AIR TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS NEC | ANZSCO 231199

WHAT DOES AIR TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS NEC COVER?

ANZSCO 231199 is a not elsewhere classified, or nec, category within ANZSCO Unit Group 2311, Air Transport Professionals. Air Transport Professionals fly and navigate aircraft, control and direct air traffic to ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft in flight and on the ground, and instruct students in flying aircraft. This particular code covers professionals in this broad group whose specific role does not match Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot or Flying Instructor, the three more specifically defined occupations in the unit group. The occupation carries a Skill Level 1 rating in Australia, and registration or licensing is required.

Recognised specialisations under this code include:

• Airworthiness Inspector, who examines and certifies aircraft for compliance with airworthiness standards
• Flight Engineer Inspector, who inspects and certifies flight engineering work and systems on aircraft
• Aircraft Navigator, a specialist air transport role focused on aircraft navigation
• Balloonist, who pilots hot air balloons for commercial passenger or commercial operations

SUBCLASS 482 FOR AIR TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS NEC – CSOL LIST

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024, and a new occupation list came with it. The Core Skills Occupation List, known as the CSOL, brought together the previous strategic skills lists into one single list covering several hundred occupations across professional, trade and technical fields.

Air Transport Professionals nec sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 231199, alongside the more specifically defined Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot and Flying Instructor occupations. This is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa, and it is also the same code used where the occupation applies to the Direct Entry stream of the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. Reported shortage indicators for this occupation currently show shortages recorded nationally and across every state and territory.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

Your nominated occupation has to genuinely reflect the work you will actually be doing for your sponsoring employer. Because this is a nec category, the Department and VETASSESS both look closely at whether the role could instead be classified under Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot or Flying Instructor before accepting a nomination under 231199.

If your duties are genuinely focused on flying aeroplanes or helicopters commercially, or on flight instruction, one of those more specific codes, and the corresponding CASA led assessment process, should generally be used instead. The nec code is reserved for other air transport roles, such as airworthiness inspection or flight engineering inspection, that do not fit those three definitions.

ANZSCO requirement for this occupation includes a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a highly relevant field, with at least five years of relevant experience able to substitute for the formal qualification in some circumstances, alongside any CASA licence, certificate of approval or authorisation relevant to the specific role (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream in this occupation, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer, typically an airline, maintenance organisation, aviation regulator adjacent business or specialist aviation operator, must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 231199, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for the role
• At least one year of full time equivalent work experience in a highly relevant air transport field, within the past five years
• English requirements as outlined further below, unless an exemption applies
• A clear health examination through an approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for twelve months or more

The Core Skills Income Threshold, which sets the minimum salary an employer must offer for a Core Skills stream nomination, is indexed and reviewed every year, so it is always worth checking the current figure on the Home Affairs website before a nomination is lodged. The visa itself can be granted for a period of one to four years, depending on individual circumstances, and a partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants.

SUBCLASS 482 VISA APPLICATION CHARGES

Visa application charges are indexed and change from 1 July each year. The government charges are structured as a base charge for the main applicant, a matching charge for each adult dependent aged 18 or over, and a reduced charge for each dependent child under 18. Because these figures move every financial year, it is worth confirming the current charge on the Home Affairs website at the time of lodgement rather than relying on a figure from a previous year, and budgeting separately for any nomination fee, the Skilling Australians Fund levy paid by the employer, the VETASSESS skills assessment fee, and any relevant CASA authorisation or certification costs.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT – SUBCLASS 482 SKILLS IN DEMAND (SID) VISA

Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services, known as VETASSESS, is the relevant skills assessing authority for Air Transport Professionals nec (ANZSCO 231199), and this occupation is assessed under VETASSESS Group B.

A skills assessment is not required for every Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa applicant. It only becomes mandatory where the Department of Home Affairs' legislative instrument on mandatory skills assessments lists the specific occupation and passport country combination as requiring one. That mandatory list currently focuses heavily on trade and technical occupations, and this occupation does not appear among the occupations named. Even so, mandatory requirements are reviewed periodically, so applicants and employers should always confirm the current position before lodging.

Even where it is not mandatory, a positive VETASSESS skills assessment gives an employer and a case officer clear, independent confirmation that an applicant's qualifications and experience genuinely match the nominated occupation, and many sponsors ask for one as standard practice regardless of the legal minimum. Given the nec nature of this code, a positive assessment carries particular weight, since it confirms VETASSESS has already accepted that no more specific occupation applies.

The VETASSESS assessment for this occupation generally offers three pathways:

• Pathway A: a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a field highly relevant to the specific air transport role, together with at least one year of post qualification, highly relevant employment within the last five years
• Pathway B: a Bachelor degree or higher qualification with an additional Diploma level qualification in a highly relevant field, together with at least two years of post qualification, highly relevant employment within the last five years
• Pathway C: a Bachelor degree or higher qualification that is not in a highly relevant field, together with at least three years of post qualification, highly relevant employment within the last five years

A positive assessment of both the qualification and the employment history together is needed for an overall positive outcome.

