Technology careers can open doors in Australia and New Zealand. The hard part is choosing the correct occupation, assessment authority and visa sequence.

Skillage Nimbus is a registered migration agent in Adelaide. Our Australian migration services are led by Ashish Thapa, MARN 2217972. Call our 24/7 direct line on +61 8 9131 6011.

Start with the evidence. Not the visa name. Not the country. Not the job title on your LinkedIn profile.

Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and is assessed case by case.

Start with your occupation, not the country

The same technology role may be assessed differently in Australia and New Zealand.

A “software developer” may align with one ANZSCO occupation in Australia. In New Zealand, the role may need to meet a different Green List description. Duties, qualifications, seniority and employer documents all matter.

The country you prefer may not be the country where your current evidence fits best.

Your first review should cover:

Your actual day-to-day duties.
Your proposed ANZSCO occupation.
Your qualifications.
Your ICT specialisation.
Your skilled employment history.
Your English evidence.
Your age and family circumstances.
Whether you need state nomination or employer sponsorship.
Whether the role is subject to pay or employer requirements.

A job title is only a starting point. The duties must support the nominated occupation.

Begin with the Migrate by Occupation hub to compare occupation-based pathways.

Australia: skills assessment for ICT

The Australian Computer Society, or ACS, assesses the large majority of ICT occupations for migration to Australia.

Common occupations include:

Software Engineer.
Developer Programmer.
ICT Project Manager.
ICT Business Analyst.
Systems Analyst.
Cyber Security roles.
Network Engineer.
ICT Manager roles.
Other IT, data science and cyber security occupations listed by ACS.

ACS checks whether your qualifications and professional experience are at the required ICT level. It also considers how closely your evidence relates to the nominated ANZSCO occupation.

The assessment pathway can change depending on your profile.

Your qualification matters

ACS looks at whether your qualification is comparable with an Australian qualification. It also examines the ICT content of the course.

Your qualification may be treated as:

ICT-major.
ICT-minor.
Closely related to the nominated occupation.
Not sufficiently related to the nominated occupation.

A Bachelor degree in computer science may follow a different pathway from a Bachelor degree in business with several technology subjects.

A non-ICT degree does not automatically end the process. It may mean you need more relevant ICT employment. The applicable pathway must be checked against the current ACS rules.

ACS also offers a skills-based route for some applicants without an ICT degree. This is commonly understood as an RPL-style pathway. It relies heavily on detailed professional evidence.

That evidence may include:

Project descriptions.
Technical responsibilities.
Business outcomes.
Systems and tools used.
Your personal contribution.
Employment references.
Supporting documentation.

Generic letters are risky. “Worked on software projects” is usually not enough. ACS needs to understand what you did, at what level and in which occupation.

Overseas qualifications may also require an international credential comparison. ACS determines how the qualification compares with the Australian framework. You should not assume that a qualification accepted by a university or employer will automatically satisfy migration requirements.

Read our skills assessment guide before preparing your documents.

Skills assessment is not a licence

A positive ACS skills assessment is a migration requirement. It is not a professional licence.

ICT roles in Australia generally do not require a professional licence to perform ordinary technology work. However, employers may impose their own requirements.

These may include:

Specific certifications.
Industry experience.
Police checks.
Security clearances.
Australian work rights.
Client-specific technical standards.
Professional indemnity or compliance requirements.

A migration assessment does not guarantee employment. It also does not guarantee that an employer will sponsor you.

Australia: visa pathways

ICT professionals may have several possible Australian pathways.

The right option depends on your occupation, skills assessment, points, English, employer, location and current program settings.

Points-tested pathways

The main points-tested options can include:

Subclass 189 visa: Skilled Independent.
Subclass 190 visa: Skilled Nominated.
Subclass 491 visa: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional).

The subclass 189 visa does not require state nomination or employer sponsorship. You must still meet the current occupation, skills assessment, points and invitation requirements.

The subclass 190 visa requires nomination by an Australian state or territory. Each state applies its own criteria. A suitable ICT occupation may need to appear on both the relevant federal list and the state or territory list.

The subclass 491 visa is a regional pathway. It involves state or territory nomination, or eligible family sponsorship, and requires the applicant to live and work in designated regional Australia. It may support a later permanent pathway if all requirements are met.

The term skilled work regional visa 491 is often used in online searches. Always check the official subclass 491 requirements. Online summaries can become outdated quickly.

