Upholsterer Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 29 October 2026
Australia classifies Upholsterer under ANZSCO 393311. Trades Recognition Australia conducts the skills assessment, usually via the Migration Skills Assessment or, for graduates of an Australian VET course working in Australia, the Job Ready Program. The occupation sits on the Core Skills and Short-Term Skilled Occupation Lists, unlocking subclasses 190, 491, 494, 482 and 186. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $75,000-$84,000. Employer sponsorship and regional nomination are the strongest pathways.
Quick Facts: Upholsterer Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 393311 (Upholsterer) |
| Skill Level | 3 (AQF Certificate III + 2 years on-the-job training, or Certificate IV) |
| Skills Assessment | TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) |
| Occupation List | STSOL and CSOL |
| Visas Home Affairs lists | 186, 190, 407, 482, 489, 491 and 494 |
| Demand Level | High — niche shortage in marine, aviation, automotive, and bespoke furniture |
| Salary Range | AUD $75,000-$84,000 (SEEK, April 2026) |
| Typical 482 Salary Threshold | Core Skills Income Threshold AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026) |
| Key Challenge | Small national workforce; finding sponsoring employers requires targeted search |
| Official figures checked | 28 October 2026 (Home Affairs occupation list, visa fees and processing times) |
What an Upholsterer Does in Australia
The role covers fabrication and repair of upholstered items — chairs, sofas, beds, mattresses, marine seating, automotive interiors, aviation cabins, and bespoke furniture pieces. Day-to-day work splits between traditional craft upholstery (heritage restoration, antique reupholstery), commercial bulk upholstery (hospitality and aged-care furniture contracts), and specialist segments such as marine canvas, automotive interiors, and aircraft cabin refurbishment.
Demand is high but the workforce is small. Jobs and Skills Australia records consistent shortage across both metropolitan and regional markets. Hot-spot employers include marine fit-out specialists in Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sydney; automotive trim shops servicing classic-car restoration; the aviation cabin-refit sector around Sydney and Melbourne airports; and a long tail of bespoke furniture makers serving the premium residential market.
ANZSCO Code Mapping
The exact code is 393311 Upholsterer, sitting within Unit Group 3933 Upholsterers. The ABS task list covers conferring with clients on materials and cost; making and repairing wooden frames; removing and replacing defective springs; removing old coverings, webbing, and padding; securing material, padding, springs, and webbing; measuring and cutting fabrics; seaming cushions and joining sections; attaching ornamental trims, braids, and buttons; and padding and covering spring units to upholster mattresses.
There is no separate ANZSCO code for "Marine Upholsterer", "Auto Trimmer", or "Aircraft Trim Technician". All map to 393311 if the duty mix matches the ABS description. Where duties skew heavily toward leather cutting and stitching without spring or frame work, applicants sometimes consider 393112 Leather Goods Maker — but for vehicle, marine, and furniture trim work, 393311 is the correct code.
Skills Assessment
TRA Migration Skills Assessment (MSA)
Applicants with formal training and documented employment apply through the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA). The MSA is a documentary assessment covering qualification equivalence and work experience. It needs the occupation on the MLTSSL or STSOL (Upholsterer is on the STSOL), and it is not for 482 applicants or for passports and occupations that must use the Offshore Skills Assessment Program. Use TRA's Pathfinder to confirm which program applies to your passport and occupation.
Requirements:
- A qualification at least comparable to AQF Certificate III in Furnishing (Upholstery) or equivalent
- At least three years of post-qualification employment performing the ANZSCO 393311 task set
- Documentary evidence of training transcripts, employer references on letterhead, payslips, tax records
Assessment cost: AUD795 in total.
Processing time: typically within 120 days of submission.
TRA Job Ready Program (JRP)
The Job Ready Program is for international graduates of an Australian VET course who are working in Australia. It is not an offshore route, and it is not a fallback for overseas training that TRA does not recognise. You first need a successful Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA), then you complete three Job Ready steps in an Australian workplace.
Stages:
- Stage 1: Provisional Skills Assessment: AUD130 in total
- Stage 2: Job Ready Employment
- Stage 3: Job Ready Workplace Assessment
- Stage 4: Job Ready Final Assessment
TRA lists the Job Ready Program cost (stages 2-4) as AUD3,410 in total (AUD490 for Job Ready Employment, AUD2,845 for the Job Ready Workplace Assessment and AUD75 for the Job Ready Final Assessment), and more if you need more than one Workplace Assessment.
Processing time: The PSA is processed typically within 12 weeks of submission, once all required evidence is provided. The Job Ready Program takes at least 12 months, because it needs 12 months of full-time (or equivalent) work with a TRA-approved employer, unless you have eligible prior employment.
