This is the 2026 pathway guide for migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 399111 — Boat Builder and Repairer. 399111 sits on MLTSSL AND CSOL — the broadest possible visa stack unlocking 189 Independent, 190 / 491 in 7 states, 186 Direct Entry, 482 Core Skills, 494 Regional Employer, 485 Temp Graduate, 407 Training.
For skills assessment, invitation patterns, state-by-state breakdown, and cost / timeline, see the linked cluster.
Who fits ANZSCO 399111
Boat Builder and Repairer covers tradespeople who construct, fit out, repair, and refit small to medium boats and yachts (typically up to ~50m length overall). Typical scope:
Fibreglass / GRP boat construction
- Hand lay-up GRP / FRP / composite construction.
- Vacuum infusion / resin infusion (modern composites).
- Tooling / mould-making for production boats.
- Pre-preg / vacuum-bagging for premium / racing yachts.
- Production boat manufacture (Riviera, Maritimo, Sunrunner, Cruise Craft, Quintrex GRP series).
Aluminium boat construction
- Welded aluminium hull construction (MIG / TIG welding).
- Plate boats (Mac, Brooker, Stessl, Tabs Marine, Quintrex Renegade).
- Custom plate-alloy boat building.
- Aluminium yacht / catamaran construction.
Wooden boat / traditional construction
- Carvel / clinker planking on solid frames.
- Cold-moulded / strip-planked construction.
- Glued / epoxy timber construction (West System, Sika).
- Traditional yacht / dinghy / launch construction.
- Wooden boat restoration.
Marine fit-out
- Cabin / interior joinery for boats.
- Marine plumbing, electrical, gas system fit-out.
- Deck hardware installation (cleats, winches, anchors, navigation).
- Engine bed / engine installation (sterndrive, shaft, jet, outboard).
Boat repair and refit
- Hull repair (GRP, aluminium, wood).
- Structural repair (frames, stringers, bulkheads).
- Gelcoat repair, fairing, painting.
- Wood rot removal and replacement.
- Aluminium welded repair.
- Engine repower / refit.
- Rigging refit (overlap with riggers).
Specialty work
- Production-line boat builder (Riviera / Maritimo factory roles).
- Custom / bespoke boat building.
- Superyacht refit (24m+).
- Race-yacht construction (Sydney-Hobart fleet builders).
- Indigenous canoe / tinny / aluminium fishing boat builders.
Where it does NOT fit:
- Ship building (commercial / naval — large vessel >50m): typically other codes or 399112 Shipwright variants.
- Marine engineering (engine, propulsion design): 234911 Marine Engineer / 312911 Maintenance Planner.
- Sail making: 393113 Sail Maker.
- Marine canvas: 393111 Canvas Goods Fabricator.
- Yacht / boat sales / brokerage: not trade occupation.
Skills lists and visas
399111 is listed on:
- MLTSSL — supports 189 / 190 / 491 / 485 / 407.
- CSOL — supports 186 Direct Entry and 482 Core Skills.
- NOT on STSOL or ROL — but eligibility flows through MLTSSL + CSOL combination, which is the broadest possible.
Eligible visas:
| Visa | Status | Pathway type |
|---|---|---|
| 189 Independent | ✓ | Points-tested independent permanent |
| 190 State-Nominated | ✓ (7 states) | State-nominated permanent |
| 491 Regional Provisional | ✓ (7 states) | Regional provisional → 191 |
| 186 Direct Entry | ✓ | Employer-sponsored permanent (CSOL) |
| 494 Regional Employer | ✓ | Regional employer-sponsored provisional → 191 |
| 482 Core Skills | ✓ | Employer-sponsored temporary (4 yrs) → 186 TRT |
| 485 Temp Graduate | ✓ | Temporary graduate work visa |
| 407 Training | ✓ | Training visa |
State nomination (FY 2025-26):
| State | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIC | ✓ | ✓ |
| QLD | ✓ | ✓ |
| SA | ✓ | ✓ |
| WA | ✗ | ✗ |
| NT | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACT | ✓ | ✓ |
| TAS | ✓ | ✓ |
7 of 8 states nominate. Only WA is excluded.
Pathway A — Subclass 189 Independent (headline)
This is the prized independent visa. No sponsor, no state nomination, no regional commitment.
What you need:
- TRA OSAP skills assessment — Cert III in Marine Mechanical Technology / Marine Craft Construction + 3 years post-qualification.
- 65+ points minimum (competitive rounds typically 65-80 for trade occupations).
- Competent English minimum (Proficient or Superior strongly recommended).
- EOI in SkillSelect.
- Under 45 at lodgement.
Wall-clock: variable. Source data confirms 189 invitation rounds for 399111 in 2022-08, 2022-12, 2024-11, 2025-08, 2025-11 — genuine invitation history.
