This is a worked case study for an Education Adviser migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 249111. Pathways: Subclass 190, Subclass 491 → 191, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482.
Subclass 189 not available — if you also hold teaching qualifications, see the 241xxx series for the AITSL → 189 pathway.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 249111 pathway guide and the VETASSESS skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 39-year-old senior education adviser, BEd + M.Ed Curriculum Leadership. 13 years professional career: 6 years classroom (now stepped back), 4 years subject lead / curriculum coordinator, 3 years regional curriculum adviser at major UK / Irish local authority or curriculum body. Sample frameworks authored. PTE 79+. Family: spouse + one child under 18.
Pathway A — Subclass 190
Fees (primary + spouse + 1 child)
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 190 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State nomination fee | 200-800 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Total applicant-side | ~10,906 - 11,506 |
Total wall-clock time: 12 to 24 months end-to-end.
Pathway B — Subclass 491
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 491 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State / regional nomination fee | 0-800 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Then 191 visa fees (after 3+ years) | 1,575 |
| Total applicant-side | ~12,281 - 13,081 |
Pathway C — Subclass 186 Direct Entry
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 186 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,595 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Total applicant-side | ~10,741 |
Employer SAF levy: AUD 5,000 (large business — DoE, large consulting firm) one-off, plus AUD 540 nomination fee. Total wall-clock time: 6 to 18 months.
Pathway D — Subclass 494 / 482
Regional 494 via remote DoE areas (NT, regional QLD, regional WA, NSW Far North Coast). 482 4-year stream available. Total wall-clock time: ~60 months for 494; 30-36 months for 482 → 186 TRT.
Side-by-side
| Path | Applicant cost | Employer cost | Wall-clock to PR | VETASSESS required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190 (state-nominated) | AUD ~11,200 | AUD 0 | 12-24 months | Yes |
| 491 → 191 | AUD ~12,500 | AUD 0 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 186 Direct Entry | AUD ~10,741 | AUD 5,540 | 6-18 months | Yes |
| 494 → 191 | AUD ~12,281 | AUD 6,000-25,540 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 482 → 186 TRT | AUD ~17,670 | AUD 9,000-25,000+ | 30-36 months | Yes (at 186 stage if DE) |
| Pivot 241xxx → 189 (AITSL) | AUD ~11,200 | AUD 0 | 12-24 months | AITSL |
Things that frequently surprise people
State / territory DoE advisory teams are major employers. NSW DoE alone has hundreds of regional curriculum / equity / improvement adviser roles.
ACARA, NESA, VCAA, QCAA. State curriculum and assessment authorities recruit subject specialists internationally for Australian Curriculum / NESA / VCE / QCE specialist roles.
Independent / Catholic systems. AHISA member schools, Catholic Education Offices — substantial advisory staff at diocese and system level.
Code matters. ANZSCO 249111 = Education Adviser. Reviewer / inspector = 249112. Classroom teacher = 241xxx series.
Health examinations expire after 12 months. If your visa takes longer than 12 months to grant, expect to redo them.
Tax residency starts on arrival. The Australian tax year runs 1 July to 30 June. See ATO residency rules before signing.
MARA registration is mandatory for paid migration assistance. Verify any agent at the MARA register.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator — model 190, 491, 186, 494, or 482 fees
- Document checklist — VETASSESS evidence pack
- ANZSCO search — confirm 249111 vs 249112 / 241xxx
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker — for 190 / 491 round cut-offs
Where to verify the numbers
- Home Affairs visa pricing page
- VETASSESS
- ACARA
- AITSL — for teacher pivot
- Office of MARA
- ATO
Next step
Want to model 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482 — or test whether 241xxx via AITSL is the right pivot? Book a 30-minute free strategy call. We will work through pathway choice and walk through your VETASSESS readiness.