This is the 2026 pathway guide for migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 393311 — Upholsterer. 393311 sits on STSOL and CSOL with broad visa eligibility: 190 / 491 in 7 of 8 states (only SA does 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 393311
Upholsterer covers tradespeople who cover, pad, and finish furniture frames and seating with fabric, leather, vinyl, or other coverings. Typical scope:
Furniture upholstery (the largest segment)
- Sofa / lounge / sectional upholstery.
- Armchair / accent chair upholstery.
- Dining chair upholstery.
- Ottoman / footstool / bench seat upholstery.
- Bedroom (bedhead, ottoman storage) upholstery.
- Commercial seating (restaurant, hotel, theatre, healthcare).
- Office furniture (executive chairs, lounges, modular seating).
Vehicle upholstery
- Classic-car interior restoration (Mercedes / Jaguar / Aston Martin / Porsche / Bentley / Rolls-Royce / vintage Ford / Holden).
- Performance / custom car upholstery (track-day, race interior).
- Fleet vehicle re-upholstery (taxi, rideshare).
- Truck / commercial vehicle interiors.
Marine upholstery
- Boat lounges, helm seats, mate's seat, bow lounges.
- Yacht saloon upholstery.
- Cabin / V-berth / saloon cushions.
- Cockpit cushions.
Aircraft upholstery
- Commercial aircraft seating maintenance / refurbishment (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar maintenance facilities).
- Corporate / private jet interiors.
- Helicopter interiors.
Antique / period restoration
- Victorian / Edwardian / Art Deco / Mid-Century Modern restoration.
- Original-material reproduction (horsehair filling, hessian webbing, hand-tied springs).
- Museum / heritage piece restoration.
Specialty upholstery
- Headboard / bedhead upholstery (custom).
- Wall-panel upholstery (commercial fit-out).
- Sound-absorbing / acoustic upholstery.
Where it does NOT fit:
- Furniture cabinetry / woodworking: 394111 Cabinetmaker (different code).
- Canvas / boat-cover construction: 393111 Canvas Goods Fabricator.
- Sail-making: 393113 Sail Maker.
- Cutting fabric only (no upholstery): 393211 Apparel Cutter.
Skills lists and visas
393311 is listed on:
- STSOL (Short-Term Skilled Occupation List) — supports 190 / 491 / 482 / 494.
- CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List) — supports 186 Direct Entry and 482 Core Skills.
- NOT on MLTSSL — so Subclass 189 Independent is not available.
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 | ✓ (7 states) | State-nominated permanent |
| 491 Regional Provisional | ✓ (7 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
7 of 8 states nominate. Interestingly, WA does nominate 393311 (unlike many other trades where WA is closed) but SA does not (unusual — SA usually nominates trades).
Pathway A — Subclass 190 State-Nominated
For experienced upholsterers with strong points, 190 via state nomination is the realistic primary points-tested route to PR.
What you need:
- TRA OSAP skills assessment — Cert III in Upholstery / Furniture Industry — Upholstery + 3 years post-qualification.
- 65+ points (competitive scores 75-85+).
- Competent English minimum (Proficient / Superior recommended for points + state shortlist).
- EOI in SkillSelect + state nomination application.
- State commitment — most states require 2+ years commitment to nominating state.
Wall-clock: 14 to 22 months from EOI to grant typically.
Pathway B — Subclass 491 Regional Provisional
Same skills assessment, but 491 is a 5-year provisional visa requiring regional residence.
Mechanics:
- 491 provisional 5 years.
- 3 years cumulative regional + earnings threshold → 191 PR.
- Adds 15 points to EOI.
Pathway C — Subclass 186 Direct Entry
The fastest line to PR for offshore upholsterers with a sponsor offer. Mechanics:
- Sponsoring employer (accredited or standard business sponsor). Realistic Australian sponsors: King Living, Coco Republic, Jardan Furniture, Plush, Designs of Australia, classic-car restoration shops, marine upholstery operations.
- TRA OSAP skills assessment.
- Competent English.
- Under 45 at lodgement.
Wall-clock: 6 to 12 months. PR on grant.
Pathway D — Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored
For regional employer sponsorship. 5-year provisional with regional residence requirement; → 191 PR after 3 years regional + earnings threshold.