Pathway B — Subclass 186 Direct Entry
For confirmed sponsor offer. CSOL listing supports direct PR via employer.
Realistic sponsors:
- Riviera Australia (Coomera QLD) — Australia's largest premium motor yacht manufacturer.
- Maritimo (Coomera QLD) — premium motor yacht builder.
- Sunrunner Boats.
- Cruise Craft (Stones Corner QLD).
- Quintrex (Coomera QLD — aluminium boat manufacturer).
- Stessl / Mac / Brooker aluminium boat manufacturers.
- Hobart wooden boat builders (regional TAS).
- Sydney superyacht refit operations.
Wall-clock: 6-12 months from sponsor offer.
Pathway C — Subclass 190 State-Nominated
Points-tested via state nomination. 7 of 8 states nominate.
Pathway D — Subclass 491 Regional Provisional
5-year provisional with regional residence. Adds 15 points to EOI. → 191 PR after 3 years regional + earnings.
Pathway E — Subclass 494 / 482
Employer-sponsored variants. 494 regional / 482 temp → 186 TRT.
Realistic prioritisation
| Pathway | When to pick |
|---|---|
| 189 Independent | Strong points (70-85+). No sponsor / commitment needed. Fastest if points clear. |
| 186 Direct Entry | Confirmed sponsor (Riviera / Maritimo / premium boat builder). Fast PR. |
| 190 (any of 7 states) | 65-80 points, want PR straight away. |
| 491 (eligible states) | 65-75 points, regional commitment OK. Adds 15 points. |
| 494 regional employer | Regional sponsor (Sunshine Coast marine cluster, Hobart wooden boat). |
| 482 Core Skills | Sponsor's safety net. |
| 485 Temp Graduate | If completing Australian Cert III. |
For most overseas boat builders: 189 + 186 DE parallel-track is the realistic combined approach — target 189 if points strong, 186 DE if sponsor available, choose whichever lands first.
Australian boat building industry reality in 2026
The Australian boat building industry is concentrated and consistently in demand:
Gold Coast Marine Precinct (Coomera QLD)
- Riviera Australia — Australia's largest premium motor yacht manufacturer. Multi-model lineup 39-78ft.
- Maritimo — premium motor yachts.
- Quintrex (BRP Marine) — aluminium boat brand.
- Major refit / repair operations.
This is the densest boat-building cluster in Australia. Coomera-based jobs are regional ✓.
Sunshine Coast (Mooloolaba QLD)
- Marine cluster — sport fishing / cruising boat operations.
- Boatworks (Coomera) refit / repair.
- Regional QLD ✓ for 491 / 494.
Sydney (NSW)
- Superyacht refit operations (Mosman, Rushcutters Bay).
- Premium yacht builders / refit.
- Sydney metropolitan — not regional for 494.
Sandringham / Williamstown / Hastings (VIC)
- Yacht builders (Port Phillip Bay).
- Metropolitan Melbourne — not regional.
Hobart (TAS)
- Wooden boat tradition — Wooden Boat Festival hub.
- Custom yacht refit / repair.
- All of TAS regional ✓.
Adelaide (SA)
- Limited but functional. SA all regional ✓.
Fremantle (WA)
- Marine industry but WA does NOT nominate 190 / 491.
- 186 DE / 482 / 494 alternative pathways.
Skills that travel well: GRP / FRP / composite lay-up (hand, vacuum infusion, pre-preg, vacuum bagging), aluminium MIG / TIG welding (AS/NZS 1554.4 marine welding standards), gelcoat repair (colour matching, polishing), epoxy / cold-moulded construction (West System, Sika), marine joinery, marine plumbing / electrical / gas system installation, engine installation (sterndrive, shaft, jet, outboard), AS marine standards compliance.
Practical 12-month sequence
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Confirm 399111 fit. Pull TRA OSAP requirements. |
| 2-4 | Sit English test (PTE / IELTS). Cert III + 3-year evidence assembly. Portfolio photos. |
| 3-7 | Lodge TRA OSAP. 4-6 months. |
| 5-9 | Submit EOI (189 / 190 / 491) + parallel sponsor outreach to Riviera / Maritimo / premium boat builders. |
| 7-12 | Invitation or sponsor offer. Visa application. |
| 9-18 | Visa grant. |
189 is fastest if points clear (70-80+). 186 DE is fastest with confirmed sponsor.
Tools
- Eligibility wizard
- Points calculator
- Visa fee calculator
- Document checklist
- Invitation rounds tracker
- ANZSCO search
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs — visa fees and charges
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- SkillSelect invitation rounds
- Boating Industry Association
Next step
Need a MARA agent to review your 399111 case? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.