This is the 2026 TRA skills assessment guide for ANZSCO 399514 — Make Up Artist. For visa pathway selection see the 399514 pathway guide; for cost / timeline see the case study. For state nomination see the comparison; for invitation patterns see the invitation rounds trends.
TRA pathway summary
399514 routes through TRA.
| Program | Components | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| OSAP (Offshore) | Technical interview + Practical | 4-6 months |
| TSS Skills Assessment | Documents + practical demonstration | 8-12 weeks |
| JRP (Job Ready Program) | 4 stages over 12 months | 12-18 months |
Cost: ~AUD 4,000-4,500.
Benchmark qualification
- Cert IV in Make-Up (SHB40115 / successor) — primary qualification.
- Diploma of Specialist Make-Up Services — advanced.
- Cert III in Make-Up — entry-level (may not meet 3-year requirement).
Specialist Australian training delivered by Cosmetic Studio Sydney, Australasian College Broadway Sydney, Australasian College Adelaide / Brisbane, Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy.
Overseas qualifications that map
| Country | Qualification |
|---|---|
| UK | NVQ Level 3 Make-Up, City & Guilds Specialist Make-Up Artistry, Delamar Academy / BBC Make-Up & Hair / Iver Make-Up Academy graduate |
| USA | Joe Blasco / Cinema Makeup School (Los Angeles) graduate, IATSE Local 706 (Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild) records |
| Italy | Diploma di Make-Up + Make-Up Designory / Marco Aldany academy records |
| France | CAP Esthétique-Cosmétique-Parfumerie + makeup specialty |
| India | Lakmé Academy / Pearl Academy makeup specialty + 3+ years experience |
| Philippines | TESDA NC III in Beauty Care (Make-Up) |
| NZ | NZQA Cert in Make-Up + 3+ years experience |
Without Cert IV equivalent, TRA may require RPL.
Required documents
- Qualification certificate with transcripts.
- Detailed CV mapped to 399514 — every production / client, dates, role, specialty.
- Employment reference letters on production / studio / salon letterhead.
- Identity (passport bio page).
- Payslips / tax records / employment contracts.
- Professional portfolio — 20-30 high-quality paired images (beauty / SFX / fashion / bridal / film / TV). Instagram / website portfolio.
- Production credits / IMDb (where applicable).
- MAC Pro / Bobbi Brown / NARS / Charlotte Tilbury / Make Up For Ever Pro membership records.
- IATSE Local 706 / BECTU make-up union memberships.
- Specialty training records — SFX (Joe Blasco / Cinema Makeup School), airbrush, period make-up.
- WHS / OHS training — chemical (latex / silicone / pigments), sanitation / sterilisation.
- English test — Vocational English minimum.
Employment evidence — what TRA wants
3 years post-qualification trade employment. Reference letters must specify by production type:
- Film / TV make-up — "Worked as [HOD / Key / Assistant] make-up on [production]; managed continuity make-up; HD / 4K camera-ready; coordinated with DOP / camera + lighting; daily call sheet."
- SFX / prosthetic make-up — "Applied prosthetic make-up [silicone / gelatin / foam latex] on [production]; sculpted appliances; aging / monster / wound effects; collaborated with sculptor + mold-maker."
- Fashion / editorial — "Make-up for [magazine] editorial / fashion campaign / runway show; collaborated with photographer + stylist + art director."
- Bridal — "Conducted bridal trial sessions + wedding-day make-up; managed [X] weddings per season; coordinated with hairstylist + photographer."
- Theatre / opera / ballet — "Make-up for [theatre / opera / ballet production]; high-contrast stage make-up; period / character make-up; quick changes between scenes."
- TVC / commercial — "Make-up for TVC productions; brand-specific look development; coordinated with director / DOP / agency producer."
Generic "did make-up" wording does not pass TRA review. Detail by production / project, specialty technique, collaboration.
OSAP — what to expect
Phase 1 (technical interview): make-up theory (skin tone, colour theory, undertones, brushwork, blending), product knowledge (foundation, concealer, brushes, application techniques), SFX theory, HD make-up principles, hygiene / sanitation, OHS.
Phase 2 (practical at RTO test centre): demonstrate make-up application — typically beauty + character or SFX demonstration.
Vendor / industry certifications
Strongly recommended:
- MAC Pro Artist / Bobbi Brown / NARS / Charlotte Tilbury Pro membership.
- Make Up For Ever Pro membership.
- Joe Blasco / Cinema Makeup School (SFX specialty) records.
- IATSE Local 706 (USA) / BECTU (UK) make-up union memberships.
- AICCM (Australia) for film conservation makeup crossover.
English requirements
TRA OSAP: Vocational English minimum.
Home Affairs 190 / 491: Competent English. Proficient / Superior adds significant EOI points.
Common pitfalls
- Trying VETASSESS — TRA is the pathway.
- Hairdresser background only — different code (391111 Hairdresser).
- Beauty therapist background — different code (451111).
- Influencer / amateur portfolio — not professional employment evidence.
- No production credits / portfolio.
Tools
Authoritative sources
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- Home Affairs visa pricing
- Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Australia
- Screen Australia
Next step
Need a MARA agent to plan your TRA OSAP submission? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.