Tradespeople: How Electricians, Plumbers, and Welders Can Migrate to Australia or Canada

If you are a qualified electrician, plumber, welder, or other skilled tradesperson, you are in one of the strongest positions possible for international migration. Both Australia and Canada are experiencing severe and persistent shortages of skilled tradespeople, and both countries have designed immigration programmes that specifically target workers like you.

This guide covers everything skilled tradespeople need to know about migrating to Australia or Canada: skills assessment bodies, trade certification recognition, visa categories, provincial and regional programmes, and practical tips for making the move.

Why Tradespeople Are in Such High Demand

The shortage of skilled tradespeople in Australia and Canada is structural, not temporary. Several factors drive this demand:

Aging workforce — a large portion of the existing trades workforce is approaching retirement
Major infrastructure projects — both countries have multi-billion-dollar investments in housing, transportation, energy, and resource extraction
Construction boom — Australia and Canada are both building at record rates to address housing shortages
Energy transition — the shift to renewable energy requires massive numbers of electricians, welders, and pipefitters for solar, wind, and battery infrastructure

The result is that electricians, plumbers, welders, and other construction trades are listed as priority occupations on both countries' skilled migration lists.

Australia: The Pathway for Tradespeople

Skills Assessment

Before you can apply for any skilled visa in Australia, you must have your trade qualifications assessed by the relevant authority. For most construction and engineering trades, the assessment body is TRA (Trades Recognition Australia).

How the TRA assessment works:

Submit your application with documentary evidence of your qualifications and work experience
Technical interview — a phone or video interview with a qualified assessor who evaluates your knowledge and practical skills
Possible practical assessment — in some cases, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills in person at an approved facility
Outcome — you receive a positive or negative assessment letter, which is required for your visa application

Key requirements for a positive TRA assessment:

A relevant trade qualification (certificate, diploma, or equivalent)
At least 3 years of post-qualification work experience in your trade
Evidence of current competence in your trade
Documentation must be translated into English by a NAATI-accredited translator if in another language

Other assessment bodies for specific trades:

Engineers Australia — for engineering technologists and associates
VETASSESS — for some specialised trades and occupations not covered by TRA

Australian Licensing

A positive skills assessment allows you to apply for a visa, but you may also need an Australian trade licence before you can legally work. Licensing is managed at the state and territory level, and requirements vary:

Electricians must obtain a licence from the relevant state electrical safety regulator (e.g., Energy Safe Victoria, Fair Trading NSW). This typically involves a gap training course and a licensing exam.
Plumbers are licensed at the state level and may need to complete a short bridging course to meet Australian standards.
Welders generally do not need a state licence but may need specific certifications (e.g., AS/NZS welding standards) depending on the employer and industry.

Research the specific requirements in your target state before you arrive, so you can begin the licensing process as quickly as possible.

Visa Categories for Tradespeople

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa (Points-Based)

Permanent residency visa — no employer sponsorship required
You need a positive skills assessment and a competitive points score
Trades on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) are eligible
Electricians, plumbers, and welders are all on this list
Points are awarded for age (maximum at 25-32), English proficiency, work experience, and qualifications

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

Similar to the 189 but requires nomination by an Australian state or territory
Provides an additional 5 points toward your score
States actively nominate tradespeople who are willing to live and work in their jurisdiction

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

A 5-year provisional visa for regional Australia
Provides 15 bonus points toward your score
After living and working in a regional area for 3 years, you can apply for permanent residency (subclass 191)
Regional areas offer significantly lower competition and faster processing times
Many trades roles in regional Australia also come with higher salaries due to the remote location premium

Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage Visa

Employer-sponsored temporary visa (up to 4 years)
The employer must be an approved sponsor and demonstrate they cannot fill the role locally
Can lead to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)

Regional Opportunities in Australia

Regional Australia offers some of the best opportunities for tradespeople:

Western Australia — mining and resources sector needs electricians, welders, fitters, and heavy diesel mechanics. Salaries in remote mining towns can exceed AUD 150,000.
Queensland — massive infrastructure pipeline including the 2032 Brisbane Olympics construction programme
South Australia — defence industry shipbuilding in Adelaide requires thousands of welders and fitters
Northern Territory — resource extraction and government-funded infrastructure projects
Tasmania — growing construction sector with lower cost of living

Canada: The Pathway for Tradespeople

Skills Assessment and Trade Certification

Canada's trade certification system is managed through the Red Seal Program, which provides a nationally recognised standard for skilled trades. Having a Red Seal endorsement means your certification is recognised across all Canadian provinces and territories.

