department of Home Affairs sometimes provides states and territories with a small, temporary batch of nomination places. These are called interim allocations.

They allow states to continue processing a limited number of nominations for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visas while waiting for the federal government to release the full allocation for the year.

In simple terms, interim allocations act as a “bridge” so that migration programs don’t completely pause between July and when the final numbers are handed down.

Why Interim Allocations Are Important

For applicants, interim allocations mean that invitations may still be issued early in the program year, but they will usually be very limited. States often use these places to:

• Prioritise candidates who submitted a Registration of Interest (ROI) in the previous program year
• Focus on occupations that are in critical demand
• Assist applicants with urgent visa situations, such as those whose visas are close to expiring

Interim Allocations in the Past

This is not the first time interim allocations have been used. For example, in the 2020–21 program year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, interim allocations were provided before the full annual quotas were confirmed.

Interim Allocations in 2025-26 

In the 2025–26 program year, the states and territories received interim allocations in early September while still waiting for the full allocation number be released. This allowed them to issue a small number of invitations ahead of the full allocations being announced later in the year.

In practice, the gap between interim allocations being released and the full allocation being confirmed is usually only a matter of weeks or a couple of months.

For ACT the 2025-26 interim allocation is 165 nomination places:

• ACT permanent 190 nomination: 85 places
• ACT provisional 491 nomination: 80 places

For Tasmania, this allocation is a total of 165 places:

• 85 for subclass 190 visa
• 80 for subclass 491 visa

South Australia and Western Australia didn’t provide the number of interim allocation provided. 

What Applicants Should Do

If you are planning to apply for a 190 or 491 visa, it’s important to be prepared:

• Keep your EOI/ROI up to date with accurate details, English test results and skills assessments
• Gather your supporting documents so you are ready if invited
• Stay informed by checking the announcements on state and territory migration websites

Interim allocations are a temporary but important part of Australia’s skilled migration program. While numbers are small, they allow states to continue nominating candidates before the full annual quotas are set. For applicants, being prepared early can make the difference between securing an invitation or missing out.

You can contact us if you need any assistance with your visa application or pathways for your permanent residency in Australia.

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189 Visa Invitation Round August 2025

After nine months, a new Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) invitation round was held on 21 August 2025. The previous round took place in November 2024.

This round brought positive news for many applicants, with invitations issued across the construction, health, and teaching sectors. Occupations invited included carpenters, painters, engineers, nurses, doctors, and teachers.

At a time when the Australian Government has not yet announced the 2025–26 allocations for the 189, 190, and 491 visas, the August 2025 invitation round came as a welcome news.

We hope the new allocations will be released soon and that state nominations will reopen shortly.

Invitation Round Overview

The Department of Home Affairs released the full list of invited occupations and points.

Key Outcomes:

• 6,887 invitations 
• Invitations were issued across more than 130 occupations
• Construction trades such as carpenters, electricians, and bricklayers were invited at only 65 points
• Health roles were also strong — many doctors and nurses were invited around 80 points
• Education professionals included university lecturers at 85 points and childcare managers at 90 points
• Unfortunately, accountants and chefs did not receive invitations in this round

The Department has indicated that invitation rounds will be held quarterly, with the next expected before December 2025.

Prior Reference: November 2024 Round

The 7 November 2024 invitation round numbers:

• Invitations issued: 15,000
• Points threshold: Ranged from 65 for many trades and general roles, up to 95 for high-demand professions

You can read our blog on the November 2024 189 invitation round for more information.

What You Can Do Now

If you are waiting for an invitation, it’s important to keep your Expression of Interest (EOI) and documents up to date. Make sure that your English test results, skills assessments, and all declarations are current, as outdated information could affect your eligibility.

You should also look for opportunities to maximise your points. This may include claiming partner skills, completing a professional year, or retaking an English test to achieve a higher score. Even a small increase in points can improve your position in SkillSelect.

