This is a worked case study for a Ship's Officer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 231214. Pathways: Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482 Core Skills.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 231214 pathway guide and the AMSA skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 33-year-old Chief Mate, STCW II/2 Chief Mate Unlimited certificate, DP basic endorsement. 11 years professional career: 4 years cadet / OOW on UK / Norwegian shipping, 4 years 2nd Officer on container / bulk, 3 years Chief Mate on AHTS / DP-2 PSV operations in North Sea / 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, ECDIS) | 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 — same regional WA / QLD / NT / TAS clusters as Master. 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 231214.
Things that frequently surprise people
Career progression toward Master is the standard upward arc. Chief Mate today, Master Mariner II/2 in 3-5 years with continued sea time + STCW exam — at which point you can re-code as 231213.
WA offshore O&G is the largest single sponsor pool for Chief Officer / 2nd Officer roles — same operators as Master / Engineer.
Svitzer Australia tug fleet is significant. Tug Officer / Mate roles across major Australian export ports.
TT-Line / SeaLink passenger — RoRo passenger ferry sector employs deck officers.
DP Officer demand is highest. DP-2 / DP-3 OSV / construction-vessel watch keepers most sought after.
Code matters. ANZSCO 231214 is deck officer below master. Master = 231213. Engineer = 231212. Surveyor / shore = 231215. Fishing = 231211.
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 231214 vs 231213 / 231212 / 231215
- Eligibility wizard — quick scan
- Invitation rounds tracker — context only
Where to verify the numbers
Next step
Want to model 186 vs 494 vs 482 against your deck officer profile and CoC class? Book a 30-minute free strategy call. We will work through pathway choice and walk through your AMSA conversion readiness.