ARCHITECT | ANZSCO 232111

WHAT DOES AN ARCHITECT DO?

An Architect under ANZSCO 232111 plans and designs buildings and other structures, and provides advice on their construction, restoration and integration into the surrounding environment. Registration or licensing is required to practise and use the title Architect in Australia, and the usual entry point is a five year full time equivalent architecture qualification, or an equivalent combination of qualification and relevant experience.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Obtaining advice from clients and management to determine the type, style, size, cost and purpose of planned structures
• Preparing concept designs, plans, specifications and detailed drawings for buildings and other structures
• Preparing scale drawings, using computer aided design software, drafting tools and other design aids
• Directing the preparation of detailed construction drawings and specifications, and coordinating input from engineers and other consultants
• Negotiating contracts on behalf of clients, and advising on the procurement of builders and other contractors
• Preparing submissions for regulatory and planning approvals, and liaising with local government and other authorities
• Inspecting construction sites to monitor progress and ensure work complies with plans, specifications and building codes

SUBCLASS 482 FOR ARCHITECTS – 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.

Architect sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 232111, alongside closely related roles such as Landscape Architect. 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.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR ARCHITECTS

Your nominated occupation has to genuinely reflect the work you will actually be doing for your sponsoring employer. The Department looks past job titles and checks the duties set out in your nomination against the ANZSCO definition for 232111.

If the role on paper is genuinely focused on landscape design rather than building design, the nomination may need to be assessed against the related but distinct occupation of Landscape Architect instead, which is assessed by VETASSESS with endorsement from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects rather than by AACA. Getting the occupation description right at this stage matters, since the assessment pathway and assessing body differ.

ANZSCO requirement for Architects includes a five year full time equivalent architecture qualification, or an equivalent combination of qualification and relevant experience, with registration or licensing required to practise.

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR ARCHITECTS

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as an Architect, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer, typically an architecture practice, design consultancy or construction business, must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 232111, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive AACA skills assessment, confirming your architecture qualification is comparable to the Australian standard
• 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, and the AACA skills assessment fees.

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

The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia, known as AACA, is the relevant skills assessing authority for Architect (ANZSCO 232111), not VETASSESS.

Applicants who hold an accredited architecture qualification from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore can generally obtain a Skilled Migration Assessment through a straightforward verification process, since their qualification is already recognised. Applicants with other overseas qualifications need to complete the Overseas Qualifications Assessment, known as the OQA, which involves two stages and assesses the qualification against the National Standard of Competency for Architects. Eligibility for the OQA generally requires a five year full time equivalent, coursework based architectural qualification, or an equivalent combination of a recognised qualification and additional relevant experience. Research based degrees are not accepted under this pathway.

A successful AACA Skilled Migration Assessment is valid for three years from the date it is issued, so it is worth timing the assessment application with your intended visa lodgement.

The AACA assessment pathway generally works as follows:

• Verification pathway: for applicants holding an accredited architecture qualification from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore that appears on AACA's list of accredited programs
• Overseas Qualifications Assessment pathway: a two stage process for applicants with other overseas qualifications, assessed against the National Standard of Competency for Architects
• Applicants generally need a five year full time equivalent, coursework based architectural qualification, or a shorter qualification combined with additional relevant professional experience
• The assessment focuses on the qualification and competency standard rather than English proficiency, which is assessed separately as part of the visa process

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• Certified copies of academic transcripts and qualification documents
• Evidence the qualification is a coursework degree of the required duration, rather than a research based degree
• Employment reference letters confirming relevant professional architectural experience, where relying on experience to support the assessment
• Any documentation confirming eligibility to practise or register as an architect in the country where the qualification was obtained

Because the Overseas Qualifications Assessment is a detailed, staged process, applicants relying on this pathway should expect it to take longer than the verification pathway available to holders of accredited Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore qualifications.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR ARCHITECTS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Architects already working in Australia on a 482 visa, 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 ARCHITECTS

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 as an Architect
• A salary that meets or exceeds the relevant income threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive AACA skills assessment confirming an equivalent architecture qualification
• 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 Architects use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR ARCHITECTS – SC 186 VISA

A positive AACA skills assessment is required for Direct Entry 186 applicants in this occupation, and it needs to be current, meaning issued within the last three years, at the time the visa application is lodged.

The same verification and Overseas Qualifications Assessment pathways described above apply here. Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience, it helps to start gathering qualification documentation and employment evidence well before applying, since the Overseas Qualifications Assessment process can take a number of weeks to finalise once lodged.

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. The AACA skills assessment itself does not require a separate English test as part of a provisional assessment, but full registration with a state or territory Architects Registration Board may have its own requirements, so it is worth checking with the relevant board directly.

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 for visa purposes, 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.

REGISTRATION IN AUSTRALIA (ARCHITECT)

A positive AACA skills assessment and an approved visa get an applicant through the migration process, but they do not, on their own, allow someone to use the title Architect or offer architectural services to the public in Australia. That requires registration with the Architects Registration Board of the relevant state or territory, since architecture is a title protected profession regulated at state and territory level across Australia.

Registration generally requires passing the Architectural Practice Examination, known as the APE, which tests professional practice knowledge specific to the Australian context, on top of the AACA qualification assessment. Some states offer mutual recognition arrangements with certain overseas registration bodies, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects or the Architects Registration Board in the United Kingdom, which can simplify the process for architects coming from those jurisdictions. Requirements and pathways differ across states and territories, so it is worth confirming the specific registration process for wherever you intend to work.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Overseas architects generally start at market rates in Australia, without a systematic pay penalty for international experience, though familiarity with local building codes, planning systems and construction methods is valued and can support faster career progression once working in the Australian market.

WHY ARCHITECTS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Sustained population growth and housing shortages across Australia's major cities have driven strong, ongoing demand for residential and mixed use design work
• Urban renewal, infrastructure investment and commercial redevelopment projects continue to expand the volume of design and documentation work required
• Many architecture practices report ongoing difficulty recruiting experienced staff locally, particularly at mid level and senior design roles
• Growing focus on sustainable design and building performance has increased demand for architects with strong technical and environmental design skills
• The inclusion of Architect on the Core Skills Occupation List reflects this recognised, ongoing need for qualified architectural professionals at a national level

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR ARCHITECTS IN AUSTRALIA

Australian architecture practices, design consultancies and construction businesses can sponsor overseas Architects 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. With ongoing demand for experienced design talent, employer sponsorship has become an effective way for these organisations to recruit experienced overseas architects and close workforce gaps.

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, and can work alongside your AACA skills assessment process where needed.

Whether you need to sponsor an Architect for a boutique design studio, a large multidisciplinary practice, or a construction business with an in house design team, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored pathway. We work with businesses of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled architects under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help employers with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship applications
• Sponsoring overseas Architects 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 architects

If your business is looking to sponsor an Architect in Australia or recruit a skilled overseas design professional, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the visa side of the process from start to finish, working alongside your AACA skills assessment pathway.

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HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as an Architect means navigating an AACA skills assessment, whether through the straightforward verification pathway or the more detailed Overseas Qualifications Assessment, and two visa pathways with different English and experience thresholds. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic handle this every day, and we can help you get it right the first time.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Confirming that ANZSCO 232111 genuinely matches your qualifications and day to day duties
• Understanding whether you qualify for the AACA verification pathway or need the Overseas Qualifications Assessment
• Structuring your qualification and employment evidence so it meets AACA 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 Architects