This is the 2026 pathway guide for migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 393213 — Dressmaker or Tailor. 393213 sits on STSOL, with 190 / 491 in 7 states (all except WA), plus Subclass 494 Regional Employer, Subclass 407 Training. NOT on CSOL or MLTSSL — so 189 Independent, 186 Direct Entry, and 482 Core Skills are unavailable.
For skills assessment, invitation patterns, state-by-state breakdown, and cost / timeline, see the linked cluster.
Who fits ANZSCO 393213
Dressmaker or Tailor covers tradespeople who design, cut, sew, and finish garments to fit individual customers. Typical scope:
Bespoke tailoring (menswear)
- Bespoke suits (full canvas, half canvas, made-to-measure).
- Bespoke jackets, sport coats, blazers.
- Bespoke trousers, dress shirts.
- Three-piece suit construction (suit + waistcoat).
- Tuxedo / formal evening wear.
- Indian / Asian / Italian / British / Savile Row tradition.
Dressmaking (womenswear)
- Wedding dress design and construction.
- Evening gown / formal dress design.
- Bespoke ladies' wear (suits, jackets, dresses).
- Bridal alterations and modifications.
- Vintage / period costume reconstruction.
Alterations
- Resize / re-tailor existing garments.
- Hem adjustment, sleeve length, waist resize.
- Wedding dress alterations (bustle, hem, bodice).
- Garment reconstruction / restyling.
Theatrical / costume
- Period costume construction (Tudor / Regency / Victorian / Edwardian).
- Stage costume design and construction.
- Opera / ballet costume work.
- Film / TV costume departments.
Ethnic / cultural attire
- Indian / Pakistani / Bangladeshi (saris, salwar kameez, sherwani, lehenga).
- Chinese / Vietnamese / Korean traditional dress.
- African traditional dress.
- Middle Eastern / Persian traditional dress (kaftans, dishdasha, jubba).
Religious garments
- Liturgical vestments (church / cathedral).
- Buddhist / Hindu / Sikh ceremonial garments.
- Islamic religious dress (modest fashion specialists).
Made-to-measure / semi-bespoke
- Customer measurements, fabric selection, fit modifications.
- Faster turnaround than full bespoke; pattern-block-based.
Where it does NOT fit:
- Fabric cutting only (no sewing / construction): 393211 Apparel Cutter.
- Pattern-making only (no garment construction): 393212 Clothing Patternmaker.
- Industrial sewing / mass-production: 393212 Clothing Production Worker (note coding variation).
- Fashion design without construction trade: 232311 Fashion Designer (VETASSESS).
- Upholstery (furniture / vehicle): 393311 Upholsterer (different code).
Skills lists and visas
393213 is listed on:
- STSOL (Short-Term Skilled Occupation List) — supports 190 / 491 (state nomination) and 494 (regional employer).
- NOT on CSOL, MLTSSL, or ROL.
This is an unusual list combination. STSOL-only listing means:
- ✓ 190 (with state nomination)
- ✓ 491 (with state nomination)
- ✓ 494 (with regional employer)
- ✓ 407 (training visa, niche)
- ✗ 186 DE (requires CSOL)
- ✗ 482 (requires CSOL)
- ✗ 189 (requires MLTSSL)
Eligible visas:
| Visa | Status |
|---|---|
| 190 State-Nominated | ✓ (7 states) |
| 491 Regional Provisional | ✓ (7 states) |
| 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored | ✓ |
| 407 Training | ✓ |
| 489 State Regional | ✓ (legacy — closed to new entrants) |
| 189 Independent | ✗ |
| 186 Direct Entry | ✗ |
| 482 Core Skills | ✗ |
State nomination snapshot (FY 2025-26):
| State | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIC | ✓ | ✓ |
| QLD | ✓ | ✓ |
| SA | ✓ | ✓ |
| WA | ✗ | ✗ |
| NT | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACT | ✓ | ✓ |
| TAS | ✓ | ✓ |
7 of 8 states nominate.
Pathway A — Subclass 190 State-Nominated
For experienced dressmakers / tailors with strong points, 190 via state nomination is the realistic primary points-tested route to PR.
What you need:
- TRA OSAP skills assessment — Cert III in Clothing Production (Dressmaker / Tailor stream) or equivalent + 3 years post-qualification.