Finally, consider alternative visa pathways if the subclass 189 visa remains highly competitive and state nomination programs for the 190 and 491 visas are still closed. Employer-sponsored visas such as the 482 visa, 186 visa or 494 visa may offer a more practical route to securing permanent residency in Australia.

Contact us if you need assistance with applying for an Australian visa.

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To apply for an Australian visa, your work experience can play a significant role. Both overseas and Australian employment can be considered, and the terms of employment do not usually matter, they can be casual, part-time or full-time, self-employed or as an employer. 

Meeting work experience requirements for visas and skills assessments depend significantly on the facts and evidence of each person's particular case. Different periods of experience must be carefully examined to ensure the requirements can be met.

If you have overseas work experience, you can prove it using reference letters, payslips, bank statements, and other documents that confirm your occupation, duration of employment and salary.

If you are in Australia, your experience will count whether you work casually, part-time, full-time, or under an ABN or TFN.

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Here are some visas that require relevant employment experience: 

1. General Skilled Migration Visas (Subclass 189, 190, and 491)

These visas are for individuals with skills that are in demand in Australia.

• Work experience requirement: Post-qualification, relevant work experience is often required for a skill assessment. The more experience you have, the more points you can claim in the points-based system. 

• How it counts: Only work that exceeds 20 hours per week can be counted. Full-time, part-time, casual, and self-employment can all count as long as the work is relevant to your nominated occupation.

Each state has different criteria regarding the required number of work hours and whether the applicant must be living in the state or not.

Besides work experience, you will need to meet additional requirements to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the 189 visa, 190 visa, or 491 visa.

2. Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

The 482 visa allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for skilled roles.

• Work experience requirement: At least one year of full-time experience in the nominated occupation. 

Part-time or casual experience can also be counted and will be calculated pro rata. For example, if you work part-time (20 hours per week) for two years, it will be equivalent to one year of full-time experience.

ABN experience may also count if the applicant has sufficient documentation to support it.

• How it counts: The work experience should show you have the necessary skills for the job you’re being sponsored for. The employer will need to verify your experience as part of the sponsorship application.

3. Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) Direct Entry Stream 

The 186 Direct Entry Visa is a visa for skilled workers nominated by an employer sponsor that leads directly to permanent residency.

• Work experience requirement: You need at least 3 years full-time of relevant work experience. Generally, the experience needs to be post-qualification. 

• How it counts: Similar to the 482 visa, your experience needs to be in the nominated occupation and directly related to the role. 

Part-time or casual experience might be considered, but it could be prorated depending on the hours worked.

ABN experience may also count if the applicant has sufficient documentation to support it.

4. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)

The 494 visa is for skilled workers nominated by their employer to work in regional areas in Australia.

• Work experience requirement: You need at least 3 years full-time of relevant work experience. Generally, the experience needs to be post-qualification. 

• How it counts: The experience needs to be in the nominated occupation and directly related to the role. 

Part-time or casual experience might be considered, but it could be prorated depending on the hours worked.

ABN experience may also count if the applicant has sufficient documentation to support it.

5. Training Visa (Subclass 407)

The Training Visa allows applicants to undertake structured workplace-based training in Australia to improve their skills or meet licensing/registration requirements.

• You must have at least 12 months of relevant work experience in your occupation within the last 24 months before applying. The experience can also be studying. 

• The experience can be full-time or part-time, but it must be directly related to the training program you are applying for.

• Volunteer work may be considered if it is structured, documented, and relevant to the training.

How Work Experience is Assessed:

Skill assessments: For General Skilled Migration Visas (subclass 491/190/189), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494), and Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Direct Entry Stream, a positive skill assessment is mandatory. 

For the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482), a skill assessment may be required depending on your occupation and the country of passport. 

Do You Need Help with an Australian Visa?

If you’re looking to apply for an Australian visa, we can assist you with your visa application.

