Recruitment Consultant Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 16 June 2026
Australia classifies Recruitment Consultant under ANZSCO 223112. VETASSESS conducts the skills assessment as a Group B professional occupation. The code sits on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), unlocking subclasses 190, 491, 482 and 186, but not the independent 189. Typical 2026 base salaries range AUD $75,000 to $90,000, often with commission on top. Most consultants earn well above base through placement bonuses.
Quick Facts: Recruitment Consultant Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 223112 (Recruitment Consultant) |
| Skill Level | 1 (Bachelor degree or higher, or equivalent experience) |
| Skills Assessment | VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services) |
| Occupation List | CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List) |
| Visa Options | 190, 491, 482, 186 |
| Demand Level | Moderate — tied to the hiring cycle and agency recruitment volumes |
| Salary Range | AUD $75,000-$90,000 base plus commission (SEEK, 2026) |
| Typical 190 Score | 75-85 points after state nomination |
| Key Challenge | Proving professional-level consulting rather than internal hiring or admin work |
The Recruitment Consultant Role in Australia
Recruitment Consultants interview applicants to determine their requirements and suitability for particular roles, and help employers find suitable staff. In Australia the role splits between agency recruitment, where consultants run a desk and place candidates for client companies on a commission model, and embedded talent-acquisition roles inside larger employers. Both involve sourcing, screening, interviewing, shortlisting, negotiating offers and managing the candidate relationship through to placement.
Demand tracks the hiring cycle. When employers hire actively, agency recruitment expands quickly; when the market cools, it contracts just as fast. The 2025-26 market has been steady rather than booming, with consistent demand in healthcare, construction, technology and skilled trades recruitment. Sydney and Melbourne carry the largest agency markets, with Brisbane and Perth strong in resources, healthcare and infrastructure recruitment.
Pay structure matters for this occupation more than most. SEEK reports a base salary band of AUD $75,000 to $90,000, but agency consultants typically earn commission on placements that can lift total earnings well beyond base. For migration purposes, VETASSESS assesses the professional skill level of the role, not your total earnings.
ANZSCO Code 223112 — What Counts
The 223112 code covers professionals who consult on recruitment at skill level 1, meaning a Bachelor degree or higher, or relevant experience VETASSESS accepts in lieu. Tasks include identifying staffing needs, advertising and sourcing candidates, screening and interviewing, advising clients on selection, and negotiating placements. VETASSESS recognises agency and in-house recruitment roles under this code where the work is genuinely consultative.
Be careful with the boundaries. Pure administrative resourcing or data-entry recruitment support sits below skill level 1 and will not pass. Roles that are mostly HR advisory work map to Human Resource Adviser (223111) instead, and roles that own the HR function map to Human Resource Manager (132311). If your work blends recruitment with broader HR, read the official descriptions on the ANZSCO code finder and pick the code your duties most closely match.
Skills Assessment
VETASSESS (Group B Professional Occupation)
VETASSESS assesses 223112 as a Group B professional occupation. Both qualification and employment are assessed, and both must pass.
Requirements:
- A qualification assessed as comparable to an AQF Bachelor degree or higher.
- If the degree is highly relevant, at least one year of highly relevant post-qualification employment in the last five years.
- If the degree is highly relevant plus an additional qualification at least at AQF Diploma level, at least two years of highly relevant employment under an alternative pathway.
- English evidence as required by the visa subclass and any nominating state.
Assessment cost: AUD $1,096 for non-residents, AUD $1,205.60 for Australia-based applicants including GST (VETASSESS professional occupation fee, October 2025).
Processing time: VETASSESS reports around seven weeks on average for professional assessments, with priority processing available for an additional AUD $825 returning an outcome in roughly ten business days.
Common rejection reasons: The most frequent failure is employment evidence that reads as junior resourcing or administrative support rather than professional consulting. The second is a qualification VETASSESS treats as in a field not highly relevant, which then requires more years of relevant work.
For how VETASSESS sits alongside other authorities, see the skills assessment bodies complete list.
Visa Pathways
223112 is on the CSOL but not the MLTSSL, so the independent 189 is out. The 190, 491, 482 and 186 are all available.
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa, a common entry route for consultants with an agency or in-house job offer.
- Visa fee: from AUD $3,210 (primary applicant).
- Eligibility constraint: the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD $76,515 until 30 June 2026, rising to AUD $79,499 from 1 July 2026. Base salaries often sit close to this threshold, so the sponsoring employer must structure the package to meet it.
- Processing time: varies by stream and nomination; check current Home Affairs published times.
- Quirk: because base recruitment salaries can sit near the threshold, confirm the guaranteed base meets it before commission, since commission is not counted as guaranteed earnings.
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
Permanent residency through state nomination, which adds five points.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant, 2026).
- Points boost: +5 from state nomination.
- Obligation: commit to the nominating state, usually for two years.
- Quirk: state nomination of 223112 is selective and usually expects a genuine local employment connection, because recruitment is not flagged as a national shortage.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
Regional nomination adds 15 points and provides a five-year provisional visa with a pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant, 2026).
- Points boost: +15 from regional nomination.
- Quirk: regional agencies recruiting for healthcare, agriculture and trades occasionally nominate consultants where city programs will not.
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residency through employer sponsorship, available because 223112 is on the CSOL.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant, 2026).
- Streams: Direct Entry, or Temporary Residence Transition after holding a 482.
- Quirk: Direct Entry requires at least three years of relevant experience, which established consultants can usually show.
