MARINE BIOLOGIST | ANZSCO 234516

WHAT DOES A MARINE BIOLOGIST DO?

A Marine Biologist under ANZSCO 234516 studies the anatomy, physiology, functions, characteristics, behaviour, and environments of all forms of life living in the sea and connected water bodies. The occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which generally means a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a highly relevant field, sometimes combined with additional research experience.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Estimating the abundance and distribution of marine species populations and analysing their demographic structures and life histories
• Observing communities of marine organisms and identifying key ecological factors influencing their habitat and ecosystem resilience
• Assessing and advising on the causes, ecological impacts, prevention, and biosecurity control of introduced marine invasive species
• Applying quantitative, spatial, and statistical modelling techniques to design laboratory and offshore field experiments
• Designing and executing marine environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to differentiate between natural variability and anthropogenic disturbances
• Planning and undertaking field expeditions to study, sample, and monitor marine flora, benthic invertebrates, fish stocks, and marine megafauna
• Investigating ecological interrelationships between marine organisms in their natural surroundings, in conservation facilities, and in controlled laboratory mesocosms

SUBCLASS 482 FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS – CSOL LIST

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

Marine Biologist sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 234516, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa. The occupation also appears on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which means it can support points-tested skilled migration (Subclass 189/190/491) in addition to employer-sponsored pathways. Confirming the correct list and stream for your circumstances is something worth checking with a registered migration agent before a nomination is lodged.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS

Your nominated occupation has to genuinely match the work you will actually be doing for your sponsoring employer. The Department of Home Affairs looks past job titles and checks the duties described in your nomination against the ANZSCO definition for 234516.

Marine Biologist sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which lines up with a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a highly relevant marine science field. If the role on paper looks more like a dive technician or aquarium husbandry position rather than a marine biologist role with genuine scientific research, analytical, and field investigation responsibility, the nomination can run into trouble. Getting the occupation description right at this stage saves a lot of back and forth later.

ANZSCO requirement for Marine Biologists includes a Bachelor degree or higher qualification in a highly relevant field, sometimes combined with relevant experience or on the job training (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS

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

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer, such as a marine research institute, university, marine park authority, public aquarium, or environmental consultancy, must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 234516, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and matching the Annual Market Salary Rate for the role
• At least one year of full-time equivalent work experience in marine biology, marine science, or a closely related field, completed within the past five years
• A positive VETASSESS skills assessment where mandatory under Department of Home Affairs guidelines
• 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 currently sits at AUD $79,423 per year, applying to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 onward, and it is indexed each year, so it is always worth checking the current figure on the Home Affairs website before an employer lodges a nomination. The visa itself can be granted for a period of up to four years, depending on individual circumstances, and a partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants with full work and study rights in Australia.

SUBCLASS 482 VISA APPLICATION CHARGES

Visa application charges are indexed and change from 1 July each year. The primary applicant VAC for the Subclass 482 Core Skills stream is currently AUD $3,115 (plus matching charges for adult dependants and reduced charges for minor dependants). Budget separately for any nomination fees, the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy paid by the employer, and VETASSESS assessment fees.

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

VETASSESS is the relevant skills assessing authority for Marine Biologist, ANZSCO 234516.

A skills assessment is not required for every Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa applicant. It is only mandatory where required under the Department of Home Affairs' mandatory skills assessment requirements, which apply to specified occupations and passport countries. Applicants should confirm with VETASSESS or a registered migration agent whether their specific passport and occupation combination triggers a mandatory assessment.

For a positive assessment, VETASSESS classifies Marine Biologist as a Group A occupation. This requires a qualification assessed as comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher, with a major focus in marine science, or the study of marine and estuarine plants and wildlife, including freshwater science. Applicants must also show at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, completed within the last five years.

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• Academic transcripts and award certificates clearly showing the relevant marine science field of study and curriculum
• Official employment reference letters on organizational letterhead outlining job title, detailed research duties, employment dates, and hours worked per week
• Evidence connecting daily responsibilities directly to the ANZSCO 234516 description
• Supporting materials such as research publications, conference proceedings, marine environmental impact reports, or project logs detailing research expeditions

Providing a clear, consistent relationship between qualifications, employment history, and duties helps VETASSESS assess an application efficiently and may significantly reduce processing delays.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer-sponsored visa, and for many Marine Biologists 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 (TRT) stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the temporary 482 visa, a grant under the Subclass 186 gives the applicant and their family Australian permanent residency from the day it is approved, providing access to Medicare, unrestricted work rights, and a direct pathway to Australian citizenship.