Realistic regional 494 sponsors: regional furniture manufacturers, classic-car restoration shops (Shepparton classic-car cluster Vic), regional marine canvas / upholstery operations, regional boutique upholstery shops.
Pathway E — Subclass 482 Core Skills
4-year temporary visa with employer sponsor. Transitions to 186 TRT after 2 years on 482 + 3 years cumulative.
Realistic prioritisation
| Pathway | When to pick |
|---|---|
| 186 Direct Entry | Senior upholsterer + sponsor offer ready. Fastest PR. |
| 190 (NSW / VIC / QLD / WA / NT / ACT / TAS) | Strong points (75+), no sponsor yet, target metro / regional. |
| 491 (any nominating state) | 65-75 points, willing to live regionally 3+ years. |
| 494 regional employer | Regional sponsor offer (regional furniture / classic-car / marine). |
| 482 Core Skills | Sponsor's safety net path. Builds toward 186 TRT. |
| 407 Training | Niche — specific training programs. |
For most overseas upholsterers: aim 190 if points competitive (NSW, VIC), fall back to 491 if not. Parallel-track 186 DE sponsor outreach throughout.
Australian upholstery industry reality in 2026
The Australian upholstery industry is fragmented but sustained across multiple segments:
Premium furniture manufacture
- King Living (Sydney metro + regional sites) — Australia's premier sofa / modular furniture maker. Sustained upholsterer recruitment.
- Coco Republic (Sydney metro) — premium furniture.
- Jardan Furniture (Melbourne metro) — premium Australian furniture.
- Plush (chain) — mass-market sofa retailer (some Australian-made).
- Snooze / Forty Winks suppliers — bed / headboard upholstery.
- Designs of Australia (Melbourne) — premium furniture.
- MCM House (Sydney) — modern furniture.
Commercial / hospitality seating
- Hotel chair / banquette / lobby seating manufacture.
- Restaurant booth / banquette upholstery.
- Theatre / cinema seat manufacture and refurbishment.
- Healthcare seating (specialist).
- Office furniture (Schiavello, Workspace Australia, Stylex / Burgtec).
Vehicle upholstery
- Classic-car restoration — Shepparton VIC (regional cluster), Hunter Valley NSW, Adelaide Hills SA. Mercedes / Jaguar / Aston Martin / vintage Holden / Ford restoration.
- Custom / performance car — Sydney / Melbourne metro custom shops.
- Fleet / commercial — taxi / rideshare re-upholstery, truck interior repair.
Marine upholstery
- Boat / yacht interior upholstery — Sunshine Coast (Mooloolaba), Gold Coast Marine Precinct (regional parts), Sydney metro (Pittwater), Hobart, Fremantle.
- Crossover with marine canvas operations.
Aircraft upholstery
- Qantas, Virgin Australia maintenance facilities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane metro).
- Corporate / private jet interior shops.
- Niche but premium pay.
Antique / heritage restoration
- Specialty restoration shops nationwide; regional artisan workshops.
- Museum / institutional restoration (Australian National Maritime Museum, Powerhouse, state museums).
Skills that travel well: traditional hand-tied spring construction (Victorian / Edwardian / Art Deco restoration), modern serpentine spring / sinuous spring construction, sewing on industrial walking-foot machines (Adler 367, Pfaff 1245, Juki LU-1508), buttoning (deep button, shallow button, tufting), French / English tufting, pattern matching for upholstered furniture, leather upholstery (whole hide), French seam / English seam / piping finishing techniques, fire-retardant fabric standards compliance (AS/NZS 3837 for commercial seating).
Practical 12-month sequence
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Confirm 393311 fit. Pull TRA OSAP requirements. |
| 2-4 | Sit English test (PTE / IELTS). Cert III + 3-year evidence assembly. Portfolio photos. |
| 3-7 | Lodge TRA OSAP. 4-6 months turnaround. |
| 4-9 | Sponsor outreach (King Living, Coco Republic, classic-car restoration shops, marine upholsterers). Parallel EOI for 190 / 491. |
| 8-15 | Sponsor offer or invitation. Visa lodged. |
| 8-22 | Visa grant. Relocate. |
For 186 DE, grant typically 6-12 months from sponsor offer.
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)
- Jobs and Skills Australia
- SkillSelect invitation rounds
- Furnishing Industry Association of Australia
Next step
Need a MARA agent to review your 393311 case? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.