South Australia is relevant for many technology professionals. State nomination settings can change. Occupation lists, onshore requirements, work history rules and evidence requirements must be checked directly with South Australian skilled migration and migration.sa.gov.au.

Do not rely on an old State Nomination Occupation List.

Employer-sponsored pathways

Employer sponsorship may be more suitable where you have a genuine Australian job offer.

Possible pathways include:

Subclass 482: Skills in Demand.
Subclass 186: Employer Nomination Scheme.
Subclass 494: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional.
DAMA pathways: where the relevant occupation and region are covered.

The subclass 482 pathway is temporary. It may connect with an employer-sponsored permanent pathway, including subclass 186, if the employer, occupation and applicant meet the current requirements.

The subclass 494 pathway is regional. It may connect with a permanent residence pathway if the required conditions are satisfied.

A Designated Area Migration Agreement can provide concessions or access to occupations that are not available through standard programs. It is not available everywhere. The occupation must be listed under the relevant agreement, and an eligible employer must participate.

The employer must also meet sponsorship, nomination, position and market requirements. A job offer alone is not enough.

For employer support, visit Employer Sponsorship Adelaide.

New Zealand: registration and pathways

New Zealand has separate immigration rules. An Australian assessment does not transfer across the Tasman.

Software Engineer, ANZSCO 261313, ICT Project Manager, ANZSCO 135112, and Chief Information Officer, ANZSCO 135111, are listed as Green List Tier 1 roles for the Straight to Residence pathway, subject to the current requirements.

This does not mean every person with the job title qualifies.

The role must match the relevant occupation. The employer must meet the accreditation requirements. The job must meet the applicable work, pay and qualification settings.

A minimum remuneration threshold applies. Check the current figure directly on Immigration New Zealand.

For contracts for services, a higher remuneration threshold applies. A longer experience requirement also applies. Check the current Green List wording before relying on a contract arrangement.

A critical ACS warning

An ACS skills assessment is for Australian migration only.

It has no standing in New Zealand.

This is a common and expensive misunderstanding. An applicant may spend time and money obtaining an ACS assessment, then discover that Immigration New Zealand requires different evidence.

New Zealand may require an International Qualification Assessment, or IQA, from NZQA. This can help confirm that an overseas qualification is comparable with a New Zealand qualification.

Not every qualification needs an IQA. The exemption rules must be checked for the specific role and qualification.

AEWV sequence

The Accredited Employer Work Visa, or AEWV, follows an employer-side sequence:

The employer obtains accreditation.
The employer completes a Job Check.
The worker submits the visa application.

The worker cannot simply skip the employer steps.

The job offer, employer, occupation, pay, employment agreement and supporting documents must all align. Immigration New Zealand may also assess health, character, English and qualification requirements.

Skilled Migrant Category

The Skilled Migrant Category can also be relevant for ICT professionals.

This pathway depends on skilled employment, the applicable pay settings and the current points or eligibility structure. A Green List pathway may not fit every ICT role. Conversely, a role that is not being pursued through the Green List may still be considered under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Check current information on the Immigration New Zealand website.

For a wider comparison, read Care Sector Migration: Australia vs New Zealand.

Real requirements, not job titles

Several traps appear regularly.

ANZSCO mismatch

Your duties may not match the occupation you select. A developer who mainly performs business analysis may need a different occupation from a developer who designs and builds software.

Non-ICT qualifications

A degree with some technology subjects may not be treated like an ICT-major qualification. ACS pathway selection matters.

Assuming ACS works for New Zealand

It does not. ACS is for Australian migration only.

Remuneration thresholds

New Zealand Green List roles may have minimum remuneration requirements. Contract work may have a higher threshold and longer experience requirement.

Check the current figure and wording before accepting an offer.

Employer accreditation sequence

For the AEWV, the sequence is employer accreditation, Job Check, then the worker’s visa application.

Old occupation lists

Australian and New Zealand occupation settings can change. A saved screenshot is not current evidence.

Check Department of Home Affairs, Immigration New Zealand, the relevant state or territory authority and the relevant assessing authority before lodging.

Plan your ICT pathway with professional help

Your first step should be a structured review of your occupation, qualifications, evidence and preferred pathway.

Book an ICT migration consultation with Skillage Nimbus.

Australia or New Zealand?

Both countries offer pathways for experienced technology professionals.

Australia may provide:

ACS-based skills assessment.
Points-tested visas.
State nomination.
Employer sponsorship.
Regional options.
DAMA options in selected areas.

