Can my employer sponsor me as a mechanic in Australia?

If you’re working in Australia as a mechanic and would like to stay long-term, one of the possible options is to be sponsored by your employer. Fortunately, recent changes have made this pathway more accessible for mechanics.

Motor Mechanic is on the Core Skills Occupation List

The occupation motor mechanic (ANZSCO Code 321211) is included on the Core Skills Occupation List. This means that employers across both metropolitan and regional Australia can sponsor qualified/experienced mechanics for work visas.

Which visas can a mechanic apply for?

Mechanics may be eligible for several employer-sponsored visa options, including:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills stream & Specialist Skills stream

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) – Permanent residency pathway

• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) – Still available for those working in regional areas

What does your employer need to do?

To sponsor you, your employer must:

1. Be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or apply to become one (we can help with this)

2. Advertise the role for at least 4 weeks (labour market testing) (Contact us to check if you are eligible to skip this step)

3. Offer a salary that:

   • Meets at least the Core Skills Income Threshold: currently $76,515 from 1 July 2025; and

   • Meets or exceeds the market salary for a mechanic

4. Demonstrate that the role is genuine and that you meet the qualifications and experience required for the position

Additional requirements

• You must meet the English language requirement

• You’ll need to pass health and character checks

• You may need a licence to do certain types of mechanic work

• Your qualifications and experience must match those required under ANZSCO guidelines for the mechanic occupation

• A skills assessment may be required for mechanics from some countries (eg Philippines).

Already in Australia?

If you're already in Australia on a student visa, temporary graduate visa, working holiday visa, or bridging visa, you're in a stronger position to explore employer sponsorship. Being onshore allows you to build relationships with potential sponsors and negotiate directly with them.

Just be mindful of your current visa conditions and whether you're eligible to apply for a new visa from inside Australia.

How we can help

If your employer is interested in sponsoring you as a mechanic, we can help both you and your employer prepare the application. Book a free consultation with us to find out how we can assist.

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