Welding is an in-demand skilled occupation across many industries in Australia. As a result, welder jobs in Australia often sponsor skilled worker visas, providing an opportunity for qualified international welders to gain permanent residency.
In-Demand Welding Occupation in Australia
Australia has a strong manufacturing and construction sector that relies heavily on welding. Some key industries that employ welders include:
- Shipbuilding: Australia has a large shipbuilding industry focused on commercial vessels, ferries, defense contracts, and offshore oil/gas rigs. Major shipyards are located in states like Victoria and Western Australia.
- Oil/Gas: Welding plays a vital role in the fabrication and maintenance of offshore oil/gas rigs and pipelines. Australia has significant oil/gas reserves in places like Western Australia.
- Mining: Mining is a pillar of the Australian economy. Welding skills are needed to build and service heavy machinery, trucks, conveyor systems, and mining infrastructure.
- Infrastructure: Large-scale infrastructure projects like bridges, tunnels, and power plants require extensive welding. Australia has ongoing investment in public works.
- Manufacturing: Various manufacturing sectors like automotive, rail, food processing, and heavy equipment employ welders.
- Construction: Commercial and residential construction creates ongoing demand for welders in structural, metal fabrication, and specialty welding roles.
The Australian Government recognizes welding as an in-demand skilled occupation. Obtaining qualification assessment and relevant work experience makes international welders eligible for employer-sponsored visas to fill labor shortages.
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Skilled Visa Options for Welders
International welders looking to gain permanent residency in Australia through skilled employment generally have two primary visa pathways:
1. Temporary Skilled Visa (TSS)
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa allows skilled workers to gain temporary residency and work for an approved sponsoring employer in Australia for up to 4 years. Some key aspects:
- Must have a valid full-time job offer from an approved Australian sponsor.
- Salary must meet the industry pay level ($53,900 for welding as of 2022).
- Initial visa duration is up to 2 years, eligible for further extensions up to 4 years total.
- Provides a pathway to subsequent permanent residency visas if certain requirements are met.
2. Direct Permanent Residency (PR)
The Direct Entry Stream of the Permanent Residence (PR) visa pathway offers a fast track to permanent residency without needing an initial temporary skilled visa. Key characteristics:
- Must have a valid full-time job offer from an approved Australian sponsor.
- Minimum of 3 years relevant skilled work experience in nominated occupation.
- Offer of permanent employment for at least three years with the same sponsor.
- Salary must meet a higher income threshold ($104,300 for welding as of 2022).
- Grants permanent residency right away upon approval.
Let’s examine these options in more detail.
Temporary Skilled Visa (TSS)
The TSS visa is a very common pathway for skilled workers to gain temporary work rights and test living/working in Australia before committing to permanent residency. As an added benefit, it offers a direct route to subsequent permanent visas.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a TSS visa as a welder, you need to:
- Hold a relevant trade qualification assessed as comparable to Australian standards. Welding qualifications from countries like Canada, UK, and the USA are typically assessed positively.
- Have a minimum of 1-2 years post-qualification skilled work experience in welding – the more experience, the better for your application.
- Secure a genuine full-time job offer in your welding occupation from an approved Australian sponsoring employer.
- Meet the minimum salary threshold of $53,900 per annum, which is the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for welding.
- Meet English language requirements – minimum IELTS test scores of Overall 5.0 with no individual band less than 4.5.
- Meet the health, character, and other standard requirements.
- Pay the visa application fees, which are currently around $7,715 AUD.
Applying and Conditions
If you meet eligibility, your sponsoring employer will need to submit the complete nomination and visa application on your behalf. The application process typically takes 6-12 months for assessment.
Upon approval, you can initially move to Australia for up to 2 years on the TSS visa. You are permitted to work only for your sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation and location.
After the first two years, you can apply to extend the TSS visa for up to an additional two years if continuing to meet the conditions. This allows up to 4 years maximum on the TSS before needing to make subsequent visa decisions.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
The huge advantage of gaining temporary residency through a TSS visa is it offers a direct and eligible pathway to permanent residency via either the:
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
- skilled Regional visa (subclass 191)
- skilled Work visa (subclass 887).
If you meet the necessary requirements after the initial two years on a TSS, you can apply for permanent residency without needing to requalify your skills or experience. This provides a fast-track PR process for eligible temporary skilled workers.
