For architects who want to migrate to Australia, we have outlined the procedures involved in applying for a permanent residency visa in Australia.
- Complete a qualification in the relevant field.
- Apply for skills assessment.
- Upon receiving a successful outcome by the skill assessing authority, you can proceed to apply for a visa in Australia.
Skills Assessment – Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
To be able to apply for a permanent residency visa, you are required to have a skills assessment. For architects, the skills assessing authority is the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). Below we will summarise the requirement of AACA.
Verification of Accredited Australian Qualifications in Architecture
AACA recognises some courses in Australia and overseas meets the academic requirement for an architect. AACA publishes on their website a list of accredited courses. The list can be found here.
If you have completed one of the accredited courses, you can apply under the Verification of Accredited Australian Qualifications in Architecture category. This process is relatively cheaper and faster than the other category.
Overseas Qualifications Assessment – Stage 1
If you hold an overseas qualification in architecture, it must be assessed by AACA to be compatible with Australian accredited architecture qualification.
The qualification must be completed through a coursework degree of a minimum of 5-year full-time study. If your qualification contains a compulsory period of practical experience, this practical does not contribute to the minimum period of study. Your qualification must also cover 6 prescribed core areas of study:
- Design study and Design Integration
- Documentation and Technical studies
- History and Theory studies
- Practice and Project Management, Implementation and User studies
- Environmental studies
- Communication studies
The overseas qualification involves two stages. However, for the purpose of migration purposes, you would only need to show a successful outcome in stage 1.
If you meet the above requirement, you should opt to apply for Overseas Qualifications Assessment – Stage 1.
Potential PR Pathway
Architect is on the medium and long-term strategic skills list. This means there are more potential PR visas that you can apply for.
Skilled visas:
Points will be given to you based on the following:
- Age
- Educational Qualifications
- Points for Professional Year
- Points for NAATI- Credentialled Community Language
- Points for 2 Year Study
- Points for English
- Points for Regional Study
- Points for Work Experience
- Points for Specialist Educational Qualifications (STEM)
- Points for Partner
Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa
This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. It is a points tested visa. The minimum score to apply is 65 points. However, based on the previous round of invitation, you would need to achieve a score of at least 90 points to increase your chance of obtaining an invitation.
Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
Similar to the Subclass 189 visa, this visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently too. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. For the subclass 190 visa, you must have a state who is willing to nominate you. States have their own occupation list. If architect is on the state occupation list and you meet all the state’s eligibility criteria, you can apply to the state to nominate you.
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
Although this visa is not permanent. It can lead to a permanent visa (Subclass 191 – Skilled Regional Visa). The Subclass 491 visa allows you to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. Another criterion of this visa is that you are nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible relative. To be nominated by the state, you must check the state’s occupation list and meet all the state’s requirements. To be sponsored by your eligible relative, your relative must be a usual resident in a designated regional area of Australia.
Employer Sponsored visas:
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional Visa)
You can apply for subclass 494 if you have a regional employer who is willing to sponsor you. To be eligible for this visa, you must have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and have a relevant skills assessment. With this visa, there is a requirement that you must work for the employer who is sponsoring you.
Subclass 191 -Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa
This visa will come into effect on 16 November 2022. It is for people who holds a Subclass 491 visa or Subclass 494 visa who have lived, worked or studied in the designated regional area for at least 3 years with a taxable income at or above $53,900. This visa will allow you to live work and study in Australia permanently.
Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
If you have an employer who is willing to sponsor you, you may be eligible for a Subclass 186 visa. This visa is permanent and will allow you to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. To be eligible for this visa, you need to have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and a positive skills assessment. Alternatively, if you are a holder of a Subclass 457 or TSS visa, you can apply for Subclass 186 after working for your employer for at least 3 years.
