Trade Courses That Lead to PR in Australia
Trade Courses to Permanent Residency — How the Pathway Works
Studying the right trade course in Australia can open a direct pathway to permanent residency. The key is choosing an occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) — these are the trades Australia needs most, and they qualify for the widest range of skilled visas after graduation.
Trade courses are typically shorter and more affordable than university degrees, include practical and industry placement components, and connect directly to a structured skills assessment pathway through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). For international students, this makes a trade qualification one of the most cost-effective routes to Australian PR available.
The four steps below explain the full journey — from enrolling in your course through to applying for a permanent visa.
Step 1
Enrol in a trade course at a CRICOS-registered institution that trains you for an occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Your occupation must be TRA-assessed and the course must be at Certificate III level or higher. The trade occupation list on this page shows the courses that currently qualify — all are two-year packaged courses that include a vocational placement component.
Step 2
After graduating, apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Graduate Work stream. This gives you 18 months of full work rights in Australia, which is the visa most trade graduates use to complete the Job Ready Program. You must apply for the 485 before your student visa expires.
Step 3
While on your 485 visa, complete the Job Ready Program (JRP) administered by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). The JRP has four stages: a Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA), Job Ready Employment (JRE) — a minimum of 1,725 hours of paid full-time work in your trade over 12 months — a Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA), and a Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA). A successful outcome gives you a positive skills assessment for migration purposes.
Step 4
With a positive skills assessment from TRA, you can apply for a range of skilled visas depending on your points score and circumstances: the Skilled Independent visa (189), Skilled Nominated visa (190), Skilled Work Regional visa (491), Skills in Demand visa (482) or 494 Employer Sponsored Regional visa. Check your estimated points on the Skilled Visa Points Test Table to see which visas are within reach.
Trade Occupations on the MLTSSL — 2-Year Packaged Courses
These occupations are assessed by TRA through the Job Ready Program and currently qualify for the trade-to-PR pathway:
Carpentry
Electrical Engineering Technician
Engineering Fabricator
Boat Building
Bricklaying
Plastering
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
Automotive Mechanic Trades Worker
Automotive Body Repair
Heavy Diesel and Commercial Mechanic
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Chef
Joinery
Occupations Currently on the STSOL
The following occupations are currently on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) rather than the MLTSSL. They can still lead to some skilled visas but the pathway is more limited — in particular they do not qualify for the Skilled Independent 189 visa. Discuss your options with us before enrolling if one of these is your intended occupation.
Cabinet Making
Wall and Floor Tiling
Automotive Electrician
Why Study a Trade Course in Australia?
The trade industry is expected to record strong employment growth in the coming years, making skilled trade workers some of the most in-demand professionals in Australia. Studying a trade course is typically more affordable and shorter than a university degree, and the practical industry placement component means you enter the workforce with real experience — not just a certificate.
For international students, this matters because the placement hours can count toward your Job Ready Program, shortening the overall time between graduation and a positive skills assessment. From there, the pathway leads to the 485 Graduate visa, and then to a permanent skilled visa — the 189, 190 or 491 depending on your points and state nomination availability.
How Many Points Do You Need After Your Skills Assessment?
A positive skills assessment alone doesn’t get you a visa — you also need to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and receive an invitation. For most trade occupations, you’ll need a competitive points score. Check the Skilled Visa Points Test Table and use the full breakdown to estimate your score based on age, English level, work experience and study.
Not sure whether your trade occupation qualifies or which visa is the right fit for your situation? Get a free student visa assessment and we’ll map the full pathway for you — from course selection through to visa lodgement.