Direct Permanent Residency PR Visa
For welders with higher qualifications and experience, applying directly for permanent residency offers an accelerated path without needing an initial temporary visa. However, eligibility requirements are more stringent.
Eligibility Requirements
Some key eligibility requirements for the Direct Entry Stream PR visa include:
- Minimum of 3 years post-qualification skilled work experience specific to your welding occupation.
- A genuine job offer for permanent full-time employment in Australia for at least three years from an approved sponsoring employer.
- Your salary from the job offer must meet a higher threshold of AUD$104,300 per annum, which is the Permanent Migration Income Threshold.
- Other standard requirements like relevant qualifications, English, health, and character checks are also assessed.
Applying and Conditions
The application process follows a similar nomination and visa application approach as the TSS visa. However, you are assessed at a higher skilled migration level.
If approved, the Direct PR visa grants you an instant permanent resident visa with most of the same rights as Australian citizens. You can indefinitely live and work in any occupation or location in Australia.
For welders with solid high-skilled qualifications and experience, this Direct PR pathway provides the quickest route to permanent residency without needing a preliminary temporary visa first. However, meeting the higher salary and experience standards presents a greater challenge.
Key Steps to Apply
Now that we’ve examined the two main visa options let’s walk through the practical steps welders need to take to potentially gain sponsorship through employer-nominated skilled migration:
- Ensure you meet baseline eligibility requirements for a skilled assessment:
- Obtain verification your welding qualifications equate to Australian standards.
- Compile documentation of your relevant post-qualification welding work experience.
- Begin your skills assessment application process with the relevant assessing authority, like Trades Recognition Australia.
- Once an initial positive skills assessment is issued, register your details on job databases like Seek to gain job search visibility.
- Use your network or directly apply for advertised welding jobs in Australia sponsored by approved employers.
- If offered a full-time permanent or long-term contract welding role, the employer will need to apply for Labour Market Testing and file a nomination application on your behalf.
- After nomination approval, you will need to complete the temporary or permanent skilled visa application, demonstrating you meet all requirements.
- If approved, prepare for your big move to launch your welding career in Australia! Serve an initial living and working visa if on a TSS first.
- Maintain your job, salary, and other conditions to remain eligible for further visa extensions or permanent residency pathways as applicable to your visa type.
This covers the basic process, but let’s examine some steps in more depth.
Skills Assessment
Most skilled assessments for welding occupations are conducted by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). They assess trade qualifications and experience from countries worldwide against Australian standards.
For welders, the key assessment types include:
- Vocational Graduate: For welders holding a formal trade/diploma welding qualification.
- Vocational Competency: For welders with extensive work experience but no formal qualification.
- Skill Assessment: For general skilled migration assessment of your welding occupation.
The assessment process typically involves:
- Submitting detailed documentation of welding qualifications, transcripts, and work references
- Undergoing an online or in-person practical skills test to verify competency in core welding tasks like shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and others.
- Structured interviews to assess knowledge of welding processes, codes, materials, plans, quality control procedures, and occupational health and safety.
- Consideration of any post-qualifying trade experience, apprenticeships, training programs, and professional development activities.
TRA aims to complete most welding skills assessments within six months. A positive skills assessment letter forms the backbone of your subsequent visa applications, confirming your welding trade is assessed as suitably skilled for nominated occupations in Australia.
It’s important to submit complete and clearly presented documentation from the outset to avoid delays getting assessed. Consulting a registered migration agent can help optimize your assessment application.
With a positive assessment in hand, you become eligible to search actively for sponsoring employment opportunities and potentially gain residency through an employer-nominated visa.
Finding Employer Sponsorship
The next stage involves identifying employers willing to sponsor your skilled visa application through a nomination process. Some effective methods include:
- Browsing official job search databases like Seek, Indeed, and Totaljobs regularly for advertised sponsored welding roles.
- Directly contact major fabrication, manufacturing, and construction companies operating in your relevant industry sectors.
- Leveraging professional networks through alumni associations, LinkedIn, industry events, and conferences.
- Consider state nomination opportunities if prepared to work rurally for two years initially. Some states struggle to attract welders.
- Highlighting any additional skills beyond welding, like technical certificates, leadership training, and knowledge of industrial processes that add wider job value.
When identifying roles, pay close attention to sponsors approved by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to lodge skilled nominations and applications on your behalf.
It’s a competitive process, but with persistence and the right preparation and presentation, it’s possible to secure the employer sponsorship vital for gaining Australian residency as a skilled welder.
