This guide walks through every realistic pathway for migrating to Australia as a Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) under ANZSCO 233611. 233611 sits on the MLTSSL + CSOL — meaning Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 491, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494, and Subclass 482 Core Skills are all open.
For the assessing-authority detail, see the 233611 skills assessment guide. For worked numbers, see the 233611 cost & timeline case study.
Visa eligibility snapshot
| Visa | Status for 233611 |
|---|---|
| Subclass 189 (Independent points-tested) | Open ✅ |
| Subclass 190 (State-nominated PR) | Open ✅ |
| Subclass 491 (Regional Provisional) | Open ✅ |
| Subclass 186 Direct Entry | Open ✅ |
| Subclass 482 Core Skills | Open ✅ |
| Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer-sponsored Regional) | Open ✅ |
What ANZSCO 233611 covers
- Open-cut mining engineer — pit design, scheduling, dump design, ramp / haul-road design
- Underground mining engineer — stope design, ventilation, ground support
- Drill and blast engineer
- Ventilation engineer — VOD / VRC, BAT (best available technology)
- Mine planning / scheduling — short / medium / long term
- Geotechnical mining engineer — pit / underground rock mechanics
- Statutory mine engineer — Quarry / Coal / Metalliferous Manager (state-specific)
- Mining studies engineer — PFS / DFS / FS roles at consultancies
Pathway A — Subclass 189 (Independent PR)
Senior mining engineers with chartered status (CEng / CPEng) and major operations / project experience are competitive at 189.
Pathway B — Subclass 190 (state-nominated PR)
States actively nominate — particularly WA (iron ore + lithium + gold + nickel), QLD (coal + copper + critical minerals + gold), NSW (coal + gold + lead-zinc).
Pathway C — Subclass 491 → 191
Extremely strong regional pathway — Pilbara (BHP / Rio Tinto / FMG iron ore), Goldfields WA (Newcrest / Newmont / IGO), Mt Isa Queensland (Glencore), Bowen Basin coal, Hunter Valley NSW coal, lithium (Pilbara Minerals / Liontown / IGO).
Pathway D — Subclass 186 Direct Entry / 494 / 482
Realistic 186 / 482 / 494 sponsors
- Iron ore majors — BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, Hancock Prospecting, Mineral Resources, Atlas Iron
- Gold majors — Newcrest (now Newmont), Northern Star, Evolution, Gold Fields Australia, Saracen
- Lithium / battery metals — Pilbara Minerals, Liontown Resources, IGO, Allkem (now Arcadium), Mineral Resources
- Coal — BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Glencore, Yancoal, Whitehaven, Anglo American, Coronado, Peabody
- Copper / nickel / zinc — BHP Olympic Dam, MMG (Dugald River), South32, Glencore (Mt Isa)
- Mining consultancies — SRK Consulting, AMC Consultants, Snowden Mining, RungePincockMinarco, ATC Williams
Common mistakes that cost mining engineers their assessment
Confusing 233611 with 233612 Petroleum Engineer. Mining (solids — coal / iron ore / gold / copper / lithium etc.) = 233611. Petroleum (oil & gas subsurface) = 233612.
Mining surveying / mine survey work. Mine surveying is 232212 Surveyor. Mining engineering = 233611.
Tools to plan your pathway
- Eligibility wizard
- Visa fee calculator
- ANZSCO search — confirm 233611 vs 233612 / 232212
- Document checklist
Where to verify the rules
- Department of Home Affairs
- Engineers Australia Migration Skills Assessment
- AusIMM (Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy)
Next step
Want to model 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482 against your mining engineer profile? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.