This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Quarantine Officer / Biosecurity Officer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 311313. 311313 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 311313 cost & timeline case study. For VETASSESS document details see the skills assessment guide.
Step 1 — Confirm 311313 is the right code
ANZSCO 311313 covers biosecurity / quarantine work — inspecting incoming international passengers and their luggage at airports / seaports, inspecting imported cargo (containers, breakbulk, mail) for pest / disease / contamination risk, treatment supervision (fumigation, irradiation, cold treatment, heat treatment), live animal / plant import facility inspections, post-entry quarantine compliance, regional surveillance (fruit fly, varroa mite, fire ant, Khapra beetle, foot-and-mouth disease readiness), pest / disease detection in farms / nurseries / packing sheds, weed and invasive species programs, and emergency biosecurity response participation.
If you have a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and your work is primarily clinical animal-disease surveillance / regulation, you may also fit 234711 Veterinarian.
Step 2 — VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS (vetassess.com.au) handles 311313. Standard requirements:
- Qualification — at least AQF Bachelor degree (Bachelor of Agriculture / Plant Science / Animal Science / Environmental Science / Biology / Veterinary Science / Biosecurity).
- Skilled employment — at least 1 year highly relevant in the 5 years before applying (post-qualification).
- Reference letters must show majority time on inspection / biosecurity work.
Standard turnaround 12-16 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 311313 is on MLTSSL — confirm at EOI. 190 / 491 are realistic given the recruitment cycles of DAFF and state biosecurity agencies. Strong nomination markets:
- NSW — Sydney airport / Port Botany / parcel facilities, regional NSW DPI biosecurity.
- Vic — Melbourne airport / Webb Dock, Agriculture Victoria biosecurity.
- QLD — Brisbane airport / Port of Brisbane, Cairns airport (north QLD biosecurity hotspot), Biosecurity Queensland, regional banana / sugar / fruit fly work.
- WA — Perth airport / Fremantle Port, DPIRD WA biosecurity (particularly for unique WA pests).
- SA — Adelaide airport / Port Adelaide, PIRSA biosecurity (fruit fly).
- TAS — Hobart / Launceston / Devonport ports, NRE Tas biosecurity (foot-and-mouth, fruit fly readiness).
- NT — Darwin airport / Darwin port (top-end biosecurity, regional surveillance).
Subclass 186 / 494 / 482
Main 311313 employers are government — DAFF (Australian Government) and state biosecurity agencies. Private-sector sponsorship is rare. DAFF runs continuous APS-level recruitment for biosecurity officers (APS3 / APS4 / APS5 grades).
Some Approved Arrangement / quarantine treatment service providers (Genera, Sundoc, Bayer Crop Science fumigation services, Asia-Pacific Fumigation, Steritech irradiation) provide private-sector adjacent roles.
Step 5 — Score / Step 6 — Submit
Use points calculator. Lodge via SkillSelect.
Tools
Authoritative sources
Next step
Want to map your quarantine officer / biosecurity profile against 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.