FINANCE BROKER | ANZSCO 222112

WHAT DOES A FINANCE BROKER DO?

A Finance Broker under ANZSCO 222112 operates as an independent agent in the course of financial negotiations and arranges loans of money on behalf of clients. The occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 2, which generally means an AQF Diploma or higher qualification, though relevant experience may also support the application alongside or instead of the formal qualification. Registration or licensing is required to practise in this occupation.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Determining clients' specific financial requirements, and researching and reviewing finance products for suitability
• Analysing clients' financial status, discussing financial options, and developing financial strategies
• Assessing clients' borrowing capacities
• Recommending loan combinations that meet clients' needs
• Completing loan application documents
• Negotiating with lenders on behalf of clients to secure suitable terms

SUBCLASS 482 FOR FINANCE BROKERS – CSOL LIST

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

Finance Broker sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 222112, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa. Because it is a Skill Level 2 occupation, Home Affairs pays close attention to whether the nominated role genuinely involves independent loan arrangement and negotiation with lenders, rather than a general banking, sales, or administrative support function.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCE BROKERS

The nominated position has to genuinely reflect the work of a Finance Broker, not just carry the title. The Department looks at the actual scope of the role, including whether the applicant assesses client needs, researches loan products, and negotiates directly with lenders, rather than performing a general banking, sales assistant, or administrative support function.

Because this occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 2, applicants generally need an AQF Diploma or higher qualification in finance, business, or a closely related field, or substantial relevant experience where a formal qualification is not held. Roles that are more accurately described as Financial Dealer or Financial Investment Adviser are unlikely to meet the ANZSCO description for this occupation, so getting the position description and classification right at the nomination stage matters a great deal.

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCE BROKERS

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

• A genuine, approved sponsor, meaning the employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 222112, 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 as a Finance Broker, or in a closely related field, within the past five years
• Meeting the Competent English requirement, 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

Salary and income thresholds are indexed regularly, so it is always worth checking the current figure on the Home Affairs website before an employer lodges a nomination. Visa grants can range from one to four years depending on individual circumstances, and a partner along with dependent children can be included as secondary applicants.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCE BROKERS: SC 482 VISA

VETASSESS is the assessing authority for Finance Broker, and this occupation falls under VETASSESS's Group C assessment category, which applies to occupations assessed at Diploma level rather than bachelor degree level. A skills assessment is not automatically mandatory for every 482 applicant in this occupation, though Home Affairs can request one, and many employers arrange it anyway to support a stronger nomination.

Where a skills assessment is used, VETASSESS generally looks for an AQF Diploma with a highly relevant field of study, together with at least one year of post qualification highly relevant employment in the last five years. Applicants with a diploma that is not highly relevant, supported by an additional Certificate IV in a relevant field, generally also need one year of highly relevant employment, while those without any relevant additional qualification generally need two years instead. Applicants whose relevant experience largely predates their qualification may still be considered under an alternative pathway, generally requiring three years of earlier relevant employment together with at least one year of highly relevant employment after completing their qualification.

A strong application usually includes certified academic transcripts, detailed employment reference letters describing the loan products arranged and lender negotiations carried out, and evidence of any required industry registration or licensing.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR FINANCE BROKERS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Finance Brokers 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 FINANCE BROKERS

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 Finance Broker position
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive skills assessment from VETASSESS 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 a lot of Finance Brokers use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCE BROKERS: SC 186 VISA

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

The assessment process is the same one used for the 482, reviewing the applicant's qualification and relevant employment history against the criteria VETASSESS applies for this occupation. 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, academic transcripts, and reference letters 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 applicants need to clear depends on which visa they are applying for. For Finance Brokers looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a lot 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. Where registration or licensing is required for this occupation, the relevant licensing body's own English requirement may also apply, and it is worth checking this separately, since it can be higher than the visa minimum.

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 an applicant's score is getting old, it is worth sitting the test again before applying rather than finding out partway through processing.

CAVEATS AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCE BROKERS

Finance Broker does not carry a specific migration caveat under either the Subclass 482 or Subclass 186 visa, which is a genuine advantage compared with several other occupations that restrict positions based on salary, business size, or location.

Registration or licensing is required to practise as a Finance Broker in Australia, separately from the migration process itself. Employers and applicants should also be careful to correctly distinguish this occupation from closely related roles such as Financial Dealer or Financial Investment Adviser, which are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO and are not suitable under this code, even where the day to day work looks similar.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Finance Broker salaries vary considerably depending on whether the role is salary based, commission based, or a mix of both, along with the size of the loan book managed.

Many finance broking roles include a commission component tied to loans settled, which can add substantially to overall earnings for brokers with a strong client base and referral network.

WHY FINANCE BROKERS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Australian borrowers increasingly use brokers rather than approaching lenders directly, supporting steady demand for experienced finance brokers
• Growing complexity in home loan and commercial finance products makes independent, informed advice more valuable to borrowers
• Regional areas in particular often find it difficult to attract experienced finance brokers locally
• Rising property prices and lending criteria are increasing the value borrowers place on brokers who can navigate multiple lenders effectively
• Jobs and Skills Australia tracks Finance Brokers as part of the broader financial services workforce, where experienced brokers remain valued

Employer Sponsorship for Finance Brokers in Australia

Australian brokerage and financial services businesses can sponsor overseas Finance Brokers through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer sponsored pathways when a suitably experienced local candidate is not available. With demand for experienced finance broking continuing across the country, employer sponsorship has become a practical way for these businesses to bring in skilled overseas talent.

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents ensure your business meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements, while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

Whether you need to sponsor a Finance Broker for a mortgage broking business, a commercial finance brokerage, or a broader financial services firm, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored visa pathway. We work with brokerage businesses of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled finance brokers under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help brokerage businesses with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas Finance Brokers under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Preparing a strong position description and employment evidence to support the nomination
• Employer nomination applications
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored finance brokers

If your business is looking to sponsor a Finance Broker, or recruit skilled overseas financial services talent more broadly, Migration Republic can manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, so you can focus on running your brokerage while we handle the migration side.

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HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as a Finance Broker means making sure your role genuinely matches the ANZSCO definition, preparing a solid VETASSESS skills assessment, coordinating registration or licensing where required, and choosing between 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 your role genuinely matches the ANZSCO 222112 definition rather than a closely related financial occupation
• Preparing a complete, decision ready VETASSESS skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references so they meet VETASSESS requirements
• Coordinating alongside your registration or licensing process where relevant
• 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 Finance Brokers