ICT Support and Test Engineers nec Visa Pathway Australia

Australia classifies ICT Support and Test Engineers nec under ANZSCO 263299. The Australian Computer Society (ACS) conducts the skills assessment. The occupation sits on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), unlocking subclasses 190, 491, 482, 186 and 494 but excluding the 189 independent pathway. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $85,000-$130,000. Employer sponsorship is the dominant route because the 189 is not available.

Quick Facts: ICT Support and Test Engineers nec Migration Pathway

What ICT Support and Test Engineers Do in Australia

The 263299 code captures ICT engineering work that does not fit cleanly into a primary unit-group code such as ICT Systems Test Engineer (263213), ICT Quality Assurance Engineer (263211) or ICT Support Engineer (263212). Applicants under this code typically work across blended functions: test automation that crosses into DevOps, support engineering that includes infrastructure design, or hybrid QA roles that include performance and security testing.

Demand sits in three clusters. The four major banks (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ) run very large internal test and release engineering teams. Telecom carriers and managed service providers (Telstra, Optus, TPG, NCS Australia, DXC, Kyndryl) recruit support and test engineers in volume, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Government agencies and defence primes hire test engineers cleared to work on classified systems, with Canberra and Adelaide the main hubs.

Engineers who can move between supporting production environments, writing automated test suites in Python or JavaScript, and triaging complex incidents earn the strongest salaries. The role rewards generalists.

ANZSCO Code Mapping for 263299

The 263299 code is a "not elsewhere classified" residual within Unit Group 2632 (ICT Support and Test Engineers). The unit group's primary codes are:

• 263211 ICT Quality Assurance Engineer — develops standards and procedures to ensure quality of ICT systems
• 263212 ICT Support Engineer — investigates and resolves complex problems in ICT systems and applications
• 263213 ICT Systems Test Engineer — specifies, develops and writes test plans and scripts, and tests system modifications

The 263299 code is used when an engineer's duties span the unit group but do not cleanly match any primary code. ACS scrutinises these applications because misuse is common — applicants often try to fit under "nec" when their work clearly aligns with 263212 or 263213.

If you primarily write and execute test plans, nominate 263213. If you primarily resolve production incidents, nominate 263212. Only choose 263299 when the duties genuinely cross both areas in a way that no single primary code captures.

Skills Assessment with ACS

The Australian Computer Society is the sole assessing body for all 2632 unit group codes, including 263299.

Requirements:

• An ICT major bachelor degree (or higher) closely related to 263299 duties, or
• Another qualification plus relevant ICT experience, or
• Relevant ICT experience assessed through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway

ACS sets how much experience each route needs. Check the ACS guidelines.

ACS experience deduction: ACS may deduct years of experience, depending on how closely your qualification relates to the nominated occupation. Years that ACS deducts don't count for migration points. Check the ACS guidelines before you calculate your points.

Assessment cost: ACS sets different fees for its standard and RPL pathways. Check the current fee on the ACS website. Processing time: 4 to 6 weeks, according to the ACS.

Common rejection reasons for 263299 specifically: ACS often re-classifies applications under a primary code (263212 or 263213) where duties are clearer, or rejects because employment evidence describes generic IT support work below skill level 1. Applicants must show duties that genuinely span the unit group and require degree-level engineering judgment.

See our skills assessment complete guide for ACS-specific templates and evidence requirements.

Visa Pathways for ICT Support and Test Engineers nec

Because 263299 is on the CSOL and STSOL but not the MLTSSL, the 189 independent visa is not available. Employer sponsorship and state nomination are the routes.

Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa (Dominant Pathway)

The 482 is the most-used route for 263299 holders. Australian IT services firms and banks sponsor at volume.

• Visa fee: AUD4,015 for the main applicant
• Salary threshold: Core Skills Income Threshold AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026); Specialist Skills Income Threshold AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026)
• Duration: Up to 4 years
• Processing time: Core Skills stream: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 9 months; Specialist Skills stream: 50% of applications processed within 37 days and 90% within 78 days
• PR pathway: 2 years on 482, then transition to 186 TRT stream

Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme

Direct permanent residency through an Australian employer.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Streams: Direct Entry (3 years relevant experience and skills assessment) or Temporary Residence Transition (after 2 years on 482)
• Processing time: Direct Entry stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months; Temporary Residence Transition stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months

Home Affairs also lists ICT Support and Test Engineers nec for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, an employer-sponsored regional visa (AUD6,140 for the main applicant).

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

Available where a state or territory nominates 263299 on its current list. State coverage of the "nec" code is patchy and changes mid-cycle — verify the state's published list before lodging an EOI.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Points boost: +5 from state nomination
• Obligation: Live and work in the nominating state for at least 2 years

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa

Provisional visa with 15 nomination points and a pathway to PR via the 191 visa after 3 years.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Points boost: +15 from regional nomination
• Processing time: State or territory nominated: 50% of applications processed within 5 months and 90% within 18 months

Points Test Strategy

The 189 is not available for 263299. Points still matter for the 190 and 491 because state nomination is competitive and most states rank EOIs by points within the nominated occupation.

Realistic Scenario: Offshore Applicant, 30 years old

Bachelor's in computer science, 7 years overseas test engineering experience (assume ACS counts 5 years), Proficient English (IELTS 7.0):

• Age 30 + Bachelor 15 + English 10 + Experience 10 = 65 points
• Add 190 nomination: 70 points
• Add 491 nomination: 80 points

Most states want 75+ for 190 nominations in 2026, so the 491 is the more realistic invitation pathway from a 65-point base.

