Australian PR Points for Electricians, ANZSCO 341111
Figuring out the points required for Australian skilled migration can feel overwhelming. If you're an Electrician (ANZSCO 341111), your occupation sits on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This means you could be eligible for several visa subclasses, including the independent 189 visa, the state-nominated 190 visa, and the regional 491 visa.
It's important to remember that having enough points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) isn't the same as receiving an invitation. Your invitation probability depends on state policies, occupation ceilings, and who else is in the pool.
Subclass 189: Skilled Independent
Independent federal pathway
This visa doesn't require an employer or state to sponsor you. You compete purely on your points and skills in the national pool.
→ Read our 189 guideSubclass 190: State Nominated
+5 points for state nomination
If a state government nominates you, you gain extra points. You'll need to meet the specific state's criteria, which usually involves living and working there.
→ State-nominated (190) guideSubclass 491: Regional
+15 points for regional areas
A provisional visa for those willing to live and work in designated regional areas, offering a generous points boost to help you cross the threshold.
→ Regional (491) visa guideComparing Your Visa Pathways
| Category | Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|
| Nomination bonus | +0 points | +5 points | +15 points |
| Indicative range* | ~65 pts | ~65 pts | ~65 pts |
| Occupation list status | MLTSSL | MLTSSL | MLTSSL |
| Invitation frequency | Varies heavily | Varies by state | Varies by state |
| Primary assessing body | TRA | TRA | TRA |
* Note: The Department of Home Affairs doesn't regularly publish occupation-specific cutoffs for Electricians. Based on general historical patterns for this trade category, invitations have often gone to candidates at or near the 65-point minimum, but this is an indicative pattern, not a specific published figure — recent, occupation-specific data is not officially available.
→ Keep an eye on our invitation round tracker for the latest updatesGetting Your Skills Assessed
Before you can even lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI), you need a positive skills assessment. It's the critical first hurdle.
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) handles assessments for Electricians (General).
| Assessing body | Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) |
| Official portal | tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au |
| Processing time | ~120 days (MSA) · ~15 weeks (OSAP) · ~9 weeks (TSS) · 12+ months (Job Ready Program) |
| Approximate fee | Varies by pathway (roughly AUD $795 for a standard MSA up to several thousand dollars for OSAP/TSS or the Job Ready Program) — confirm current pricing on the TRA site |
| Assessment pathways | Migration Skills Assessment (MSA, onshore with qualifications), Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) or Test Skills Select (TSS) for offshore applicants, or the Job Ready Program for those without formal qualifications |
| Core requirement | Relevant qualification (like a Certificate III) and varying years of employment |
A crucial distinction: Passing your TRA skills assessment gives you the green light for immigration purposes, but it does not give you a licence to work as an electrician in Australia. State electrical licensing is a completely separate process governed by the individual states and territories, and you'll usually need an Australian work licence to secure a job.
A recent change worth knowing about
Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, effective 19 September 2026, put construction trades occupations (including Electrician) in the top priority tier for skilled visa application processing, alongside healthcare, teaching, defence, law enforcement, agriculture, and resources. This affects how fast your visa application is processed once you hold an invitation; it doesn't change invitation round cutoffs or your points score.
⚠ Watch your expiry dates: Your TRA skills assessment is generally valid for 3 years. It must still be valid on the day you receive your Invitation to Apply, not just the day you submit your EOI.
State Nomination Options for Electricians
State nomination lists change constantly. Don't assume that simply having an occupation on a state's list means you are guaranteed an invitation.
| State | 190 Available? | 491 Available? | Reality Check |
|---|
| NSW | Check current programme | Check current programme | Electrician (unit group 3411) appears on NSW's published skills list, but NSW's post-2023 model prioritises Health, Education, ICT, Infrastructure, and Agriculture over a fixed list, so confirm current standing directly. |
| VIC | Check current programme | Yes | Construction is a named priority sector for onshore applicants in Victoria's 2025-26 programme, but it isn't listed among the offshore priority sectors (health, social services, teaching). Requires a Registration of Interest (ROI) first. |
| QLD | Check current programme | Check current programme | We could not confirm Queensland's current occupation-specific status for this role. Check the Queensland skilled migration portal directly. |
| SA | Check current programme | Check current programme | We could not confirm South Australia's current occupation-specific status for this role. Check the SA skilled migration portal directly. |
| WA | Yes | Yes | WA has continued to invite Electricians through its General Stream; construction trades generally sit on WASMOL Schedule 2. A recent invite round picked up EOIs from a few months earlier at around 65 points. |
| TAS | Conditional | Conditional | Generally requires you to be living in Tasmania and meet local employment criteria. |
| ACT | Conditional | Conditional | Governed by the Canberra Matrix points system. |
| NT | Conditional | Conditional | Strongly prefers Northern Territory residents. |
Note: State occupation lists are fluid and update regularly. You must verify the latest criteria directly on the specific state's migration portal.
→ Unsure where to start? Check our guide on choosing a stateActionable Ways to Boost Your Points
If your score is feeling a little low, there are several concrete steps you can take to make your application more competitive.
1. Push for Superior English
If you're currently sitting at Proficient English (e.g., IELTS 7.0), aiming for Superior English (e.g., IELTS 8.0 or PTE 79) gives you a massive 10-point jump. It's often the most straightforward way to leapfrog the competition.
→ Master the English points test2. Consider Regional Areas (491)
If you're open to living outside the major cities like Sydney or Melbourne, applying for the 491 visa offers an instant 15-point bonus from the nominating region, bringing your total score up significantly.
→ Read more about the 491 visa3. Accumulate Australian Work Experience
Just one year of skilled onshore work experience adds 5 points to your tally. Crucially, working locally also makes you far more attractive to state governments for the 190 and 491 visas.
→ See all ways to increase pointsKeeping an Eye on Proposed Points Test Reforms
⚠ Fact Check: The government has published consultation papers regarding points test reform, but no new laws have passed. The current Schedule 6D system is what matters today.
You might have heard rumours about changes to the points test. The government's migration strategy and recent discussion papers talk about introducing a "Core Skills Pathway" and doing a better job of matching migrants' occupations to genuine domestic shortages.
While construction and infrastructure (which includes electricians) are widely acknowledged as shortage areas, we can't be certain exactly how this will translate into new points categories or salary thresholds until draft legislation is released.
→ Catch up on the latest points test reform news