This is a worked case study for a Financial Market Dealer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 222211. Three pathways: Subclass 190, Subclass 491 → 191, and Subclass 494 → 191.
For visa-by-visa context, see the Financial Market Dealer pathway guide and the VETASSESS skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 36-year-old senior FX dealer, BSc Mathematics (Imperial College London) and CFA charterholder. 13 years professional career: 4 years junior FX dealer at major UK bank, 5 years senior G10 spot dealer at major US investment bank London, 4 years emerging markets FX dealer at major European investment bank London. PTE 79+ across all bands. Family: spouse + one child under 18.
Pathway A — Subclass 190 (state-nominated PR)
Fees (primary + spouse + 1 child)
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 190 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State nomination fee (varies) | 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 → 191
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 491 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State nomination fee (varies) | 200-800 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| 191 visa fees (family of 3) | 1,070 |
| Total applicant-side | ~11,976 - 12,576 |
Total wall-clock time: ~60 months.
Pathway C — Subclass 494 → 191
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 494 visa fees (family of 3) | 9,065 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| 191 visa fees (family of 3) | 1,070 |
| Total applicant-side | ~12,281 |
Employer SAF levy: AUD 5,000/year (large business). Plus AUD 540 nomination fee. Total wall-clock time: ~60 months.
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 (regional) | AUD ~12,200 | AUD 0 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 494 → 191 (regional employer) | AUD ~12,281 | AUD 6,000-25,540 | ~60 months | Yes |
Note: 189 (Independent), 186 Direct Entry, and 482 Core Skills are CLOSED for 222211. Strategic alternative: 132211 Finance Manager (full visa stack open).
Things that frequently surprise people
Strategic alternative — pivot to 132211 Finance Manager. Most senior dealing candidates can credibly position under 132211 Finance Manager (full visa stack open including 189 / 186) where role spans dealing + risk / leadership.
Macquarie Group regional offices are limited 494 channel. Macquarie has Brisbane regional office and some Perth presence; both regional under 494.
Investment bank trading desks in Sydney are mostly metro (non-regional). Major international banks (JPM, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citi, UBS, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Société Générale) — all primarily Sydney-based.
Code matters. ANZSCO 222211 (Financial Market Dealer) is for institutional dealing. Specifically equities = 222213. Specifically futures = 222212. Senior corporate finance = 132211.
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, or 494 fees
- Document checklist — for VETASSESS evidence pack
- ANZSCO search — confirm 222211 vs 222212 / 222213 / 132211
- Eligibility wizard — quick scan of options
- Invitation rounds tracker — context only
Where to verify the numbers
- Home Affairs visa pricing page
- Global visa processing times
- VETASSESS fees page
- ASIC AFSL
- Australian Financial Markets Association
- Office of MARA
- ATO
Next step
Want to model the cost and timeline against your specific dealing profile and explore the 132211 Finance Manager strategic alternative? Book a 30-minute free strategy call. We will work through pathway choice and walk through your VETASSESS readiness.