How to get your trade recognised in Canada:

Contact the provincial apprenticeship authority in the province where you intend to work (e.g., Ontario College of Trades, SkilledTradesBC, Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training)
Submit your credentials for assessment — including your trade qualifications, work experience letters, and any certifications
Challenge the certification exam — in most provinces, experienced international tradespeople can challenge the journeyperson exam directly without completing a Canadian apprenticeship
Obtain your provincial trade certificate and, where applicable, your Red Seal endorsement

Important considerations:

Some provinces require a minimum number of hours of documented work experience (typically 6,000-9,000 hours depending on the trade)
You may need to complete a gap training programme if your qualifications do not fully align with Canadian standards
Electrical trades require provincial licensing in all provinces — you cannot work as an electrician without the appropriate licence
Plumbing is also a regulated trade in all provinces
Welding certifications (CWB standards) are employer-specific and industry-specific — you will typically need to recertify to Canadian Welding Bureau standards

Visa and Immigration Pathways

Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

This programme was designed specifically for tradespeople. Requirements include:

At least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years
Meet the job requirements as described in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) for your trade
English or French language proficiency — minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing (significantly lower than the Federal Skilled Worker Program)
A valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province

The language requirement is notably lower than other Express Entry streams, making this an excellent option for tradespeople who may not score as highly on English tests.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Provincial programmes are arguably the strongest pathway for tradespeople in Canada:

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) — has a dedicated skilled trades category with lower CRS requirements and expedited processing
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — the Skilled Trades stream targets in-demand trades in Ontario
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) — Alberta's booming oil and gas and construction sectors mean strong demand for trades
Atlantic Immigration Program — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland all seek tradespeople and offer simpler employer-driven pathways
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) — targets trades needed in Saskatchewan's agriculture and resource sectors

A PNP nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry CRS score, making it a virtual guarantee of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

If you have a job offer but do not yet qualify for permanent residency:

Your employer applies for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to prove they cannot fill the role locally
You receive a work permit tied to that employer
After gaining Canadian work experience, you can transition to permanent residency through Express Entry or a PNP

Regional Opportunities in Canada

Alberta — oil sands, pipeline construction, and a booming residential sector need electricians, welders, pipefitters, and heavy equipment operators. Journeyperson electricians can earn CAD 90,000-120,000+.
British Columbia — Vancouver and the lower mainland have a massive construction sector. The upcoming LNG Canada project in Kitimat requires thousands of tradespeople.
Ontario — the largest province by population with consistent demand across residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Major transit projects in Toronto are driving demand.
Atlantic Provinces — lower cost of living, growing populations, and immigration-friendly policies. Trades salaries are slightly lower but purchasing power is strong.
Northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) — remote work with premium salaries, often 20-40% above southern rates.

Australia vs Canada: Quick Comparison

Factor	Australia	Canada
Skills Assessment	TRA (centralised)	Provincial authorities
Main Visa	Subclass 189/190/491	Express Entry FSTP + PNPs
Language Requirement	IELTS 6.0 each band (general)	CLB 4-5 (lower threshold)
Salary Range	AUD 75,000-150,000+	CAD 65,000-120,000+
Permanent Residency	Immediate (189/190) or 3 years (491)	Often immediate
Climate	Warm to hot	Cold winters (most provinces)
Cost of Living	High (Sydney, Melbourne)	High (Toronto, Vancouver)

Practical Steps to Get Started

Gather your documentation — collect all trade certificates, apprenticeship records, work experience letters with detailed descriptions of duties, and reference letters from supervisors
Get your English test done — book IELTS or PTE early. Even though trades streams have lower thresholds, higher scores improve your competitiveness
Research your target province or state — understand the local licensing requirements and labour market conditions before committing to a destination
Start the skills assessment — TRA for Australia or provincial authority for Canada. This is the longest step and should be started as early as possible
Begin applying for jobs — use country-specific job boards like Seek and Jora for Australia, and Indeed Canada and Job Bank for Canada

Let NextMigrate Guide Your Move

Skilled tradespeople have some of the strongest migration prospects in the world right now, but navigating skills assessments, licensing requirements, and immigration pathways can be complicated. NextMigrate specialises in helping tradespeople from around the world migrate to Australia, Canada, and other high-demand countries. Contact us for a personalised assessment and let us help you turn your skills into an international career.