- 65+ points (competitive scores 75-85+).
- Competent English minimum (Proficient / Superior recommended for points + state shortlist).
- EOI in SkillSelect + state nomination application.
- State commitment — most states require 2+ years commitment to nominating state.
Wall-clock: 14 to 22 months from EOI to grant typically.
Pathway B — Subclass 491 Regional Provisional
Same skills assessment, but 491 is a 5-year provisional visa requiring regional residence.
Mechanics:
- 491 provisional 5 years.
- 3 years cumulative regional + earnings threshold → 191 PR.
- Adds 15 points to EOI (significant).
Useful when 190 scores are competitive in your target state.
Pathway C — Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored
For sponsors based in regional Australia. 5-year provisional with regional residence requirement; → 191 PR after 3 years regional + earnings threshold.
Mechanics same as standard 494. Realistic regional sponsors include established regional tailoring / alterations operations, regional bridal boutiques with in-house dressmakers, regional theatrical / costume operations.
Pathway D — Subclass 407 Training
Less common but available — for structured workplace training programs. Used by established tailoring houses / theatrical operations sponsoring overseas trainees to learn specific skills, or by Australian operations training overseas dressmakers in Australian fashion conventions.
No 186 DE / 482
Important: 393213 is not on CSOL, so:
- 186 Direct Entry is not available. Even if you have a confirmed Australian sponsor, you cannot go direct to 186 PR via 393213.
- 482 Core Skills is not available. Sponsored 4-year temporary visa channel is closed.
This means employer-sponsored permanent pathway is only via 494 → 191 PR (5-year wall-clock), not via 186 (which would be 6-12 months).
Realistic prioritisation
| Pathway | When to pick |
|---|---|
| 190 (NSW / VIC / QLD / SA / NT / ACT / TAS) | Strong points (75+), no immediate sponsor offer, target metro / regional. Fastest PR for 393213. |
| 491 (any nominating state) | 65-75 points, willing to live regionally 3+ years. |
| 494 regional employer | Regional sponsor offer (regional alterations / bridal / costume operations). |
| 407 Training | Niche — specific training programs (limited use case). |
For most overseas dressmakers / tailors: aim 190 if points are competitive, fall back to 491 if not. Without 186 DE / 482, the points-tested channels are the realistic primary.
Australian dressmaking / tailoring industry reality in 2026
The Australian dressmaking / tailoring trade is fragmented but sustained:
- Bespoke menswear tailoring: clusters in Sydney (Indian / Asian / Italian / British heritage tailors — premium bespoke suits AUD 3,000-10,000+), Melbourne (Greek / Italian heritage tradition). Steady premium market.
- Bridal couture: significant market across capital cities. Bridal industry strong in Australia; wedding dress design / construction / alterations sustained.
- Alterations: nationwide. Every suburb has alterations shops. Dry cleaners often offer alteration services. Many migrant-community-operated.
- Theatrical / costume: Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Opera Australia, Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Theatre, regional theatre companies.
- Film / TV costume: production companies (Screen Australia productions, Netflix Australia, ABC, SBS productions, advertising). Costume departments use freelance and contract dressmakers / tailors.
- Ethnic / cultural attire: substantial market in Sydney / Melbourne (Indian / South Asian community in Western Sydney, Dandenong; Chinese community in Box Hill, Chatswood; African community in Footscray, Sunshine).
Skills that travel well: bespoke pattern-cutting, hand-stitching (basting, padstitching, felling, hemming), jacket construction (canvas, padding, sleeve attachment), pant / trouser construction (fly, waistband, hem), wedding dress construction (corset boning, lacing, train construction), Indian / Asian traditional dressmaking, theatrical / period costume reconstruction, alteration techniques.
Practical 12-month sequence
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Confirm 393213 fit. Pull TRA OSAP requirements. |
| 2-4 | Sit English test (PTE / IELTS). Cert III + 3-year evidence assembly. |
| 3-7 | Lodge TRA OSAP. 4-6 months turnaround. |
| 5-9 | Submit EOI + state nomination applications (if 190 / 491). |
| 9-15 | Invitation / nomination approved. Visa lodged. |
| 12-22 | Visa grant. |
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)
- Jobs and Skills Australia
- SkillSelect invitation rounds
- Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia
Next step
Need a MARA agent to review your 393213 case? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.