This is the 2026 pathway guide for migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 394211 — Furniture Finisher. 394211 sits on STSOL and CSOL with 190 / 491 in 6 of 8 states (SA and WA do not nominate), plus the full employer-sponsored stack (186 DE, 494 Regional Employer, 482 Core Skills, 407 Training).
For skills assessment, invitation patterns, state-by-state breakdown, and cost / timeline, see the linked cluster.
Who fits ANZSCO 394211
Furniture Finisher covers tradespeople who apply finishes (stains, polishes, lacquers, oils) to wooden furniture and timber surfaces. Typical scope:
Traditional / heritage finishing
- French polish (shellac with rubber).
- Hand-rubbed oil finishes (Danish oil, hard-wax oil, Tung oil, linseed oil).
- Wax finishing (paste wax, beeswax, traditional waxing).
- Period-correct finishing for antique restoration (Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Federation, Mid-Century Modern).
- Hide glue / period-appropriate finish materials.
Modern / production finishing
- Spray lacquer (pre-cat, post-cat, 2K polyurethane).
- Water-based finishes (polyurethane, acrylic).
- Conversion varnish.
- UV-cured finishes (factory production).
- Stain application (oil-based, water-based, dye stains).
Specialty finishing
- Gilding / leafing (gold leaf, silver leaf, palladium).
- Distressing / antiquing techniques.
- Faux finishes / wood graining.
- Marquetry / parquetry finishing.
- Bleaching / pickling for blonde / limed finishes.
Restoration / repair
- French polish restoration on antique furniture.
- Spot repair (cigarette burns, water rings, scratches).
- Colour matching to existing finish.
- Heat damage restoration.
- Veneer repair and re-finishing.
Pre-finish preparation
- Surface preparation (sanding, scraping, planing).
- Filling (grain filler, knot sealer, putty).
- Bleaching to lighten timber.
Where it does NOT fit:
- Furniture making / construction: 394113 Furniture Maker / 394111 / 394112 Cabinetmaker.
- Furniture upholstery (covering frames): 393311 Upholsterer.
- Industrial spray painting (vehicle, automotive): 324111 Vehicle Painter.
- Domestic / commercial painting (walls, structures): 332211 Painting Trades Worker.
Skills lists and visas
394211 is listed on:
- STSOL — supports 190 / 491 / 482 / 494.
- CSOL — supports 186 Direct Entry and 482 Core Skills.
- NOT on MLTSSL — no 189 Independent.
Eligible visas:
| Visa | Status | Pathway type |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 190 State-Nominated | ✓ (6 states) | State-nominated permanent |
| 491 Regional Provisional | ✓ (6 states) | Regional provisional → 191 |
| 407 Training | ✓ | Training visa |
| 189 Independent | ✗ | Not eligible |
State nomination snapshot (FY 2025-26):
| State | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIC | ✓ | ✓ |
| QLD | ✓ | ✓ |
| SA | ✗ | ✗ |
| WA | ✗ | ✗ |
| NT | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACT | ✓ | ✓ |
| TAS | ✓ | ✓ |
6 of 8 states nominate. SA and WA are the exclusions.
Pathway A — Subclass 186 Direct Entry (primary recommended)
For an experienced furniture finisher with a confirmed Australian sponsor offer, 186 DE via CSOL is the fastest line to PR.
What you need:
- Sponsoring employer (accredited or standard business sponsor). Realistic Australian sponsors: premium furniture makers (Jardan, MCM House, Designs of Australia), antique restoration shops, classic-car interior leather + wood specialists, commercial spray-finishing operations.
- TRA OSAP skills assessment — Cert III in Furniture Finishing or equivalent + 3 years post-qualification.
- Competent English — IELTS 6.0 each band, PTE 50 each, or equivalent.
- Under 45 at lodgement (age exemptions possible).
Wall-clock: 6 to 12 months. PR on grant.
Pathway B — Subclass 190 State-Nominated
For points-tested route. All eligible states (NSW, VIC, QLD, NT, ACT, TAS) nominate 394211.
Mechanics:
- TRA OSAP skills assessment.
- 65+ points (competitive 75-85+).
- Competent English minimum.
- EOI in SkillSelect + state nomination.
Wall-clock: 14 to 22 months.
Pathway C — Subclass 491 Regional Provisional
5-year provisional with regional residence. Adds 15 points to EOI. → 191 PR after 3 years regional + earnings.
Pathway D — Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored
For regional sponsor offer. 5-year provisional → 191 PR.
Pathway E — Subclass 482 Core Skills
4-year sponsored temporary visa. Transitions to 186 TRT after 2 years on 482 + 3 years cumulative.
Realistic prioritisation
| Pathway | When to pick |
|---|---|
| 186 Direct Entry | Senior finisher + sponsor offer. Fastest PR. |
| 190 (NSW / VIC / QLD / NT / ACT / TAS) | Strong points (75+). |
| 491 (eligible states) | 65-75 points, regional commitment OK. |
| 494 regional employer | Regional sponsor offer. |
| 482 Core Skills | Sponsor's safety net path. |
For most overseas furniture finishers: target 186 DE if sponsor available; parallel-track 190 EOI for backup.
Australian furniture finisher industry reality in 2026
The Australian furniture finisher trade is small but sustained at premium / restoration operations:
Premium furniture makers (production + bespoke)
- Jardan Furniture (Melbourne) — in-house finishing teams.
- MCM House (Sydney) — Mid-Century Modern reproduction finishing.
- Living Edge (multiple) — premium furniture finishing.
- Designs of Australia — premium Melbourne furniture.
Antique restoration specialists
- Specialist restoration shops nationwide.
- Heritage / museum restoration (state museums, National Trust properties).
- Auction-house consignment restoration (Sotheby's Australia, Leonard Joel, Theodore Bruce).
- Premium private dealer restoration.
Commercial spray-finishing operations
- Production furniture finishing (Australian manufacturers).
- Kitchen door finishing (Polytec, Laminex thermoformed-door manufacturers).
- Commercial joinery finishing.
Classic-car wood specialists
- Wood trim finishing for classic cars (Mercedes / Jaguar / Aston Martin / Rolls-Royce restoration).
- Boat / yacht teak deck and interior wood finishing.
Skills that travel well: French polish (shellac with rubber, fad, rotelle), spray gun operation (HVLP, conventional, airless), 2K polyurethane mixing and application, water-based finish application, colour matching (Munsell colour system awareness), distressing and ageing techniques, gilding (water gild, oil gild, electrostatic), wood-grain raising / sealing / filling.
Practical 12-month sequence
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Confirm 394211 fit. Pull TRA OSAP requirements. |
| 2-4 | Cert III + 3-year work history evidence + portfolio. English test. |
| 3-7 | Lodge TRA OSAP. 4-6 months. |
| 4-9 | Sponsor outreach + parallel EOI. |
| 8-15 | Sponsor offer / state invitation. Visa lodged. |
| 8-22 | 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)
- Furnishing Industry Association of Australia
- Furniture Designer Maker Association
Next step
Need a MARA agent to review your 394211 case? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.