This is a worked case study for a Ship's Engineer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 231212. Pathways: Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482 Core Skills.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 231212 pathway guide and the AMSA skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 38-year-old senior Chief Engineer, STCW III/2 Chief Engineer (>3000 kW) certificate. 14 years professional career: 4 years cadet / Watch Keeper STCW III/3 on UK / Norwegian OSV operations, 5 years Second Engineer STCW III/1 on AHTS / PSV vessels in North Sea, 5 years Chief Engineer STCW III/2 on construction / DP-2 OSVs in West Africa / Brazil. PTE 70+. Family: spouse + one child under 18.
Pathway A — Subclass 186 Direct Entry (fastest)
Fees (primary + spouse + 1 child)
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| AMSA Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | 800-1,500 |
| 186 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,595 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| STCW renewals (basic safety, AFF, medical) | 1,500-3,000 |
| Total applicant-side | ~11,945 - 14,145 |
Employer SAF levy: AUD 5,000 (large business — Solstad, MMA, Svitzer, ANL) one-off, plus AUD 540 nomination fee.
Total wall-clock time: 6 to 18 months from offer to PR.
Pathway B — Subclass 482 Core Skills → 186 TRT
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| 482 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,025 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| 186 TRT visa fees (family of 3) | 8,595 |
| Total applicant-side | ~17,670 |
Employer SAF levy: AUD 1,200-5,000/year on 482 + AUD 3,000-5,000 one-off on 186. Total wall-clock time: 30-36 months.
Pathway C — Subclass 494 → 191
Strong regional pathway — Karratha / Broome / Dampier (offshore O&G), Port Hedland / Dampier (iron ore export), Gladstone / Townsville (LNG / coal export), Darwin (Inpex Ichthys), Devonport / Hobart (TasPorts). Total wall-clock time: ~60 months.
Side-by-side
| Path | Applicant cost | Employer cost | Wall-clock to PR | AMSA conversion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 Direct Entry | AUD ~13,000 | AUD 5,540 | 6-18 months | Yes |
| 482 → 186 TRT | AUD ~17,670 | AUD 9,000-25,000+ | 30-36 months | Yes |
| 494 → 191 | AUD ~14,000 | AUD 6,000-25,540 | ~60 months | Yes |
Note: 189 / 190 / 491 are CLOSED for 231212.
Things that frequently surprise people
WA offshore O&G is the largest single sponsor pool. North West Shelf operations from Karratha / Broome generate substantial PSV / AHTS / construction-vessel engineer demand at Solstad Offshore, MMA Offshore, and Inpex charter operators.
ASC submarine programme is a real engineer employer. ASC Pty Ltd / Naval Shipbuilding — submarine sustainment and Hunter-class frigate programmes.
Austal in Henderson WA. Defence shipbuilding — Patrol Boats, Cape-class, Pacific Patrol Boat programme.
TasPorts Spirit of Tasmania. TT-Line operates Bass Strait passenger ferries — major Tasmanian engineer employer.
Iron ore self-discharge fleet — Rio Tinto Marine, BHP shipping, Fortescue Metals fleet operations from Pilbara.
Svitzer Australia tug operations. Major capital and regional ports.
DP-2 / DP-3 certified engineers in highest demand. Construction-vessel and dive-support vessel programmes need DP-rated engineers.
Code matters. ANZSCO 231212 is engine room. Deck = 231214. Master = 231213. Surveyor (shore) = 231215.
Health examinations expire after 12 months. If your visa takes longer than 12 months to grant, expect to redo them.
Tax residency starts on arrival. The Australian tax year runs 1 July to 30 June. See ATO residency rules before signing.
MARA registration is mandatory for paid migration assistance. Verify any agent at the MARA register.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator — model 186, 494, or 482 fees
- Document checklist — AMSA evidence pack
- ANZSCO search — confirm 231212 vs 231214 / 231215
- Eligibility wizard — quick scan
- Invitation rounds tracker — context only
Where to verify the numbers
- Home Affairs visa pricing page
- AMSA Recognition of Foreign Qualifications
- AMSA
- Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers
- Office of MARA
- ATO
Next step
Want to model 186 vs 494 vs 482 against your engineer officer profile, CoC class, and DP / tanker / IAS endorsements? Book a 30-minute free strategy call. We will work through pathway choice and walk through your AMSA conversion readiness.