New Zealand may provide:

Green List pathways.
Straight to Residence for eligible Tier 1 roles.
AEWV employer sponsorship.
Skilled Migrant Category options.
NZQA IQA processes for some overseas qualifications.

The better fit depends on your evidence and circumstances.

There is no universal recommendation. There is no automatic pathway. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and is assessed case by case.

How Skillage Nimbus helps

Skillage Nimbus provides coordinated migration support for ICT professionals and employers.

We can assist with:

Occupation mapping.
ANZSCO duty analysis.
ACS pathway selection.
Qualification review.
Employment evidence review.
EOI and state nomination strategy.
South Australia nomination planning.
Employer sponsorship.
DAMA pathway assessment.
New Zealand IQA guidance.
Green List Straight to Residence applications.
AEWV applications.
Skilled Migrant Category applications.
Visa refusal and Administrative Review Tribunal representation.

We also help employers understand recruitment, sponsorship and relocation requirements.

Visit our Migration Services hub or learn about our Registered Migration Agent Adelaide service.

No outcome is guaranteed. Sponsorship, nomination, visa grants and permanent residency depend on the decision-maker and the applicable requirements.

Our credentials

Australian Registered Migration Agent MARN 2217972.
New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser IAA 202503676.
Founder Ashish Thapa (legal name Asi Thapa) admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia.
QEAC, CCG and ITAC certifications.
Employment Agent Licence issued by the Government of South Australia.
Member of Business Australia and Migration Alliance.
Core values: Honesty, Reliability and Accuracy.

Adelaide office

Suite 11, Floor 2
12 Pirie Street
Adelaide SA 5000

Strictly by appointment only.

Office hours

Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM.
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Sunday: Closed.

Emergency appointment support may be available within one hour, subject to availability.

Learn More

Ready to review your ICT migration options?

Book your consultation with Skillage Nimbus.

You can also call our 24/7 direct line on +61 8 9131 6011.

General information disclaimer

This page provides general information only. It is not migration advice, legal advice or a personal recommendation. Visa eligibility, occupation lists, skills assessment requirements, state nomination settings, employer requirements and remuneration thresholds can change. The information does not guarantee sponsorship, nomination, a visa grant or permanent residency. Obtain advice based on your individual circumstances before taking action.

The information about ACS pathways, Australian visa options, South Australian nomination, New Zealand Green List roles, Tier 1 status, remuneration thresholds, IQA requirements and AEWV processes is based on publicly available material from ACS, the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration New Zealand, NZQA and relevant state authorities. These settings may change or may apply differently to individual applicants. Verify the occupation, assessment pathway, State Nomination Occupation List, Green List status, remuneration threshold, employer accreditation sequence and visa requirements directly on the official government and assessing authority websites before lodging.

Frequently asked questions

Is ACS required for ICT migration to Australia?

ACS is the assessing authority for many Australian ICT occupations. Whether you need a skills assessment, and which pathway applies, depends on the visa and your circumstances. Check the current ACS and Department of Home Affairs requirements.

Does an ACS skills assessment work for New Zealand?

No. An ACS skills assessment is for Australian migration only. It has no standing in New Zealand. New Zealand may require different evidence, including an NZQA International Qualification Assessment for some overseas qualifications.

Which ICT occupations may be eligible for New Zealand Straight to Residence?

Software Engineer, ANZSCO 261313, ICT Project Manager, ANZSCO 135112, and Chief Information Officer, ANZSCO 135111, are Green List Tier 1 roles subject to the current requirements. The job, employer, pay, qualification and personal criteria must all be checked.

What is the AEWV sequence in New Zealand?

The employer generally completes accreditation first. The employer then completes a Job Check. The worker submits the AEWV application after those employer-side steps are complete.

Can ICT professionals apply for a subclass 190 visa?

Possibly. The applicant must meet the current federal and state requirements. This may include an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, points, an invitation and state or territory nomination. South Australia applies its own nomination criteria.

Is the subclass 491 visa a permanent visa?

The subclass 491 visa is a provisional regional visa. It may provide a pathway to a permanent visa if the holder meets the applicable residence, work, income and other requirements. The current rules must be checked before applying.

Can Skillage Nimbus guarantee permanent residency?

No. Skillage Nimbus can provide professional assistance with occupation mapping, evidence, strategy and applications. No migration agent can guarantee sponsorship, nomination, a visa grant or permanent residency.