What are my options in my occupation?
Your occupation code has to be settled before the visa subclass. Here are the occupations we see most often among Korean applicants.
The first thing decided in a migration consultation is not the visa subclass but the occupation code (ANZSCO). The code determines the qualifications and experience required, the assessing authority, and which visas you can apply for.
The same work often splits across different codes. In a kitchen, Chef and Cook are separate codes; in software, Software Engineer and Developer Programmer carry different requirements. Once you have lodged under a code it is difficult to change course, so getting this right at the outset matters.
- Occupation code
- 351311 (Chef) · 351411 (Cook)
- Assessing authority
- TRA (Trades Recognition Australia)
01Chefs and Cooks
Chef / Cook
One of the most common occupations among Korean applicants. Employer sponsorship is the main route, and regional areas offer more opportunities.
Pathways typically available
- Employer sponsorship: the restaurant becomes an approved sponsor and nominates the position. This is the most common route.
- Regional employer sponsorship (494): regional venues face acute staff shortages and tend to be more willing to sponsor.
- Regional skilled migration (491): state nomination carries a substantial points advantage.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- Chef and Cook are different codes with different levels of responsibility. Menu development, cost control and staff management point to Chef; a primarily hands-on cooking role points to Cook. Choosing the wrong one can undo the assessment.
- TRA assessments scrutinise employment evidence closely. Keep payslips, rosters and anything else that documents what you actually did.
- Experience in fast food or café work may be recognised only to a limited extent.
- Occupation code
- 2544xx (varies by specialty)
- Assessing authority
- ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council)
02Registered Nurses
Registered Nurse
Demand is consistent. What sets this field apart is that registration with AHPRA has to come before the migration process itself.
Pathways typically available
- Skilled Independent (189): available without a sponsor once you meet the points requirement.
- State Nomination (190): several states include nursing occupations on their nomination lists.
- Employer sponsorship: hospitals and aged care providers frequently sponsor directly.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- AHPRA registration is the real first hurdle. You need to confirm that your Korean qualification and registration meet Australian standards, and a bridging programme is sometimes required.
- English language requirements for nursing are often set higher than for other occupations.
- Codes are split by specialty, such as aged care, critical care and mental health.
- Occupation code
- 2332xx · 2335xx · 2333xx and others
- Assessing authority
- Engineers Australia
03Engineers
Engineer (Civil · Mechanical · Electrical)
Assessment is qualification-based, so the burden of documenting work experience is comparatively light. Independent skilled migration is well suited to this field.
Pathways typically available
- Skilled Independent (189): favourable where qualifications and English scores are strong.
- State Nomination (190 · 491): demand varies by state depending on infrastructure programmes.
- Employer sponsorship: engineering firms recruiting and nominating directly.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- Whether your degree is accredited under the Washington Accord changes how it is assessed. A Korean ABEEK-accredited degree can simplify the process considerably.
- Without an accredited degree you must prepare a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR), which is lengthy and demanding to write.
- The specialisation code you choose shapes every visa pathway that follows.
- Occupation code
- 2613xx · 2611xx and others
- Assessing authority
- ACS (Australian Computer Society)
04IT and Software Professionals
ICT Professional
A large field with varied pathways, but the competition is correspondingly intense. How much of your experience is recognised makes a substantial difference to the outcome.
Pathways typically available
- Skilled Independent (189) and State Nomination (190).
- Employer sponsorship: sponsorship is common across everything from startups to large employers.
- Building experience on a Temporary Graduate visa (485) and transitioning from there is a well-worn route.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- ACS deducts a period of your employment from the points calculation depending on how closely your degree relates to your work. Lodging an EOI without allowing for this leaves you with fewer points than expected.
- If your degree is not in IT, the deduction period is longer. Calculate it before you build a strategy around it.
- A mismatch between your actual duties and the code, such as applying as a Software Engineer when the role is really a business analyst, causes problems at assessment.
- Occupation code
- 3312xx · 3212xx · 3911xx and others
- Assessing authority
- TRA (Trades Recognition Australia)
05Trades
Trades (Carpenter · Mechanic · Hairdresser and others)
An area of persistent shortage in Australia. Practical experience and trade qualifications matter more than academic study.
Pathways typically available
- Employer sponsorship: direct nomination by an employer is the most common route.
- Regional pathways (491 · 494): demand in regional areas is particularly strong.
- State Nomination (190): trades frequently appear on state shortage lists.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- TRA assessments sometimes require a practical or on-site technical assessment. It may not end with documents alone.
- When evidencing Korean employment, objective records such as employment insurance history and social insurance records help considerably.
- Licensed trades such as electrical work require a separate state licence.
- Occupation code
- Determined by field of study
- Assessing authority
- Varies by field of study
06Students and Recent Graduates
Student / Graduate
Completing study in Australia, building experience on a Temporary Graduate visa (485) and moving on to permanent residence. Planning from the point you choose your course puts you well ahead.
Pathways typically available
- Temporary Graduate visa (485): work without employer restriction for a defined period after graduating.
- Use that period to build experience that raises your points score, or to secure employer sponsorship.
- Studying and living in a regional area attracts additional concessions.
Where applicants in this field actually get stuck
- The Temporary Graduate visa has a lodgement deadline after graduation. Miss it and there is no way back.
- Ideally, confirm that your course leads to an occupation on a skilled list before you enrol.
- Breaching the attendance and academic progress conditions on a student visa (condition 8202) can result in cancellation.