This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Butcher or Smallgoods Maker migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 351211. 351211 is on CSOL with state nomination availability — full skilled visa stack: Subclass 189 Independent (where listed), Subclass 190 State-Nominated, Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191 PR, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 Regional Employer → 191, and Subclass 482 Core Skills → 186 TRT.
For the cost / timeline view see the 351211 cost & timeline case study. For TRA document details see the skills assessment guide.
Step 1 — Confirm 351211 is the right code
ANZSCO 351211 covers butcher / smallgoods maker / charcutier work — value-add meat preparation:
- Retail butchery — carcass and primal cut break-down (beef, lamb, veal, pork, kid goat); retail-cut preparation (steaks, mince, chops, roasts); cabinet display / merchandising; meat ageing (dry-age, wet-age).
- Wholesale / abattoir boning room — primal break-down (beef quarters / sides → primals; lamb / pork carcass → primals); knife / boning hook work; vac-pack / Cryovac / packaging; AUS-MEAT specification.
- Smallgoods / charcuterie — sausage manufacturing (fresh, smoked, cured, fermented); bacon (rashers, middles, streaky); ham (smallgoods ham, leg ham, prosciutto-style); cured meats (chorizo, salami, pancetta, coppa, bresaola, biltong); pâté; terrine; rillette; black pudding.
- Halal slaughter / processing — halal-certified butchery for halal markets; Lakemba, Auburn, Coburg, Dandenong Lebanese / Middle Eastern butchers.
- Kosher slaughter / processing — kosher-certified for Jewish community (Sydney North Shore / East / Bondi, Melbourne St Kilda / Caulfield).
- Game / specialty — kangaroo, venison, emu, crocodile, wild boar; Australian game-meat specialty for restaurant trade.
- Seafood — fish filleting / smoking (not strictly 351211 but often co-located in retail).
- Pet food — kibble / dry / wet pet food manufacturing (Mars Petcare, Nestlé Purina, Real Pet Food Company / V.I.P. Petfoods).
- Equipment — bandsaw (Bizerba, Hobart), mincer / grinder, vacuum filler / sausage stuffer (Handtmann, Risco, Vemag), bowl chopper / silent cutter, smoke chamber (Maurer, Reich), brine injector, tenderiser, vac-pack machine (Henkelman, Multivac).
Use ANZSCO search to verify the code-fit. If your work is primarily abattoir floor / slaughter, 831312 Meat Process Worker is the right code; if you're a restaurant chef, 351311 Chef applies.
Step 2 — TRA skills assessment
TRA (tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au) — JRP (onshore) or OSA (offshore).
Standard turnaround: OSA ~12 weeks; JRP 12-18 months.
Step 3 — English
EOI lodgement requires Competent English. For points-tested visas, target Proficient (10 pts) or Superior (20 pts).
Step 4 — Choose a visa pathway
Subclass 189 / 190 / 491
189 if 351211 is on MLTSSL — confirm at EOI. 190 / 491 are very realistic — regional state programs particularly target butchers because regional / country meat shops are chronically short-staffed.
Subclass 186 / 494 / 482
Main 351211 employers:
- Major meat processors / abattoirs — JBS Australia (largest — Dinmore, Beef City, Rockhampton, Bordertown, Brooklyn, Riverina, Yanco, King Island; Primo Smallgoods), Teys Australia (Wagga, Beenleigh, Naracoorte, Tamworth, Biloela, Charlton), Australian Country Choice (Cannon Hill), Thomas Foods International (Murray Bridge, Lobethal, Tamworth), Australian Lamb Company, Kilcoy Pastoral, Northern Co-operative Meat Company, ALC, Stanbroke, NH Foods Australia, Bindaree Beef.
- Retail supermarket meat — Coles Group (Coles butchers), Woolworths Group (Woolworths meat department + private brand), ALDI Stores, Costco Wholesale, IGA / Metcash Foodland.
- Independent butcher chains — Hudson Meats (Sydney), Vic's Premium Quality Meat (Sydney), Cannings Free Range Butchers (Melbourne), Peter Bouchier (Melbourne), Donati's Fine Meats (Melbourne), Tom Bradman Butchery, McAdam's (Brisbane), Linley Valley Pork.
- Specialty / premium — Cape Grim, Robbins Island Wagyu, David Blackmore Wagyu, Stockyard, Rangers Valley, Tajima Wagyu, Borrowdale Free Range Pork.
- Smallgoods / charcuterie producers — Primo Smallgoods (JBS — Australia's largest), Don Smallgoods (George Weston Foods), Hans Continental Smallgoods, Bertocchi Smallgoods, KR Castlemaine, Black Pearl Epicure, Andrew's Choice Smallgoods, La Bottega di Stocco.
- Halal / ethnic — Lebanese / Middle Eastern butchers (Lakemba, Auburn, Bankstown, Coburg, Dandenong, Marrickville), Asian butchers (Cabramatta, Footscray, Sunshine, Springvale).
- Game / artisan — wild game suppliers, kangaroo industry (Macro Meats, Mt House); Vic / SA / NSW game-meat specialists for restaurant trade.
- Pet food manufacturing — Mars Petcare (Wodonga, Bathurst), Real Pet Food Company (Coominya, Erskine Park, Dubbo), Nestlé Purina Petcare (Blayney), Hypro Premium Pet Food.
Step 5 — Score / Step 6 — Submit
Use points calculator. Lodge via SkillSelect.
Tools
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs
- TRA
- Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC)
- AUS-MEAT
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Office of MARA
Next step
Want to map your butcher / smallgoods profile against 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.