This is a worked case study for an Education Reviewer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 249112. Pathways: Subclass 190, Subclass 491 → 191, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482.
Subclass 189 not available — if you hold teaching qualifications, see the 241xxx series for AITSL → 189.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 249112 pathway guide and the VETASSESS skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 44-year-old senior education reviewer, BEd + M.Ed. 18 years professional career: 8 years classroom + middle leadership, 6 years deputy / vice principal, 4 years Ofsted / regulator inspector. Trained Lead Inspector with sample inspections under multiple frameworks. 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 / national regulator) one-off, plus AUD 540 nomination fee. Total wall-clock time: 6 to 18 months.
Pathway D — Subclass 494 / 482
Regional 494 via NT, regional QLD, regional WA review teams. 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
Australia uses school registration not Ofsted-style snapshot inspection. State regulators (NESA, VRQA, QCT, etc.) review at registration / re-registration cycles, distinct from English-style snap inspections.
ACECQA assesses early childhood services nationally. Strong international hire pipeline for trained EC reviewers.
TEQSA / ASQA cover higher ed and VET respectively. Quite distinct from school regulation.
Code matters. ANZSCO 249112 = inspection / review. Adviser = 249111. Classroom = 241xxx.
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 249112 vs 249111 / 241xxx
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker — for 190 / 491 round cut-offs
Where to verify the numbers
- Home Affairs visa pricing page
- VETASSESS
- ACARA | ACECQA | TEQSA | ASQA
- 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.