This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Hardware Technician migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 313111. 313111 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 313111 cost & timeline case study. For ACS document details see the skills assessment guide.
Step 1 — Confirm 313111 is the right code
ANZSCO 313111 covers hands-on hardware technician work — break-fix repair (PC / laptop / server / printer / mobile device), data centre hardware operations (rack / unrack, cabling, replace HDDs / SSDs / RAM / PSU / NIC), server installation and commissioning (Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, Lenovo ThinkSystem, Cisco UCS, Supermicro), network device installation (Cisco Catalyst / Meraki, Aruba, HP Aruba, Juniper, Ubiquiti, Fortinet), structured cabling (Cat6, Cat6A, fibre — single-mode / multi-mode), printer / MFP fleet management, IMAC (Install / Move / Add / Change) services, asset register management, IMAC ticket workflow.
If your role is service-desk customer support (Tier 1 / 2 phone / chat / remote), 313112 ICT Customer Support Officer fits better.
If your role is network design / config (Cisco / Juniper config, routing / switching design), 263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer or 263112 Network Administrator fits better.
Step 2 — ACS skills assessment
ACS (acs.org.au) handles 313111. Standard pathways:
- Skills Assessment — Major in ICT — ICT-aligned Bachelor / Diploma with ANZSCO match.
- Skills Assessment — Minor in ICT — partial ICT subjects.
- RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) — non-ICT-aligned candidates with significant ICT experience.
Standard turnaround 8-12 weeks.
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 313111 is on MLTSSL — confirm at EOI. 190 / 491 are realistic.
Subclass 186 / 494 / 482
Main 313111 employers:
- Managed services / MSPs — Brennan, Macquarie Cloud Services, Data#3, Logicalis, ASI Solutions, Empired (Capgemini), Olikka, Spirit Technology Solutions, Mansfield IT, Outsource Australia, Atturra, Speedcast.
- Data centre operators — AirTrunk, NEXTDC, Equinix, Macquarie Data Centres, CDC Data Centres, DCI Data Centers, Vocus / Megaport, ANZ-based hyperscale infrastructure for AWS / Azure / Google Cloud.
- System integrators — Dimension Data / NTT Australia, Datacom, Optus Business, Telstra Enterprise, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Dell Technologies Services.
- Enterprise in-house IT — major banks (CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB), telcos (Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom), retailers (Woolworths, Coles, Wesfarmers), miners (BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue), defence primes, healthcare networks.
- Government — federal (Defence, Services Australia, Home Affairs, ATO), state / local government IT.
- OEM-side break-fix — Lenovo Australia, HP Australia, Dell Australia, Cisco Australia, NEC Australia.
Step 5 — Score / Step 6 — Submit
Use points calculator. Lodge via SkillSelect.
Tools
Authoritative sources
Next step
Want to map your hardware technician profile against 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.