Since 2011, we have helped thousands of applicants and businesses with immigration matters, Australian visas, permanent residency and citizenship.

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If you're a Cafe or Restaurant Manager seeking to migrate to Australia, recent changes to immigration policies may have left you feeling uncertain.

The removal of Cafe and Restaurant Managers from the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) means that applying for new Skills in Demand 482 visa or the Direct Entry 186 visa is no longer an option.

However, this doesn’t mean all hope is lost—there are still several viable visa pathways available for skilled hospitality professionals.

In this blog, we’ll cover the best visa options for Cafe and Restaurant Managers in Australia, helping you navigate the complexities of the Australian immigration system.

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Why Were Cafe and Restaurant Managers Removed from the CSOL List?

The removal of Cafe and Restaurant Managers from the CSOL list was a major policy shift that disrupted many migration plans.

As a result, new applications for the 482 visa and the Direct Entry 186 visa are no longer available for these occupations.

This change reflects the government's focus on addressing skills shortages in other sectors, particularly in response to Australia's housing crisis, where occupations like teachers, healthcare workers, and construction professionals are given priority for state nominations.

What Are the Best Visa Options for Cafe and Restaurant Managers?

Despite these restrictions, there are still several pathways to permanent residency (PR) for Cafe and Restaurant Managers. Below are the most relevant options:

1. State Nomination: 190 and 491 Visas

You can still apply for state nomination through the 190 visa or 491 visa by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

To qualify, you will need:

• A positive skills assessment as a Cafe or Restaurant Manager
• At least competent English proficiency
• At least 65 points on the points test

However, state allocations for these visas are limited, and priority is currently given to occupations addressing Australia's housing and healthcare shortages.

Waiting for an invitation for restaurant managers may not be the most reliable strategy.

2. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) 494 visa

If a cafe or restaurant is located in a regional area, you could be eligible for the 494 visa.

This provisional visa offers a pathway to permanent residency after three years.

To be eligible, you need:

• At least three years of full-time work experience as a Cafe or Restaurant Manager
• A positive skills assessment
• At least competent English

Meeting the experience requirement can be challenging for some applicants.

3. Labour Agreements: Flexible Sponsorship Options

Labour agreements provide customised sponsorship opportunities for employers and offer concessions on visa requirements, including age, work experience, and English proficiency.

They can also provide pathways to permanent residency for applicants aged between 45 and 55.

There are three primary types of labour agreements suitable for Cafe and Restaurant Managers:

a. Restaurant (Premium Dining) Industry Labour Agreement

Businesses must have an annual revenue of at least $2 million, employ specialised staff such as chefs, waiters, and sommeliers, and provide table service.

b. DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreements)

Available in regional areas such as South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. DAMAs offer concessions on age and English language requirements but are not available in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne.

c. Company-Specific Labour Agreements

Designed for businesses not covered by DAMAs or industry-wide agreements, these agreements can include occupations like Cafe and Restaurant Managers.

4. 186 Visa: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

If you already hold a 482 visa as a Cafe or Restaurant Manager, you can still apply for permanent residency under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) 186 visa after two years of employment with your current sponsor.

You must be nominated by your current employer. If you want to change employers, your occupation must still be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) to transfer your 482 visa to a new employer.

 If your occupation is no longer listed, you’ll need to apply for PR through your current employer.

What If Your Visa Options Are Limited?

Given the recent policy shifts and growing competition for state nominations, Cafe or Restaurant Managers may need to consider alternative pathways, such as employer-sponsored visas through labour agreements or the 494 visa, exploring other eligible occupations, or consulting with an immigration specialist for personalised advice.

Stay Updated with Australian Immigration Changes

At Work Visa Lawyers, we have been providing up-to-date immigration news and guidance for over ten years.

 If you're unsure about your eligibility or need advice tailored to your situation, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our experienced migration lawyers. You can also follow us on our Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube for more information.

Contact us today for expert advice on the best migration pathway for your situation.

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