This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for an Animal Attendants and Trainers nec professional migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 361199. 361199 is on STSOL with state nomination availability. Eligible visas: Subclass 190 State-Nominated, Subclass 491 Regional Provisional, Subclass 494 Regional Employer → 191, and Subclass 407 Training. It is not eligible for Subclass 189 Independent or Subclass 186 Direct Entry.
For the cost / timeline view see the 361199 cost & timeline case study. For VETASSESS document details see the skills assessment guide. For state-by-state comparison see the state nomination comparison. For invitation round patterns see the invitation rounds trends.
Step 1 — Confirm 361199 is the right code
ANZSCO 361199 is the residual ("nec" — not elsewhere classified) code for animal attendants and trainers whose work doesn't fit more specific codes in the 3611 Animal Attendants and Trainers unit group. Use the ANZSCO search to verify. The defined codes in 3611 are:
- 361111 Dog Handler or Trainer
- 361112 Horse Trainer
- 361113 Pet Groomer
- 361114 Zookeeper
- 361115 Kennel Hand
361199 captures everything else in animal attendance and training. Real-world examples that typically map here:
- Research animal technician — university / pharma / CSIRO research facility work; rodent / rabbit / non-human primate / zebrafish colony management; under Animal Ethics Committee oversight.
- Wildlife rehabilitation worker — rescue / triage / rehabilitation / release work; WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), Sydney Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Victoria, Wildcare Tasmania, RSPCA wildlife teams; Australian Wildlife Conservancy field staff.
- Exotic / specialty pet attendant — reptile, amphibian, bird, fish, invertebrate specialist; aquarium care, exotic pet hospital attendant.
- Animal shelter / rescue assistant — beyond standard kennel hand duties — adoption coordinator, behaviour assessor, foster network coordinator at RSPCA, AWL, Lort Smith.
- Veterinary ward attendant — non-clinical ward care where work doesn't reach veterinary nurse level (361311) but exceeds plain kennel hand.
- Aquaculture stockperson — fish farm / oyster farm / abalone farm stockworker (depending on context — may also fit 841416 Aquaculture Worker).
- Race day / event animal handler — non-trainer animal handler at racing meets, sporting events, film/TV animal supply.
- Service animal handler (non-K9) — equine therapy programs, alpaca therapy, miniature horse mobility support.
- Pet retail specialist — high-tier pet retail role beyond simple shop assistant (Petbarn / PETstock specialist roles).
- Bird handler — falconry, raptor display, free-flight bird show handlers (Featherdale, Birds of Prey demonstrations).
If your work fits one of the five defined codes (Dog Handler, Horse Trainer, Pet Groomer, Zookeeper, Kennel Hand), use that specific code rather than 361199 — invitations are typically more reliable for defined codes.
Step 2 — VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS (vetassess.com.au) is the assessing authority. Standard requirements:
- Qualification — at least AQF Cert III in Animal Care / Veterinary Science / Wildlife Management / Captive Animals / Aquaculture (or overseas equivalent).
- Skilled employment — at least 1 year highly relevant employment in the 5 years before applying (post-qualification).
- Reference letters must clearly describe duties matching 361199 scope.
Standard turnaround 12-16 weeks. Priority service available for additional fee.
See the skills assessment guide for the full evidence pack and document requirements. The document checklist tracks each item.
Step 3 — English
EOI lodgement requires Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each / PTE 50 each). For points-tested visas, target Proficient (10 pts) or Superior (20 pts). Aim for PTE 65+ / IELTS 7.0 to maximise points.
Step 4 — Choose a visa pathway
361199 is not eligible for Subclass 189 Independent (since it's STSOL only, not MLTSSL). It is also not eligible for Subclass 186 Direct Entry (which requires MLTSSL). The realistic pathways are:
Subclass 190 State-Nominated
Five states accept 361199 nominees per the FY 2025–26 program — NSW, Victoria, Queensland, NT, ACT, Tasmania. SA and WA do not currently include 361199 in 190 programs. Apply via state nomination portals — each state runs its own EOI ROI (Registration of Interest) process. State nomination adds 5 points to your skilled migration score.
See the 190 visa page for the federal-side requirements, and the state nomination comparison for state-by-state breakdown.
Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191 PR
Most viable pathway for 361199. NSW, Vic, QLD, NT, ACT, Tas all run 491 programs for 361199. Adds 15 points to your skilled migration score. After 3 years' regional residence + earnings threshold met, transition to Subclass 191 Permanent.