State Nomination

State coverage for 263299 changes during the program year. Verify the current published list before lodging. As of 2026, ICT roles broadly are still nominated by NSW, Victoria, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania, but the "nec" code is not always included where the primary codes (263211, 263212, 263213) are.

Practical tips:

• NSW and Victoria prioritise applicants with an Australian job offer or recent Australian experience for ICT 190 nominations
• ACT uses a Matrix system that rewards Canberra work experience, partner skills and English
• South Australia offers more accessible nominations for offshore applicants who can show genuine intent to settle in Adelaide
• Tasmania runs a "Tasmanian Skilled Employment" pathway that requires a Tasmanian job offer

If 263299 is excluded from a state's current list, check whether you can re-nominate under 263212 or 263213 based on actual duties.

Salary and Employment Outlook

Source: SEEK Australia salary data for Support Engineer, Testing Engineer and IT Support Engineer roles, April-May 2026.

Total packages typically include 12% superannuation. Banks and consulting firms add 10-20% bonuses for senior staff. Equity is uncommon outside startups and scale-ups.

Highest-paying sectors

• Financial services — CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ run large internal test and release engineering teams
• Telecommunications — Telstra and Optus pay competitively for performance and reliability engineers
• Defence and government — Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, DXC and Australian Public Service agencies in Canberra and Adelaide
• Managed service providers — DXC, Kyndryl, Atos and NCS Australia hire support engineers at volume
• Resources — BHP, Rio Tinto and Woodside operate large enterprise IT environments with strong testing requirements

Tips for a Successful Application

1. Justify the "nec" Choice in Your Reference Letters

ACS rejects 263299 applications that read like 263212 or 263213. Your employment references must describe duties that genuinely span the unit group. Show test design AND support, or QA AND infrastructure, with specific examples. If your role is actually pure testing, nominate 263213 — you will have a stronger case.

2. Calculate the ACS Deduction Honestly

If your degree is non-ICT (engineering, science, mathematics), or you have no degree, ACS may deduct several years of experience (check the ACS guidelines). With 10 years of work, that can leave you with far fewer years of "skilled" experience for points purposes. Run the maths before paying the ACS fee.

3. Plan for the 482 Pathway First

Because 189 is closed and 190 is competitive for the "nec" code, employer sponsorship is the realistic primary route. Begin targeted job applications to Australian IT services firms before you finalise your skills assessment. Many will sponsor a strong candidate.

4. Get Australian Vendor Certifications

ISTQB, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, ServiceNow and Salesforce certifications carry weight with Australian employers and can substitute for some experience gaps. They also help with ACS RPL pathway evidence if your formal qualifications are weak.

5. Sit IELTS or PTE for Superior English

The gap between Proficient (10 points) and Superior (20 points) is 10 points — the difference between an invitation and silence at 70 points. PTE Academic is often the easier path to Superior for ICT applicants.

Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap

1. Compare 263299 against 263212 and 263213 using the ANZSCO code finder — make sure "nec" is justified
2. Audit your employment evidence for duties that span the 2632 unit group
3. Sit IELTS, PTE or TOEFL — aim for Superior (8.0+) if possible
4. Apply for ACS skills assessment: check the fee on the ACS website and allow 4 to 6 weeks, according to the ACS
5. Calculate points with ACS deduction factored in
6. Decide between employer sponsorship and state nomination based on your score
7. For 482: begin job applications to sponsoring employers; secure offer; nominate via the 482 subclass
8. For 190/491: submit EOI in SkillSelect, then apply for state nomination
9. Complete health checks and police certificates for all applicants
10. Lodge the visa application within the invitation window
11. Provide post-lodgement evidence if requested
12. Receive grant and relocate to Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 263299 on the CSOL and STSOL but not the MLTSSL?

The Department of Home Affairs distinguishes between primary ICT codes (mostly on the MLTSSL) and "nec" residual codes (typically on the CSOL or STSOL). The MLTSSL is reserved for occupations with sustained, identifiable shortage. Because the "nec" code is broad and ambiguous, it sits one tier lower. The practical impact is that the 189 independent visa is unavailable.

Should I nominate 263299 or 263213 if I do mostly testing?

Nominate 263213 if your work is primarily test design, test automation, or performance testing. The primary code faces less ACS scrutiny. List access is the same: 263213 is also on the STSOL and CSOL, not the MLTSSL. Only choose 263299 when your duties genuinely span both testing and support engineering and no primary code captures the role.

Can I move from 482 to PR on the 263299 code?

Yes. After two years working in Australia on a 482 visa, you can apply for the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. Your employer must continue to nominate you, your salary must remain at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, and you must still hold a valid skills assessment for 263299.

Which states currently nominate 263299?

State nomination of "nec" codes is volatile. ACT and South Australia have historically nominated 263299; NSW and Victoria typically prioritise the primary codes. Check the relevant state's current published list before lodging your EOI. The most in-demand occupations page tracks recent invitation trends.

How long does the full migration process take for this occupation?

Timing depends on the route. Check the current Home Affairs processing time for the visa you choose. At the start, the ACS assessment takes 4 to 6 weeks, according to the ACS. The bottleneck is usually state nomination availability or finding a sponsoring employer.