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS

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

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full-time, ongoing marine biologist position available for at least two years
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Core Skills Income Threshold and the Australian Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role
• A positive VETASSESS skills assessment in the nominated occupation (ANZSCO 234516) that is current at the time of lodgement
• At least three years of full-time relevant post-qualification work experience in marine biology or marine research
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, unless an exemption applies
• Competent English, demonstrated by an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Complete medical examinations and police clearances for all migrating family members

This is a noticeably higher bar than the 482 visa, both on English language proficiency and on work experience, which is one reason many Marine Biologists use the Subclass 482 visa as a stepping stone before applying for permanent residency under the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS – SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS is mandatory for almost every Direct Entry 186 applicant in this occupation, unless a specific exemption applies, and it needs to be current (issued within the last 3 years) at the time the visa application is lodged.

The same assessment criteria apply here as for the 482: a qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher with a major focus in marine science, together with at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification employment. 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 the VETASSESS assessment 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 Marine Biologists 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 scores equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry stream), the standard is higher: Competent English requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no individual band below 6.0.

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland who hold a valid passport are generally exempt from formal English language testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English (e.g. at least 5 years of full-time secondary or higher education in English for 482 visa purposes).

Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement. If an existing test result is nearing expiry, it is strongly advised to sit the test again before applying rather than discovering an invalid score partway through Department of Home Affairs processing.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION IN AUSTRALIA (MARINE BIOLOGIST)

A positive skills assessment gets an applicant through the migration process, and unlike many other skilled occupations, there is currently no legal requirement to hold a separate licence or statutory registration to work as a Marine Biologist anywhere in Australia. Marine Biologists typically work within research institutes (such as AIMS and CSIRO), universities, marine park authorities, public aquariums, or environmental consultancies.

Even without a mandatory licence, many Marine Biologists build professional credibility through membership in relevant scientific societies connected to marine science and conservation, including:

• Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA): Australia's primary professional association for marine scientists across all disciplines
• Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS): The oldest organisation in the world dedicated to the study and conservation of coral reefs
• Ecological Society of Australia (ESA): Supporting ecologists and marine scientists across Australia
• Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB): Professional scientific body dedicated to fish biology and fisheries science in Australasia

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, median full-time earnings for the Life Scientists group (ANZSCO 2345), which includes Marine Biologists, work out to around $1,544 a week, which is roughly $80,290 a year. Actual pay for individual marine biologists varies with specialisation, seniority, and whether the role sits within academia, government marine park management, offshore energy, or private environmental consulting.

Townsville, Hobart, Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane remain prominent employment hubs given their world-class marine science research institutes and coastal facilities. All sponsored roles must meet or exceed the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,423/yr) and the Annual Market Salary Rate for the role.

WHY MARINE BIOLOGISTS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Reef & marine park conservation: Critical ongoing monitoring and restoration research across the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Coast, and Commonwealth Marine Reserves
• Government & academic funding: Sustained investment in marine biodiversity, blue carbon ecosystems, and oceanographic research programs
• Domestic skills shortage: A limited domestic pipeline of specialized marine biologists relative to the immense geographic scale of Australia's marine estate
• Fisheries & aquaculture management: Expanding aquaculture operations and regulatory requirements for sustainable wild-catch fisheries stock assessments
• Climate change & ocean health monitoring: Urgent national need for scientists to track ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, and coastal ecosystem shifts
• The inclusion of Marine Biologist on the Core Skills Occupation List reflects this recognised, ongoing need for qualified ocean science professionals at a national level

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR MARINE BIOLOGISTS IN AUSTRALIA

Australian research institutes, universities, marine park authorities, aquariums, and environmental consultancies can sponsor overseas Marine Biologists 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 marine science skills, employer sponsorship has become an effective way for these organisations to recruit experienced overseas marine biologists and address 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 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 Marine Biologist for a university faculty, a government marine institute, an offshore energy environmental team, or an aquaculture facility, we can help you identify the most suitable employer-sponsored visa pathway. We work with organisations across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled marine biologists under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help marine research and conservation employers with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications and renewals
• Sponsoring overseas Marine Biologists under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Direct Entry and TRT applications
• Labour Market Testing (LMT) guidance and compliance reviews
• Employer nomination applications and genuine position statements
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations and record-keeping audits
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored marine biologists and their families

If your organisation is looking to sponsor a Marine Biologist in Australia or recruit skilled overseas researchers, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, allowing you to focus on your operations while we take care of your migration requirements.

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HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as a Marine Biologist means navigating a VETASSESS skills assessment, a choice between two visa pathways with different English and experience thresholds, and salary requirements that are indexed every year. 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 234516 correctly matches your qualifications and intended role
• Preparing a complete, decision-ready VETASSESS skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references, research logs, and expedition evidence so they meet VETASSESS requirements
• Comparing the 482 Skills in Demand and 186 Permanent Residency pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to final visa grant

Frequently Asked Questions – Employer Sponsorship for Marine Biologists