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• A cover letter explaining why the nec code, rather than Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot or Flying Instructor, is the right fit for the role
• Academic transcripts and certified qualification documents
• Employment reference letters on company letterhead outlining job title, duties, employment dates and hours worked
• Any relevant CASA licence, certificate of approval or authorisation documentation held for the specific role

Providing complete and well organised evidence, particularly a clear explanation of why the nec code applies, helps VETASSESS assess an application efficiently and may reduce processing delays.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR THIS OCCUPATION – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many people working in Australia on a 482 visa under this occupation, it is the natural next step. The Direct Entry stream is the relevant pathway for applicants who have not yet worked long enough with their employer to qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the 482, a grant under the 186 gives the applicant and their family permanent residency from the day it is approved, with no further visa renewals needed.

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full time, ongoing position under ANZSCO 231199
• A salary that meets or exceeds the relevant income threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt from the skills assessment and experience requirements
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, with limited exemptions
• Competent English, at an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Health and character clearances

This is a noticeably higher bar than the 482, both on English and on work experience, which is one reason many applicants use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT – SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS is mandatory for almost every Direct Entry 186 applicant in this occupation, and it needs to be current at the time the visa application is lodged.

The same three qualification and employment pathways described above apply here, along with the same requirement for a clear nec justification. Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience on top of the assessment itself, it helps to start gathering employment evidence, reference letters and qualification documents well before applying, since both VETASSESS processing and document preparation take time.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Every skilled or employer sponsored visa in Australia comes with an English language test, and the score needed depends on which visa is being applied for. For this occupation looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a number of applicants off guard.

For the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, applicants generally need Competent English, which works out to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0, or an accepted equivalent test result.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream, the standard is higher. Competent English here means an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0.

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from formal English testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English. Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement, so if a score is getting old, it is worth sitting the test again before applying rather than finding out partway through processing.

LICENSING IN AUSTRALIA (AIR TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS NEC)

A positive VETASSESS skills assessment and an approved visa get an applicant through the migration process, but registration or licensing is separately required to actually work in most roles under this code. Airworthiness Inspectors and Flight Engineer Inspectors generally need relevant CASA authorisations, approvals or certifications specific to the aircraft systems and inspection work they carry out, and Balloonists need the appropriate CASA issued pilot licence and rating for commercial balloon operations.

These licensing and authorisation requirements sit with the relevant aviation regulator rather than the migration process, and it is worth confirming the exact requirements for the specific specialisation before starting work, since they differ considerably across the recognised roles within this nec category.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Because this occupation covers a genuinely narrow set of specialist roles, salary varies considerably depending on the specific specialisation. The table below reflects Airworthiness Inspector and related aircraft maintenance certification roles as a representative guide, since this is one of the more commonly used specialisations under this code.

Pay for roles under this occupation code varies significantly by specialisation, employer and location, with major airlines and defence aviation businesses generally paying more than smaller operators. Given the breadth and specialist nature of the roles covered, it is worth benchmarking pay against the closest comparable job title in the specific aviation sector involved rather than relying on the occupation code alone.

WHY AIR TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS NEC MATTERS FOR AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYERS

• Australia's aviation industry needs airworthiness and flight engineering inspection professionals to keep growing fleets safely maintained and compliant
• Specialist aviation roles that do not fit neatly under the pilot or instructor occupations still require genuinely skilled, qualified professionals
• Reported shortage data currently shows this occupation as being in shortage nationally and across every Australian state and territory
• The inclusion of this occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List reflects the reality that not every genuinely skilled aviation role maps perfectly onto a single, narrowly defined occupation title

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS OCCUPATION IN AUSTRALIA

Australian airlines, aircraft maintenance organisations and specialist aviation businesses can sponsor overseas professionals under this occupation through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer sponsored visa pathways when suitably qualified Australian workers are unavailable and the role genuinely fits the nec description. Because of the catch all nature of this code, getting the occupation match right at the outset is especially important.

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the employer sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship applications, labour market testing where required, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents make sure your business meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements while keeping the sponsorship process as straightforward as possible.

Whether your role sits in airworthiness inspection, flight engineering inspection, or another specialist air transport function that does not fit Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot or Flying Instructor, we can help you work out whether this code is the right fit for your visa application.

We help employers with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship applications
• Sponsoring overseas air transport professionals under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Labour Market Testing
• Employer nomination applications
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored air transport professionals

If your business is looking to sponsor someone under this occupation, or you are unsure whether your role genuinely fits this code, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish.

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HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

This occupation code needs more careful handling than most, because a positive outcome depends on convincing VETASSESS that no more specific occupation, particularly Aeroplane Pilot, Helicopter Pilot or Flying Instructor, applies. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic assess this fit honestly before proceeding, and help you build the strongest possible case where the nec category genuinely applies.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Assessing whether ANZSCO 231199 genuinely fits your qualifications and day to day duties, or whether a more specific air transport occupation would be stronger
• Preparing a complete, decision ready VETASSESS skills assessment application, including the required nec justification
• Structuring your employment references so they meet VETASSESS requirements
• Comparing the 482 and 186 pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to grant

Frequently Asked Questions – Employer Sponsorship for Air Transport Professionals nec