Skilled Welder Pathway — Skills in Demand Visa (SID 482)

infohrans
Nov 20
3 min read

A complete guide for overseas welders seeking work opportunities in Australia

Australia continues to face a significant shortage of qualified welders across fabrication, mining, construction, and major infrastructure projects.To address this, the Australian Government now uses the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) — the updated version of the former TSS visa — to allow approved employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers.

Below is a clear and up-to-date overview of how the SID 482 visa applies specifically to the welding occupation.

🔧 1. What Is the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa – Subclass 482?

The SID 482 Visa is a temporary work visa for skilled workers whose occupations are in shortage within Australia. It enables approved employers to fill essential roles when they cannot find suitably skilled Australian workers.

The new SID structure includes three streams:

• Core Skills Stream

For occupations experiencing sustained skills shortages. Welder (ANZSCO 322313) falls under this stream.

• Specialist Skills Stream

For highly specialized and high-income roles.

• Labour Agreement Stream

For employers operating under a government-approved labour agreement.

For welders, the Core Skills Stream is the most relevant pathway.

🔧 2. Welder Occupation Overview (ANZSCO 322313)

Category	Details
Occupation	Welder (First Class)
ANZSCO Code	322313
Skill Level	Level 3 (Certificate III equivalent)
Skills Assessment	TRA – Technical Skills Assessment

To work in Australia as a welder, most applicants must complete the TRA Skills Assessment, which confirms competency at an Australian trade level.

🔧 3. Eligibility Requirements for SID 482 (Welder Stream)

To be sponsored as a welder under the SID 482 visa, applicants generally need:

Have at least 1 year of relevant work experience
Be nominated in an eligible occupation
A positive TRA Skills Assessment
English requirement: IELTS each 5.0 or equivalent test
An approved Australian employer as a sponsor
The employer must pay at or above the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) and not below the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT).

Additional concessions may apply if the employer operates under a Labour Agreement.

🔧 4. Why Welders Are in High Demand in Australia

Skilled welders are needed across multiple industries, including:

Steel fabrication & manufacturing
Mining and resources
LNG, refinery & energy sectors
Large-scale construction and infrastructure
Regional development (DAMA regions)

These nationwide shortages have made welding one of the most reliable and stable skilled trade pathways for overseas workers.

🔧 5. SID 482 → Permanent Residency Pathway

Because welders are included under the Core Skills Stream, many applicants may become eligible to transition to permanent residency through pathways such as:

Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

PR eligibility depends on employment history, English requirements, employer sponsorship, and updated DHA criteria at the time of application.

🔧 6. Employment Options for Sponsored Welders

Common sponsorship pathways include:

Direct employer sponsorship
Labour hire workforce arrangements (approved sponsors only)
Regional and DAMA sponsorship options

All employment arrangements must follow Australian workplace regulations and immigration law.

🧩 7. Summary

The Skills in Demand Visa (SID 482) offers one of the strongest migration pathways for experienced welders seeking job opportunities in Australia.

With recognised trade skills, relevant experience, and a positive TRA assessment, welders can access:

Legal, full-time employment
A stable work environment
Long-term career prospects
A potential pathway to permanent residency

📞 Want to explore the SID 482 visa as a welder?

If you would like an eligibility check or guidance on how the SID 482 visa applies to your welding experience, our team can provide professional advice.

📧 Email: info.hrans@gmail.com

🌐 Website: www.anshr.com.au

📱 Phone: +61 432 009 862

💬 KakaoTalk: ans_ashley