Points Test Strategy
The 190 and 491 are the points-tested routes for 223112. Your score sets which programs will consider you.
| Points Factor | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25-32) | 30 | Maximum bracket |
| Qualification (Bachelor) | 15 | Minimum for Skill Level 1 |
| Qualification (Master/PhD) | 15-20 | Higher band if your degree qualifies |
| English (Proficient — 7.0) | 10 | Realistic target |
| English (Superior — 8.0+) | 20 | Strong lift |
| Skilled employment (overseas) | 5-15 | Depends on assessed years |
| State nomination (190) | 5 | Apply where eligible |
| Regional nomination (491) | 15 | The largest single boost |
| Partner skills | 5-10 | If your partner has a skilled occupation |
Scenario 1 — Recruitment consultant, 28, Superior English, 5 assessed years: 30 (age) + 15 (Bachelor) + 20 (English) + 10 (experience) = 75, plus 5 with a 190 nomination reaches 80, or plus 15 with a 491 reaches 90.
Scenario 2 — Recruitment consultant, 34, Proficient English, 3 assessed years: 25 (age) + 15 (Bachelor) + 10 (English) + 5 (experience) = 55, needing the 491 (+15) to reach 70, or an employer to sponsor a 482. For how invitations rank, see the SkillSelect EOI guide.
State Nomination
State nomination of 223112 changes between program years and is selective, because recruitment is not a flagged national shortage. Candidates generally secure nomination through a genuine local employment connection rather than an open invitation round. Regional programs occasionally accept the code under broad professional or business categories, particularly where the agency recruits for regional shortage sectors. Confirm the current status against each state or regional authority's published list before lodging an expression of interest, and treat blanket third-party claims with caution.
Salary and Employment Outlook
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Resourcer / Coordinator | AUD $60,000-$75,000 |
| Recruitment Consultant | AUD $75,000-$90,000 base |
| Senior Recruitment Consultant | AUD $90,000-$120,000 base |
| Recruitment Team Lead / Manager | AUD $110,000-$150,000 base |
Figures draw on SEEK 2026 salary data, which places the typical Recruitment Consultant base between AUD $75,000 and $90,000. Agency consultants add commission on placements, which can lift total earnings substantially in a strong market. Total packages also add superannuation at 11.5 per cent. The strongest demand sits in healthcare, technology, construction and resources recruitment. Sydney and Melbourne carry the largest agency markets, with Perth and Brisbane strong in resources and infrastructure.
The realistic outlook is cyclical. Recruitment hiring expands and contracts faster than most professions because it tracks the wider hiring market directly. A consultant with niche specialisation in a shortage sector, such as healthcare or skilled trades, has a steadier demand profile than a generalist.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Confirm 223112 over the HR codes. If you mostly advise on policy and employee relations, you fit Human Resource Adviser (223111); if you run the function, Human Resource Manager (132311). The wrong code fails at assessment.
- Write references at consulting level. Show client management, candidate sourcing strategy, interviewing, shortlisting and offer negotiation, not just CV screening. VETASSESS separates professional consulting from junior resourcing.
- Check the guaranteed base against the threshold. For a 482, the sponsor's guaranteed base must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold on its own; commission does not count toward it.
- Aim for Superior English. Consultants can usually reach 8.0, and the 20-point lift is often decisive for the 190 and 491.
- Lean on niche specialisation. A track record in a shortage sector strengthens both your demand profile and any state or employer case for nominating you.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm your ANZSCO code against the ANZSCO code finder, ruling out 223111 and 132311.
- Check the list status of 223112 on the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Prepare references describing professional recruitment consulting duties.
- Sit your English test, aiming for Superior where possible.
- Lodge your VETASSESS assessment as a Group B professional occupation.
- Calculate your points with assessed experience factored in.
- Decide your route — points (190 or 491) or employer sponsorship (482 or 186).
- Submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect for the 190 or 491.
- Apply for state or regional nomination, or secure a sponsoring employer.
- Receive your invitation and lodge the visa within the allowed period.
- Complete health and character checks.
- Receive the grant and relocate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does commission count toward the 482 salary threshold for recruitment consultants?
No. The Core Skills Income Threshold must be met by the guaranteed base salary, not by commission or placement bonuses. This matters for recruitment because agency base salaries can sit close to the threshold. Confirm the sponsor's guaranteed base meets the current figure before relying on the 482.
What is the difference between a Recruitment Consultant and a Human Resource Adviser for migration?
The recruitment code (223112) is for professionals who source and place candidates and consult on hiring. The adviser code (223111) is for those who advise on HR policy, employee relations and workforce administration more broadly. Choosing the code that does not match your real duties leads to a failed VETASSESS assessment.
Can I get permanent residency directly as a recruitment consultant?
Yes, through the subclass 190 with state nomination, or the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, both of which grant permanent residency and are available because 223112 is on the CSOL. The 491 is a provisional route to permanent residency through the subclass 191. The independent 189 is not available because the code is not on the MLTSSL.
What is the demand outlook for recruitment consultants in Australia in 2026?
Steady but cyclical. Recruitment demand tracks the wider hiring market, so it expands and contracts faster than most professions. Specialists in shortage sectors such as healthcare, technology, construction and trades have the steadiest demand. For where recruitment sits against higher-demand fields, see the most in-demand occupations list.
Can my overseas qualification and experience be recognised?
Often, provided VETASSESS assesses your qualification as comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher and your employment as genuine professional recruitment consulting. A degree in business, HR, psychology or a related field is usually treated as highly relevant, which keeps the required experience to one year. A less relevant degree requires more years of relevant work.