Residence Transition Stages
If approved for a temporary or permanent skilled visa, you will enter Australia and progress through various transition stages on your welding career and residency pathway. Understanding these will help set your priorities and meet the conditions:
Initial Arrival: Your key focus is relocating to commence work with your sponsor, settling into living in Australia, and acclimating to your new job/workplace.
2-Year Mark (TSS visa only): You will need to secure a new health exam, remain employed with your original sponsor, and potentially progress your visa to the second 2-year phase.
3-Year Mark: For PR pathways, you should now qualify to apply for permanent residency transition visas without needing to requalify your skills.
5-Year Mark: Permanent residents are eligible for Australian citizenship application and voting/passport privileges after living here for four continuous years.
Ongoing Employment: Maintaining consistent full-time welding work with your approved sponsor or subsequent eligible employer preserves your residency eligibility long-term.
Careful compliance with conditions at each stage helps ensure your continued progression toward permanent residency and beyond as a professional welder based in Australia.
Key advantages of becoming a skilled welder in Australia:
By gaining residency through employer-nominated skilled visa pathways, welders gain access to considerable opportunities and rewards including:
- Job Security: Skilled welding roles are consistently in high demand nationwide due to industry and infrastructure growth.
- Develop New Skills: Further training subsidies are available to progress training, certifications, and specializations to boost career earnings in the long term.
- High Wages: Average skilled welder salaries in Australia are over $80k AUD, which has strong buying power. Overtime is also common.
- Career Mobility: Residency rights provide the ability to shift easily between employers, sectors, and states for better prospects as your skills evolve.
- Benefits: Residents gain access to public healthcare, pension entitlements, and other subsidized benefits not available in most other countries.
- Lifestyle: A clean environment, excellent schools, multicultural communities, and warm climate make Australia an attractive place to live long-term.
- Family: Eligible residency visas allow dependents like spouses/children to also relocate with access to work rights and education.
This presents an enviable opportunity to experience rewarding career progression and high living standards through utilizing welding talents in Australia’s thriving industries and labor market.
APPLY NOW
If you’re ready to take action and pursue employer-sponsored residency in Australia through welding opportunities, there are a few key application sites to consider:
Skills Assessment Application
Trades Recognition Australia
www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au
Apply for a relevant skills assessment that verifies your welding qualifications and experience.
Job Search Websites
Seek
www.seek.com.au
Indeed Australia
www.indeed.com.au
Browse regularly for advertised welding roles sponsored by approved Australian employers.
Register With State Governments
Each state and territory government provides skilled occupation lists identifying areas of welder shortages, plus visa support services for migrants relocating regionally:
New South Wales
www.invest.nsw.gov.au
Victoria
www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au
Queensland
www.queensland.com
Contact relevant state representatives for tailored advice on finding welding roles to gain employer sponsorship.
Start taking active steps now towards launching your Australian welding career and permanent residency journey. With focus and determination, sponsored skilled visas are achievable for qualified international welders.
FAQs about Welder Jobs and Australian Skilled Visas
Here are answers to some common questions:
1. How much experience do I need as a welder to qualify?
Most skilled assessment pathways for welding require a minimum of one to two years post-qualification work experience. The Direct Entry PR visa demands three or more years of relevant trade experience. The more experience, the stronger your application.
2. What welding qualifications are recognized?
Welding qualifications assessed as comparable to an Australian Certificate III, II, or Advanced Diploma in Engineering – Welding Technology are typically suitable. Canada, UK, USA, and EU certifications are commonly verified positively. Check your specific qualifications with TRA.
3. How long does the whole visa process take?
The total timeframe depends on your specific visa type and situational factors, but on average, 6-12 months for skills assessment, 4-6 months for employer nomination, and 6-12 months for visa processing. Aim for 18 months minimum total processing when commencing your application.
4. Do I need to find a job before applying?
For the Temporary Skilled or Direct Permanent Residency visas, you must secure a genuine full-time job offer in your nominated welding occupation from an approved sponsoring Australian employer before applying. Gaining this critical sponsorship is a mandatory step.
5. What regions have welding job opportunities?
Major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and some regional centers have construction and manufacturing hubs seeking welders. Resource states like WA, QLD, and mining towns can offer higher salaries but isolation. Evaluate sponsor locations carefully based on your specific industry experience.
