This is a worked case study for a Systems Administrator migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 262113. Multiple pathways: Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 491 → 191, Subclass 186, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 262113 pathway guide and the ACS skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 32-year-old Senior Systems Administrator, BSc Computer Science + AZ-104 + RHCE + ITIL. 9 years professional career: 3 years junior sysadmin, 4 years Windows + AD admin in MSP, 2 years senior sysadmin running hybrid Azure / on-prem fleet of 800 servers. Proficient English (targeting Superior). Family: spouse + one child under 18.
Side-by-side
| Path | Applicant cost | Employer cost | Wall-clock to PR | ACS required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | AUD ~10,500 | AUD 0 | 12-18 months | Yes |
| 190 | AUD ~11,000 | AUD 0 | 12-18 months | Yes |
| 186 DE | AUD ~10,500 | AUD 5,540 | 6-12 months | Yes |
| 491 → 191 | AUD ~12,000 | AUD 0 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 494 → 191 | AUD ~12,000 | AUD 6,000-25,540 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 482 → 186 TRT | AUD ~17,000 | AUD 9,000-25,000+ | 30-36 months | Yes |
Things that frequently surprise people
Telstra, Optus, NBN Co. Tier-1 telcos run very large infra teams.
Big-4 banks (CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB). Heavy infra hiring around hybrid Azure migration.
MSPs — NTT, DXC, Accenture, Datacom, Brennan IT. Sponsor 482s for senior sysadmins with niche stacks.
Health examinations expire after 12 months.
Tax residency starts on arrival. See ATO residency rules before signing.
MARA registration is mandatory for paid migration assistance. Verify any agent at the MARA register.
