This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Florist migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 362111. 362111 is on STSOL — eligible visas: Subclass 190 State-Nominated, Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191, Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored → 191, and Subclass 407 Training. Not eligible for Subclass 189 Independent, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, or Subclass 482 Core Skills.
For the cost / timeline view see the 362111 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 362111 is the right code
ANZSCO 362111 covers florist work — preparing, arranging, displaying and selling cut flowers, foliage, floral arrangements, plants, and floral accessories. Day-to-day work:
- Floral design — bouquets (round / hand-tied / cascading / posy / pomander), centrepieces, table runners, archway / installation work, sympathy and funeral arrangements, corporate / event design.
- Wedding florals — bridal bouquets, bridesmaid posies, buttonholes, corsages, ceremony arches, reception centrepieces, cake flowers, ceremony aisle florals, signage florals.
- Event florals — corporate events, galas, brand activations, product launches, fashion shows, Mother's Day / Valentine's Day / Christmas seasonal volume.
- Sympathy / funeral — caskets sprays, wreaths, posies, sheaves, urns, religious arrangements per various faith traditions.
- Daily walk-in trade — counter sales, $40-$120 bouquets, vase arrangements, single-stem orders.
- Online / delivery operations — order fulfilment, courier coordination, digital photography for social / Instagram / web, Shopify / Squarespace / WooCommerce store management.
- Wholesale / market sourcing — daily / weekly purchasing from Sydney Flower Market (Flemington), Melbourne Flower Market (Footscray / Epping), Brisbane Flower Market (Rocklea), Adelaide Flower Market, Perth Flower Market.
- Plant / pot care — indoor plant retail, succulent / cactus arrangements, terrarium / kokedama, flowering plant retail.
- Floral foam / mechanics / wiring — traditional and modern construction techniques; sustainable / foam-free design (Floral Trust Sustainable Floristry).
- Seasonal stock management — anticipating Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, weddings season, Christmas, Easter peaks.
Use ANZSCO search to verify the code-fit. The 3621 unit group contains 362111 Florist plus 362211 Gardener, 362212 Arborist, 362213 Landscape Gardener — these are distinct occupations. Florist is specifically cut-flower / arrangement focused.
Step 2 — VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS is the assessing authority. Requirements:
- Qualification — Cert III in Floristry (SFL30115) or Cert IV in Floristry (SFL40115), or overseas equivalent (UK NVQ Level 3 Floristry, NZ Cert in Floristry, US AIFD-accredited programs, French CAP Fleuriste, Japanese Ikebana qualifications, Korean / Asian floral design diplomas).
- Skilled employment — at least 1 year highly relevant employment in the 5 years before applying (post-qualification).
- Portfolio evidence — photographic portfolio strongly recommended.
Standard turnaround 12-16 weeks. Priority service available.
See the skills assessment guide for the full evidence pack.
Step 3 — English
EOI lodgement requires Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each / PTE 50 each). For points-tested 190 / 491, target Proficient (PTE 65 / IELTS 7.0 — 10 pts) or Superior (PTE 79+ / IELTS 8.0 — 20 pts).
Step 4 — Choose a visa pathway
362111 is not eligible for Subclass 189 Independent, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, or Subclass 482 Core Skills.
Subclass 190 State-Nominated
Six states currently nominate 362111 — NSW, Vic, QLD, NT, ACT, Tas. SA and WA do not include 362111 in their FY 2025–26 nomination programs. State nomination adds 5 points. PR straight away.
Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191 PR
Same six states (NSW, Vic, QLD, NT, ACT, Tas) nominate 362111 for 491. Adds 15 points. After 3 years regional residence + earnings threshold, transition to Subclass 191 PR.
Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored → 191 PR
Available with regional employer sponsorship. Suitable for regional wedding / tourism florist operations. Transitions to 191 PR after 3 years.
Subclass 407 Training Visa
Short-term training visa for structured workplace training at approved sponsor. Max 24 months. Useful for gaining Australian experience that supports later 190 / 491.
Step 5 — Realistic Australian sponsors and employers
Florist demand is concentrated in metro markets plus tourism / wedding destinations:
- Premium Sydney florists — Grandiflora (Saskia Havekes — Potts Point flagship), Bourke Street Florist (Surry Hills), Doctor Cooper Studio, Cecilia Fox (Surry Hills), Lavender Green Flowers, Mr Cook, Holly & Co, Sapling & Flock, Vasette Flowers Sydney.
- Premium Melbourne florists — Flowers Vasette (Fitzroy), Hattie & Lily (Cremorne), LK Boutique Florist, Whitehouse Flowers, Botanical (Albert Park), Beck Storer Floral Design, Mary Mary Studio, Boquet Flower Co, The Botanical Bar.
- Premium Brisbane / Gold Coast — Mr Cook Brisbane, Petal & Stem (Brisbane), All Bunched Up, Lucy's Wedding Flowers, Whisper White (Gold Coast), Hampton Event Hire floral arm.
- Wedding / event specialists — Lavender Green Flowers (Sydney), Atelier Wyndham (Sydney), Larkin Charles (Sydney), Mrs Bottomley's Flowers (Melbourne), Spread Joy Studio (Melbourne).
- Hotel / resort florists — Park Hyatt Sydney / Melbourne in-house florist, Crown Resorts in-house florist, Star Entertainment, Hayman Island Resort, Qualia Hamilton Island, Saffire Freycinet Tasmania.
- Funeral / sympathy florists — Le Tan, InterFlora Australia, Mrs Bottomley's, McCleary Brothers, Tobin Brothers in-house florists.
- Flower market wholesale / supply — Flemington Flower Markets (Sydney NSW), Footscray / Epping Flower Markets (Melbourne Vic), Rocklea Flower Markets (Brisbane QLD), Adelaide Produce Markets.
- Interflora franchise / network — Interflora Australia member florists nationally.
- Online / direct delivery — LVLY (Lvly), Bloomex, Flowers Across Sydney, Bloomable, Lily's Florist, Fig & Bloom, Mrs Bottomley's online.
- Funeral home in-house florist roles — funeral homes increasingly employ in-house florists for sympathy arrangements.
Step 6 — Score points and lodge EOI
Use the points calculator. Typical minimum: 65 federal points + state nomination boost. Most realistic 491 candidates score 80-90+ points; 190 candidates typically 90-95+.
Score components include age, English, skilled employment overseas, Australian skilled employment, qualifications, state nomination, regional study, Australian study, partner skills.
Lodge EOI via SkillSelect and state nomination ROI via the relevant state portal. See the invitation rounds tracker.
Step 7 — Submit visa application
Once invited, lodge the full application within 60 days. Standard documents: VETASSESS outcome, identity, English test results, employment evidence (reference letters, payslips, portfolio), health examinations, AFP character check + every country lived in 12+ months, Form 80 + Form 1221.
Use the document checklist and the eligibility wizard.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator
- Document checklist
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker
- Skilled Occupation List
- Occupation Shortage List
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs
- VETASSESS
- Interflora Australia
- Australian Florists' Association (AFA)
- Jobs and Skills Australia
Next step
Want to map your florist profile against the 190 / 491 / 494 / 407 pathways? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with a MARA-registered agent at Global Select.