LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT | ANZSCO 232112

WHAT DOES A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DO?

A Landscape Architect under ANZSCO 232112 plans and designs land areas for projects such as open space networks, parks, schools, institutions, roads, external areas for all building types, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial and residential sites. The occupation carries an ANZSCO Skill Level 1 rating in Australia, and the usual entry point is a Bachelor degree or higher qualification with a major focus in landscape architecture.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Obtaining advice from clients and management to determine the type, style, size and purpose of planned outdoor spaces
• Preparing concept designs, master plans and detailed drawings for parks, streetscapes, campuses and other land areas
• Assessing site conditions, including topography, soil, drainage and existing vegetation, to inform design decisions
• Coordinating with architects, engineers, planners and other consultants on integrated development projects
• Preparing planting plans, material specifications and construction documentation for landscape works
• Preparing submissions for planning and regulatory approvals, and liaising with local government and other authorities
• Inspecting construction sites during landscape works to monitor progress and ensure compliance with the design intent

SUBCLASS 482 FOR LANDSCAPE 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.

Landscape Architect sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 232112, alongside the closely related role of 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 LANDSCAPE 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 232112.

If the role on paper is genuinely focused on building design rather than land and outdoor space design, the nomination may need to be assessed against the related but distinct occupation of Architect instead, which is assessed by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia rather than VETASSESS. VETASSESS also notes that this occupation covers professional practitioners, so applicants working primarily in academic or research roles may be better suited to a different occupation code. Getting the occupation description right at this stage matters, since the assessing body and criteria differ.

ANZSCO requirement for Landscape Architects includes a Bachelor degree or higher qualification with a major focus in landscape architecture (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

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

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer, typically a landscape architecture practice, multidisciplinary design consultancy or local government authority, must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 232112, 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 landscape architecture, 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, and the VETASSESS skills assessment fee.

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

Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services, known as VETASSESS, is the relevant skills assessing authority for Landscape Architect (ANZSCO 232112). This occupation is assessed under VETASSESS Group A, a narrower assessment category than the three pathway Group B process used for many other professional occupations.

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 Landscape Architect 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.

The VETASSESS assessment for this Group A occupation generally requires:

• A Bachelor degree or higher qualification assessed as comparable to the Australian standard, with a major field of study highly relevant to landscape architecture
• At least one year of post qualification, highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level, completed within the last five years
• A positive assessment of both the qualification and the employment history together, since both are required for an overall positive outcome
• A link to a portfolio, or uploaded samples of design work, submitted as part of the online application

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• Certified copies of academic transcripts and qualification documents
• Employment reference letters on company letterhead outlining job title, duties, employment dates and hours worked, reflecting genuine landscape architecture tasks rather than administrative or sales related duties
• Payslips, taxation records, or other evidence supporting the claimed employment
• A portfolio link or design work samples, which VETASSESS specifically requires for this occupation, particularly important where the qualification did not cover landscape architecture in sufficient depth

Providing complete and well organised evidence, including a strong portfolio, helps VETASSESS assess an application efficiently and may reduce processing delays.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Landscape 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 LANDSCAPE 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 a Landscape Architect
• 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 Landscape Architects use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS – 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 Group A qualification and employment criteria described above apply here, including the portfolio requirement. 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, a strong design portfolio 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 Landscape Architects 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.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION IN AUSTRALIA (LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT)

A positive skills assessment and an approved visa get an applicant through the migration process, and Landscape Architect is not a title protected, personally licensed occupation in the way that Architect is in Australia. There is no separate state or territory registration board specifically for landscape architects, and no equivalent to the Architectural Practice Examination required of architects.

That said, many landscape architects build professional standing through membership of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, which offers registration as a Registered Landscape Architect for members who meet its own professional standards. This kind of recognition is voluntary rather than a legal requirement to practise, but it is well regarded across the industry and can support a stronger visa nomination case by giving an employer and a case officer additional confidence in an applicant's professional standing.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Pay for Landscape Architects tends to rise with the scale and complexity of the projects involved, and professionals who progress into senior design leadership or urban design roles generally see the largest step up in earning potential, particularly at practices working on major public infrastructure or large scale urban renewal projects.

WHY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Sustained population growth and urban development across Australia's major cities have increased demand for well designed public and private open space
• Infrastructure investment in transport corridors, schools and civic projects regularly requires dedicated landscape design input alongside architecture and engineering
• Growing focus on urban greening, climate resilience and water sensitive urban design has increased demand for landscape architects with strong technical and environmental design skills
• The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects has publicly noted strong, ongoing demand for registered landscape architects, with the industry actively working to fill roles for qualified overseas candidates
• The inclusion of Landscape Architect on the Core Skills Occupation List reflects this recognised, ongoing need for qualified landscape design professionals at a national level

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS IN AUSTRALIA

Australian landscape architecture practices, multidisciplinary design consultancies and local government authorities can sponsor overseas Landscape 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 landscape design talent, employer sponsorship has become an effective way for these organisations to recruit experienced overseas landscape 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.

Whether you need to sponsor a Landscape Architect for a boutique design studio, a large multidisciplinary practice, or a local council, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored pathway. We work with businesses of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled landscape 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 Landscape 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 landscape architects

If your business is looking to sponsor a Landscape Architect in Australia or recruit a skilled overseas landscape design professional, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, allowing you to focus on running your business while we take care of your migration requirements.

Interactive Tools

Calculate Points & Check Your Visa Eligibility

Use our interactive self-service migration tools to calculate your points score, test your eligibility, and discover your potential Australian visa options instantly.

HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as a Landscape Architect means navigating a Group A VETASSESS skills assessment, including a design portfolio submission, 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 232112 genuinely matches your qualifications and day to day duties
• Preparing a complete, decision ready VETASSESS skills assessment application, including your design portfolio
• 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 Landscape Architects