VETASSESS is the named assessor for ANZSCO 121399 — Livestock Farmers NEC — and the related livestock farmer codes in unit group 1213. The assessment is mandatory for both Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional pathways.
This guide is what VETASSESS actually checks, what fails, and how to assemble an evidence pack that clears the first review.
When to use 121399 vs a specific code
ANZSCO 121399 is a residual code. Before submitting, confirm that none of the specific 1213 codes fits your species:
- Beef Cattle Farmer (121312)
- Dairy Cattle Farmer (121313)
- Deer Farmer (121314)
- Goat Farmer (121315)
- Horse Breeder (121316)
- Mixed Livestock Farmer (121317) — for two or more of the above
- Pig Farmer (121318)
- Poultry Farmer (121321)
- Sheep Farmer (121322)
Code 121399 is for niche species — alpaca, llama, ostrich, emu, crocodile, kangaroo, buffalo, water buffalo, bison, donkey, mule, and emerging-species producers.
What VETASSESS assesses
Two dimensions: qualifications and employment. Both must align with the ANZSCO 121399 occupation profile published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Qualifications. A bachelor degree or higher in a discipline relevant to the specific species is preferred. Acceptable disciplines include agriculture, animal science, livestock production, veterinary science, or applied science with a livestock-management emphasis. Lower-level qualifications (Diploma, Advanced Diploma) may be assessed if combined with extensive relevant employment.
Employment. A minimum of five years post-qualification employment in livestock farming for the specific species — operating a farm, supervising production cycles, planning breeding, husbandry, animal health, and marketing. The most recent two years should be at a level matching the ANZSCO 121399 task profile.
The ANZSCO 121399 task profile
ABS defines the role as one that plans, organises, controls, coordinates and performs operations on livestock farms not elsewhere classified. VETASSESS maps your reference letters against:
- Selecting and managing breeding stock for the specific species
- Planning breeding cycles, husbandry routines, and herd/flock composition
- Managing pasture rotation or feedlot regimes, supplementary feeding, and water infrastructure
- Operating species-specific yards, fencing, and handling facilities
- Animal health programs — vaccination, parasite control, vet liaison, biosecurity
- Marketing the relevant product (meat, fibre, hide, oil, eggs, etc.)
- Recording financial and production data and preparing reports
- Maintaining knowledge of relevant legislation, biosecurity codes, animal welfare standards, and (where applicable) special permits — e.g., crocodile farming and wildlife trade requirements
A reference that says "worked with animals" without describing operational and decision authority for the specific species will not satisfy the assessor.
The evidence pack
A clean VETASSESS submission has four sections.
1. Identity and qualifications.
- Certified copy of passport bio page
- Certified copy of birth certificate (if name on passport differs from transcripts)
- Certified copies of degrees and academic transcripts
- Academic credential evaluation will be applied automatically by VETASSESS for non-Australian qualifications
2. Employment evidence.
- Detailed CV with every role, dates (DD/MM/YYYY), employer, location, reporting line
- Reference letter on company letterhead for each claimed role, signed by the owner, manager, or HR director (not by yourself, not by a direct subordinate)
- Each reference letter includes: exact role title, start and end dates, full-time / part-time status with hours per week, duties mapped to the ANZSCO 121399 task list and explicitly naming the species, signatory name, position, contact email, and direct phone
3. Salary and tax evidence.
- Tax returns or statements covering the claimed period
- Payslips for the most recent 12 months in each claimed role
- Bank statements showing salary credits matching payslips
4. Operational context.
- Photos or schematics of the operation showing acreage, facilities, and your role's scope
- Annual production data and sale records you authored or signed off on
- Any government licensing or compliance certificates for the operation in your name (PIC, biosecurity declarations, special-species permits)
Five rejection patterns
1. Reference letters with no task detail or no species name. "He worked here for five years" is not evidence. Each reference needs at least 250-400 words describing actual duties using language that mirrors the ABS task profile, and must explicitly name the species.
2. Code mismatch. If the species fits a specific code (Beef, Dairy, Sheep, etc.), VETASSESS may push you toward that code instead of 121399. Choose the right code from the start.
3. Mismatched qualification. A general agriculture or biology degree without livestock emphasis often gets assessed at a lower level. Get a VETASSESS Skills Assessment Points Test Advice review before paying for the full assessment if your qualification is borderline.
4. Identity-document drift. Names on passport, birth certificate, and academic transcripts must reconcile.
5. Reference signatory conflicts. Letters signed by direct reports or by yourself fail the independence test. The signatory must be senior to you or external (e.g., the farm owner).
How long it takes and what it costs
VETASSESS publishes its current processing times and fee schedule on its own website. Standard offshore fee is AUD 1,096 (current as of 22 October 2025). Priority processing adds AUD 824 for a 10 working day turnaround; standard processing is 8 to 12 weeks.
Always re-verify fees on the VETASSESS fees page before paying.
How the assessment fits the visa application
For Subclass 491 and 494, the VETASSESS positive assessment is one of the core requirements. Attach the assessment outcome letter in ImmiAccount.
For Subclass 191 (the PR conversion after 491 or 494), no fresh VETASSESS assessment is required as long as you have met the regional residence and income requirements during the provisional period.
Where VETASSESS sits in the regulatory map
VETASSESS is the largest of the assessing authorities Home Affairs accredits. The full list is published under Skills assessment for migration. For ANZSCO 121399 there is no second-choice authority.
To verify any migration agent advising you, search the MARA register.
Practical preparation order
- Confirm ANZSCO 121399 is the correct code — cross-check the ANZSCO search and rule out specific 1213 codes first
- Build the CV first; it tells you which roles need reference letters
- Draft the reference letters yourself, hand them to the signatory in Word format with dates and duties pre-filled, and explicitly naming the species
- Order certified document copies once everything is drafted
- Submit through the VETASSESS online portal in a single complete batch
For your end-to-end document plan, use the document checklist.
Next step
Want a registered MARA agent to review your VETASSESS evidence pack before you submit? Book a free 30-minute strategy call. We will spot the gaps an assessor would flag.