Common rejection reasons: thin documentary evidence (no payslips, references from family-owned workshops without business records), training delivered without supervised practical hours, duty descriptions that align more closely with a sewing machinist or leather goods maker than an upholsterer. For wider assessment context, see the skills assessment bodies complete list.
Visa Pathways
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa
A practical route given the occupation's CSOL listing and the willingness of marine, automotive, and aviation employers to sponsor.
- Visa fee: AUD4,015 for the main applicant
- Salary threshold: Core Skills Income Threshold AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026) (the Specialist Skills stream is not open to this occupation group)
- Reality check: Median upholsterer salaries sit within or just above the CSIT, so a senior or specialist applicant clears the threshold without employer top-up. Junior trimmers may need an experienced specialisation (marine, aviation) to justify the rate.
- Duration: Up to 4 years
- Processing time: Core Skills stream: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 9 months
If your 482 needs a skills assessment, TRA runs a separate Temporary Skills Shortage Skills Assessment Program; check its current fee and time on TRA's website.
For more, see the subclass 482 visa guide.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa
Regional nomination adds 15 points. A 5-year provisional visa with pathway to permanent residency under subclass 191 after 3 years of qualifying regional residence.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Best regions: regional Queensland (marine fit-out around Mooloolaba and Hervey Bay), regional Victoria, regional NSW
- Processing time: State or territory nominated: 50% of applications processed within 5 months and 90% within 18 months
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
PR through metropolitan or whole-state nomination.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Best states: South Australia (offshore list), Tasmania, Western Australia DAMA regions
- Processing time: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 16 months
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
PR through employer sponsorship.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Streams: Direct Entry or TRT (after 2 years on a 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 Upholsterer for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, an employer-sponsored regional visa (AUD6,140 for the main applicant). It needs a sponsoring employer in a designated regional area.
Points Test Strategy
Upholsterer applicants typically score in the 55-75 point band. The 15-point regional boost is usually the deciding factor for invitation.
| Points Factor | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25-32) | 30 | Maximum bracket |
| Age (33-39) | 25 | Common for experienced trimmers |
| English (Proficient: IELTS 7 in each band, or equivalent) | 10 | Realistic target |
| English (Superior: IELTS 8 in each band, or equivalent) | 20 | Adds decisive points |
| AQF Certificate III equivalence | 10 | Standard qualification points |
| Overseas Experience (5-7 yrs) | 10 | After TRA confirms equivalence |
| State Nomination (190) | 5 | |
| Regional Nomination (491) | 15 | The most accessible booster |
| Partner Skills | 5-10 | If partner holds a skilled occupation |
Realistic Score Scenarios
Scenario 1: Regional 491 candidate (regional Queensland marine specialist)
Age 30 + Proficient English 10 + AQF III 10 + 5 years experience 10 + Regional nomination 15 = 75 points. Sufficient for invitation in most regional Queensland streams.
Scenario 2: Employer-sponsored 482 candidate
No points test. Requires a skills assessment where Home Affairs asks for one, a willing approved sponsor, and a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026). The dominant pathway for marine, aviation, and high-end automotive specialists.
State Nomination
South Australia
South Australia includes Upholsterer in its 2025-26 program for both the onshore and offshore lists. The state allocated 2,250 nomination places (1,350 for 190, 900 for 491). Upholsterer applicants with a confirmed job offer in metropolitan Adelaide or regional South Australia have a realistic path through the 190 stream.
Tasmania
Tasmania's Skilled Migration program nominates trade occupations with established demand. Upholsterer fits Tasmania's heritage furniture restoration sector and the growing premium hospitality fit-out market.
Western Australia (DAMA)
The Goldfields, South West, and Pilbara Designated Area Migration Agreements include trade occupations under concessional terms. Upholsterer is eligible under several DAMAs where regional marine and tourism operators face recruitment shortfalls.
Queensland (regional)
Skilled Migration Queensland prioritises regional centres. Upholsterer is eligible under regional streams for applicants with a job offer in marine fit-out hubs (Mooloolaba, Hervey Bay) or regional manufacturing centres (Toowoomba, Bundaberg).
NSW and Victoria do not currently nominate this code on their metropolitan 190 or 491 lists in 2026.
Salary and Employment Outlook
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Trimmer (1-3 yrs) | AUD $51,000-$62,000 |
| Upholsterer (3-7 yrs) | AUD $75,000-$80,000 |
| Senior Upholsterer (8+ yrs) | AUD $80,000-$90,000 |
| Marine / Aviation Trim Specialist | AUD $85,000-$110,000 |
| Workshop Manager | AUD $90,000-$115,000 |
| Sole Trader (gross billings) | AUD $90,000-$160,000 |
Source: SEEK Career Advice, April 2026; cross-referenced against Indeed and PayScale.
