For quantity surveyors who wants to migrate to Australia, we have outlined the procedures involved in applying for a permanent residency visa in Australia.
- Complete a quantity surveying qualification.
- In some cases, you may have to work for at least 2 years as a quantity surveyor.
- Depending on the qualification and work experience, apply for skill assessments under the relevant pathways.
- Upon receiving a successful outcome by the skill assessing authority, you can proceed to apply for a visa in Australia.
Skills Assessment – Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
To be able to apply for a permanent residency visa, you are required to have a skill assessment. For quantity surveyors, the skill assessing authority is the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS). AIQS has different skills assessment pathways depending on your qualification and work experience. Below we will summarise for you the different pathways:
Australian Accredited Qualification
Graduates of some courses in Australia are recognised by the AIQS to have adequately met the academic requirements for a quantity surveyor. This accreditation is offered to some post-graduate as well as undergraduate courses in Australia. AIQS also recognises bachelor’s degree in the field of quantity surveying from RMIT University in Singapore and Hong Kong as well as University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. You can find the full list of accredited qualification here.
If you have completed a qualification accredited by AIQS, then you should opt for the Australian Accredited Qualification when applying for the skills assessment.
Non- Accredited Australian Qualification with Minimum Two Years of Employment
There are quantity surveying Bachelor or Post- graduate degrees in Australia that are not accredited by the AIQS. If you have completed a non-accredited qualification and the qualification is completed in Australia, you must show that you have at least 2 years of full-time post-qualification experience in quantity surveying.
If you are in the above circumstances, you must apply for skills assessment under the Non- Accredited Australian Qualification with Minimum Two Years of Employment pathway. Similarly, if you hold an accredited qualification but would like to have your work experience assessed, you need to apply under this pathway.
Overseas Qualified Applicants with Minimum Two Years of Employment
For overseas quantity surveyors, you must hold a Bachelor Degree (equivalent to Australian Qualification Framework Level 7) or a Post-graduate degree in the field of Quantity Surveying/ Construction Management & Economics. In addition to the qualification, you must demonstrate that you have at least 2 years of full-time post-qualification experience in quantity surveying.
If you meet the above criteria, you should opt to apply for the skill assessment under the Overseas Qualified Applicants with Minimum Two Years of Employment pathway.
Current Financial Corporate Member of AIQS or Recognised Association with Minimum One Year of Employment
Current AIQS Corporate members who hold the membership and since the membership worked in quantity surveying for at least 12 months on a full-time basis can apply for skills assessment under this pathway. Note that employment prior to receiving the membership cannot be assessed under this pathway.
Potential PR Pathways
Quantity Surveyor 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. However, based on the previous round of invitation, you would need to achieve a score of at least 90 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 quantity surveyor 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.
