Skip to content
The Journey

How It Works

Immigrating to Australia as a skilled Trade or Agricultural Candidate is a big decision. It takes real paperwork, real timelines, and real coordination between you, your employer, and a migration agent. At RecruitUp Global, we manage that coordination end-to-end — whether you’re just exploring your options or ready to start your application.

Our Pathway

A Tried-and-Tested Process

Our RecruitUp Global Skilled pathway is built specifically for tradespeople and agricultural workers. It isn’t a generic recruitment process adapted for migration. Every step is designed around the real requirements of employer-sponsored visas. We’ve refined this pathway through direct, hands-on experience placing candidates with Australian employers. We keep refining it as visa rules and occupation lists change.

The process runs across five stages, from your first assessment through to life in Australia. Three parties are involved throughout: you as the candidate, the sponsoring Australian employer, and a MARA-registered migration agent. The migration agent manages the formal visa application. RecruitUp sits at the centre, coordinating between all three so nothing falls through the cracks. Most candidates move from initial assessment to arrival in Australia within four to eight months. Timing depends on your occupation, the employer’s sponsorship status, and current Department of Home Affairs processing times.

End-to-end recruitment process for skilled tradespeople
01

Discover Your Pathway

Initial Assessment

We start by reviewing your trade certificates, work history, and any formal qualifications you hold. This tells us whether your occupation appears on Australia's Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). We also confirm which ANZSCO code applies to your role. Next, we check your English language test results, or flag if you still need to sit one. Within days, you get a clear picture of your visa pathway and realistic next steps — not a vague promise.

What You Get

  • Comprehensive skills and experience assessment
  • Visa pathway recommendations from registered immigration partners
  • Overview of job market demand for your occupation
  • Confirmation of your occupation's ANZSCO code and CSOL eligibility

Add-On Services

  • Qualification Recognition & Skills Assessment guidance
  • CV Rewriting service to help you stand out (additional cost)
  • Pre-check of your documents against likely Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) requirements
02

Connecting You to Employers

Job Matching

Once you're eligible, we start matching you against live vacancies from Australian employers in your trade. We only put you forward for roles meeting the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) of $73,150 a year. If the market rate for your role is higher, that applies instead. Our team also prepares you for Australian-style interviews, since hiring expectations can differ from what you're used to. You'll get regular updates on demand and salary benchmarks for your occupation, so you know how you compare.

What You Get

  • Personalised job matching in your occupation
  • Australian-optimised CV and interview preparation
  • Regular updates on industry trends and salary expectations
  • Salary benchmarking against TSMIT and market rates for your role and location

Add-On Services

  • Mock interview and Australian workplace culture briefing (additional cost)
03

Navigating the Paperwork

Visa Application Support

This is where a MARA-registered migration agent takes the lead on your file. If your employer isn't yet an Approved Standard Business Sponsor, the agent handles that application first. This step typically takes one to three months, occasionally longer. Next comes the nomination, where the employer formally nominates your position and salary — usually another one to three months. Once approved, your visa application is lodged and typically finalised within one to three months, though complex cases can take longer. Throughout, we stay in contact with you and the agent so documents move quickly and nothing stalls.

What You Get

  • Guidance from MARA-registered migration agents
  • Labour Market Testing assistance for employers
  • 482 Visa and pathway to permanent residency support
  • Sponsorship application support for employers who aren't yet an Approved Standard Business Sponsor

Add-On Services

  • Priority document review to help you avoid processing delays
04

Making the Move Seamless

Relocation Assistance

Once your visa is granted, the real logistics begin. We help you book flights, understand luggage and import rules, and plan your arrival around your employer's start date. Finding somewhere to live is often the biggest source of stress, so we help you find short-term accommodation for your first few weeks. We also point you toward longer-term housing options near your new job. On top of that, we help with the basics: opening a bank account, applying for a Tax File Number, and getting a local phone number. That way, you're not scrambling to sort admin in your first week.

What You Get

  • Travel logistics guidance
  • Temporary and permanent housing assistance
  • Community connection and settlement tips
  • Help opening a bank account and applying for a Tax File Number
  • Guidance for partners and children relocating with you

Add-On Services

  • Temporary furnished housing package (additional cost)
05

We Stay With You

Ongoing Support

Starting a new job in a new country doesn't stop being stressful once you land. We check in with you at 30, 60, and 90 days after arrival to catch issues early. That includes problems with the job itself, your accommodation, or general settling in. We also stay in touch with your employer, because smooth onboarding benefits everyone. If you're aiming for permanent residency, we can point you toward the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. That pathway typically opens up after two to three years with your sponsoring employer. Our goal is a long-term placement, not just a visa grant.

What You Get

  • Post-arrival check-ins with candidates and employers
  • Onboarding coordination support
  • Family settling-in assistance
  • Guidance on the pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 visa
Common Questions

How It Works — Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the whole process take, from first enquiry to starting work in Australia?
Most candidates move from initial assessment to arriving in Australia within four to eight months. Sponsorship approval typically takes one to three months. Nomination takes another one to three months, and the visa grant itself a further one to three months. These stages can sometimes overlap, which shortens the overall timeline. Complex cases, or employers who aren't yet approved sponsors, can take longer.
Who actually handles the visa application — RecruitUp or a migration agent?
A registered migration agent handles the formal visa application, not RecruitUp. Under Australian law, immigration advice must come from a MARA-registered agent. RecruitUp's role is recruitment — finding, vetting, and matching candidates to employers. We work alongside your migration agent, or one we can refer, throughout the sponsorship and nomination process. We don't lodge the visa ourselves.
What documents does a candidate need to have ready?
You'll typically need your passport, trade certificates or qualification documents, and a detailed employment history with references. English test results are also required unless you qualify for an exemption. A police clearance and health check are standard for most visa applications too. We review your documents during the initial assessment stage, so you know early what's missing and what still needs organising.
Does the employer or the candidate pay for the visa process?
Employers pay the sponsorship and nomination fees, along with the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. They cannot legally pass these costs onto the candidate. Candidates are responsible for their own visa application charge, which is roughly $4,015 for the primary applicant under the Core Skills stream. Migration agent fees are usually negotiated between the employer and the agent directly.
What happens if a placement doesn't work out?
If a candidate leaves or a placement ends early, the employer's sponsorship approval stays valid for up to five years. It also covers multiple nominations. RecruitUp can source a replacement candidate under that same sponsorship, without the employer needing to reapply from scratch. We keep a pipeline of pre-vetted candidates specifically so a replacement search moves quickly.
Can candidates bring their families to Australia?
Yes. Partners and dependent children can usually be included in the same visa application as secondary applicants, though additional visa charges apply for each person. Our relocation support extends to the whole family — from housing and schooling questions to general settling-in advice — not just the primary visa holder.

MARA Disclosure — Immigration and visa advice is provided by our licensed MARA-registered partner agencies. View our partner agents.