Total packages on permanent roles add 12% superannuation. The highest-paying specialisations are marine fit-out (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney), aviation cabin refurbishment (Sydney, Melbourne airport corridors), heritage furniture restoration (Sydney's eastern suburbs, Melbourne's inner south), and high-end automotive trim for classic-car restoration shops.
Tips for a Successful Application
1. Specialise to Lift Your Salary Above the CSIT
The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026). Generalist upholstery roles often advertise at or below this rate. Specialisation in marine, aviation, or premium automotive trim pushes salaries above $85,000 and makes employer sponsorship easier to secure.
2. Document Bespoke Work with Photo Evidence
TRA assesses against the ABS task list, which spans frame work, spring work, and covering. Many overseas applicants are strong in covering but light on frame and spring work. A photo portfolio of completed bespoke pieces — showing frame stripping, spring re-tying, padding, and finishing — supports the duty descriptions in your references.
3. Target Marine and Aviation Hubs
Marine fit-out concentrates around Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, and Hobart. Aviation cabin work clusters at Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane airports. These sectors employ specialist sponsors who lodge multiple 482 nominations each year and often hold accredited sponsor status.
4. Gather Trade Documents Early
TRA needs your academic transcript and full colour scans of your original documents, uploaded as PDFs through its Online Portal. Family-business references must be supported by independent business records — ABN registration, tax filings, customer invoices. Start gathering these well before you lodge.
5. Consider the Job Ready Program Even if Not Required
The Job Ready Program is only open to international graduates of an Australian VET course who are working in Australia and hold a successful Provisional Skills Assessment. If that is you, the Workplace Assessment in an Australian workshop becomes strong evidence for your skills assessment. If you trained overseas, it is not open to you. The MSA is your documentary route, so build your evidence before you apply.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm ANZSCO 393311 fits your duties — see the how to find ANZSCO code guide
- Check current list status on the Core Skills Occupation List hub
- Request your academic transcript from your issuing institution
- Build a photo portfolio of completed work covering frames, springs, and finishing
- Sit your English test: aim for Proficient English or better for points
- Lodge the TRA application: the MSA if you trained overseas; the Job Ready Program only if you hold an Australian VET qualification and work in Australia
- Search for a sponsoring employer or state nomination — marine, aviation, or premium furniture sectors
- Submit an EOI in SkillSelect if pursuing 190 or 491
- Apply for state nomination — South Australia, Tasmania, or a DAMA region
- Receive invitation and lodge visa: within the time your invitation allows
- Complete health and character checks
- Receive visa grant and relocate
For broader context, see the most in-demand occupations in Australia 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate ANZSCO code for marine or aviation upholsterers?
No. All upholstery specialisations map to ANZSCO 393311. The migration system does not differentiate between furniture, marine, automotive, and aviation upholstery for skills-assessment or list-eligibility purposes. Specialisation matters at the employer level — for salary, sponsor selection, and state nomination preference — not for code allocation.
Can I migrate as a self-taught upholsterer with no formal qualification?
Likely not through the standard MSA route. TRA's MSA FAQs say that "TRA does not accept work experience as a substitute for a qualification." The Job Ready Program is not a workaround either. It is only for graduates of an Australian VET course who are working in Australia, and its first step, the Provisional Skills Assessment, needs a qualification completed in Australia through a CRICOS-registered RTO. For people without a formal qualification, TRA's FAQs suggest Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with an Australian RTO.
Why isn't Upholsterer on the MLTSSL?
The MLTSSL still exists. Home Affairs uses it, with the STSOL and the ROL, for the skilled visas other than the 482 and 186. Upholsterer is on the STSOL and the CSOL, not the MLTSSL. So the points-tested 189 is closed, but Home Affairs lists it for the state-nominated 190, the regional 491, the employer-sponsored 494, the 482 and the 186.
How long does the whole pathway take from offshore?
There is no single official end-to-end figure. Add up the stages: the MSA is processed typically within 120 days of submission, then state nomination (for the 190 or 491), then the visa itself. For the state-nominated 491, Home Affairs reports 50% of applications processed within 5 months and 90% within 18 months. A 482 applicant does not use the MSA; check TRA's separate Temporary Skills Shortage Skills Assessment Program instead.
What if I trim cars and motorcycles, not furniture?
The work qualifies under ANZSCO 393311 if your duty mix covers seating fabrication, panel covering, and trim repair. References must describe the upholstery duties using language from the ABS task list — not "interior fit-out" or "trim shop work" without specifics. The same code applies to high-end automotive restoration, classic car interiors, and motorcycle saddle work.