See the 491 visa page for full requirements.
Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored → 191 PR
Employer-sponsored regional visa. Suitable if a regional employer in NSW / Vic / QLD / SA / WA / NT / Tas (i.e., not Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane metro) sponsors. Transitions to 191 PR after 3 years.
See the 494 visa page for full requirements.
Subclass 407 Training Visa
Short-term training visa. Suitable for structured workplace training at an approved Australian sponsor (zoo, research facility, wildlife sanctuary). Maximum 24 months. Not a PR pathway but useful for gaining Australian experience that supports later 190 / 491 / 494 nomination.
See the 485 graduate visa page if you complete an Australian Cert III / IV qualification — that opens additional onshore pathways.
Step 5 — Realistic Australian sponsors and employers
361199 sponsorship volume is small but consistent. Main sponsor categories:
- Research animal facilities — University of Sydney (Animal House), UNSW Biological Resources, University of Melbourne Animal Services, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, University of Queensland Health Sciences Animal Facility, Australian National University Animal Facility, CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (Geelong), Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Garvan Institute, Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, QIMR Berghofer.
- Wildlife rehabilitation organisations — WIRES (NSW), Sydney Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Victoria, Wildcare Tasmania, RSPCA wildlife teams, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Australian Wildlife Conservancy field stations (Mt Gibson, Newhaven, Faure Island, Karakamia), Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (Beerwah), Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Taronga Wildlife Hospital (Mosman + Dubbo).
- Specialty animal facilities — Australian Reptile Park (Somersby NSW), Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Brisbane), Crocosaurus Cove (Darwin), Hartley's Crocodile Adventures (FNQ), Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tas), Symbio Wildlife Park (south of Sydney), Bonorong (Tas), Cradle Mountain Wildlife (Tas).
- Aquaculture / fisheries — Tassal Group (Tasmania salmon), Huon Aquaculture (Tas salmon), Petuna Aquaculture (Tas), Clean Seas Seafood (SA kingfish), Cone Bay Barramundi (WA), Australian Bay Lobster Producers (Bundaberg).
- Aquarium / marine centres — Sea Life Sydney, Sea Life Melbourne, Sea Life Mooloolaba, AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia, Perth), Reef HQ Townsville, Cairns Aquarium.
- Pet retail specialist — Greencross (Petbarn / PETstock) specialist exotic / reptile / aquatic departments.
- Veterinary specialist hospitals — SASH (Small Animal Specialist Hospital), Animal Referral Hospital, Veterinary Specialist Services (Brisbane), Greencross Vets specialty hospitals.
- Film / TV animal supply — Animals on Set, Australian Animal Wrangling Services, Talented Animals — specialist animal handlers for film / TV productions.
Step 6 — Score points and lodge EOI
Use the points calculator to estimate your skilled migration score. Typical minimum: 65 points + state nomination (5 for 190, 15 for 491). Most realistic 491 applicants total 80-90+ points.
Score components include:
- Age (max 30 pts at 25-32)
- English (Superior = 20 pts; Proficient = 10 pts)
- Skilled employment overseas (max 15 pts at 8+ years)
- Australian skilled employment (max 20 pts at 8+ years)
- Qualifications (max 20 pts for doctorate; 15 for bachelor)
- State nomination (5 for 190; 15 for 491)
- Regional study (5 pts)
- Australian study (5 pts)
- Partner skills (up to 10 pts)
Lodge your EOI via SkillSelect and a state nomination ROI via the relevant state portal. See the invitation rounds tracker for round patterns.
Step 7 — Submit visa application
Once invited, lodge the full visa application within 60 days. Required documents:
- Skills assessment outcome (VETASSESS)
- Identity documents (passport bio page)
- English test results (PTE / IELTS / TOEFL / CAE / OET)
- Skilled employment evidence (reference letters, payslips, tax records)
- Health examinations (Bupa Medical Visa Services panel doctor)
- Australian Federal Police character check + every country lived in 12+ months
- Form 80 (personal particulars)
- Form 1221 (additional personal particulars)
Use the document checklist and the eligibility wizard to track readiness. The visa fee calculator confirms exact fees by family composition.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator
- Document checklist
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker
- Skilled Occupation List
- Occupation Shortage List
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs
- VETASSESS
- Jobs and Skills Australia
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA)
- RSPCA Australia
Next step
Want to map your 361199 profile against the realistic 190 / 491 / 494 / 407 pathways? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with a MARA-registered agent at Global Select.