Mixed Crop Farmer sits on the Regional Occupation List (ROL), the list that powers the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional channels. The federal data file for ANZSCO 121216 confirms eligibility for both channels plus the Subclass 407 Training visa.
What's not available: Subclass 189, 190, 186, and 482 — none is currently open for 121216.
This guide walks through the two open doors, the VETASSESS skills assessment, and a realistic timeline.
Door 1 — Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (state nominated)
The Subclass 491 visa is provisional for five years, requires regional residence and work, and converts to permanent residency through Subclass 191 after three years.
For ANZSCO 121216, the 491 path requires:
- A positive VETASSESS skills assessment
- Competent English (IELTS 6 each band, OET / PTE / TOEFL / CAE equivalent)
- Under 45 at lodgement
- Points score above the state minimum (most states want 65+)
- State or territory nomination
Watch the relevant state portals — Migration NSW, Live in Melbourne, Migration Queensland, Move to South Australia, Migration WA, and Migration Tasmania.
Door 2 — Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
The Subclass 494 visa channels skilled workers into regional Australia. Australian mixed-cropping enterprises sit in regional postcodes — combining grain, oilseed, hay, or horticulture across diversified farm operations.
The visa is provisional for five years; after three years of regional work meeting the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, you transition to Subclass 191 for permanent residency.
Requirements:
- A positive VETASSESS skills assessment
- Competent English (IELTS 6 each band, or equivalent)
- Under 45 at lodgement (limited exemptions)
- Three years post-qualification work experience
- Employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor in a regional postcode
The VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS is the named assessor for ANZSCO 121216. VETASSESS reviews:
- Tertiary qualification — typically a bachelor degree in agriculture, agronomy, or a closely related discipline. Lower-level qualifications (Diploma, Advanced Diploma) may be assessed if combined with substantial relevant experience
- Minimum five years of post-qualification employment in mixed crop farming management
- Reference letters mapping duties to the ANZSCO 121216 task profile
- Evidence of operational and financial decision-making across multiple crop systems — rotation planning, variety selection, scheduling, harvest, and marketing across the crop mix
Skills assessment is required for both 491 and 494. For details on the evidence pack and rejection patterns, read our Mixed Crop Farmer skills assessment guide.
Realistic timeline
End-to-end, the 491 → 191 regional pathway runs ~60 months from start to PR. The 494 → 191 pathway is similar in duration.
Verify processing time bands on the global visa processing times tool before quoting any specific number.
Costs at a glance
For a typical 491 → 191 pathway with a family of three:
- VETASSESS assessment: AUD 1,096 (offshore, current as of 22 Oct 2025) per the VETASSESS fees page
- 491 visa fee (primary): AUD 4,890
- State nomination fee (varies): AUD 200-800
- 191 visa fee (primary): AUD 535
- Health, police, English: AUD 600-1,200
Read the breakdown in our Mixed Crop Farmer cost and timeline case study. Use the visa fee calculator to model dependants and stream.
Common mistakes
- Lodging an EOI for 189 or 190. Mixed Crop Farmer is on ROL — both Independent and standard State Sponsored channels are closed.
- Underestimating regional residence requirements. Subclass 491 and 494 require continuous regional living and work for three years before the 191 PR conversion. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are the only excluded zones.
- Under-documenting the "mixed" in mixed crop. The assessor needs to see decision authority across multiple crop systems, not just one. Reference letters should describe rotation, variety selection, and harvest planning across the crop mix.
Tools
- Eligibility wizard — quick scan of which visa streams might fit
- ANZSCO search — confirm 121216 is the right code
- Document checklist — for VETASSESS + visa application
- Visa fee calculator — model fees for the 491 or 494 pathways
- Invitation rounds tracker — for state nomination round context
To verify any migration agent advising you, search the MARA register.
Next step
Australian mixed-cropping operations concentrate in regional NSW, VIC, SA, WA, and QLD — all 491 and 494 eligible regions. If you have an offer or a target employer, start with the eligibility wizard. Want a registered MARA agent to map your specific situation? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.