Does Work Experience Across Different Occupations Count for an Australian Visa?
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- 5 min read
Last Updated: 24 July 2026
No, it doesn't automatically count.
Most skilled and employer-sponsored visa pathways only recognise work experience that sits in your nominated occupation, or in a closely related occupation under the same ANZSCO Unit Group.
Experience outside that group generally won't satisfy a skills assessment or points test claim. It doesn't matter if the role was full-time. It doesn't matter if it paid well. Relevance is what counts.
Key takeaways
Relevance to your nominated occupation matters more than total years worked
A "closely related" occupation must sit in the same four-digit ANZSCO Unit Group
Only paid work counts, and only if it's at least 20 hours a week
Only experience from the last 10 years is assessable
Different visa subclasses apply different work experience rules
Your documents (dates, job titles, hours) carry as much weight as the experience itself
Every application is assessed on its own circumstances
What Makes Work Experience "Relevant"?
Relevance decides whether your experience counts. Not how long you worked.
The Department of Home Affairs and skills assessing authorities generally accept employment in your nominated occupation, or in a closely related skilled occupation.
The ANZSCO Unit Group rule
A closely related occupation is one listed under the same four-digit ANZSCO Unit Group as your nominated occupation.
It can also be:
Part of a recognised career progression pathway
Specifically recognised as related by your assessing authority
An accountant who worked as an auditor may qualify. Both roles sit under the same ANZSCO unit group.
A chef who spent two years as a delivery driver generally won't qualify. The two occupations sit in unrelated groups, even though both are legitimate jobs.
What counts as employment
Only paid employment counts.
Unpaid internships, volunteer work, and full-time study don't contribute to a skills assessment or a points test claim.
Your work also needs to meet two thresholds:
At least 20 hours a week
Within the last 10 years before your invitation or application
Casual, part-time, contract, and self-employed work can all count, as long as the hours and pay meet these thresholds.
What doesn't count
A few things fall outside the assessable rules:
Experience in an occupation outside your nominated ANZSCO Unit Group, even within the same broad industry
Periods of unpaid leave, including extended parental leave
Claims that can't be backed up with documents
Claiming unrelated experience on an EOI or visa application is risky. The Department cross-checks your claims against your skills assessment and your supporting documents.
How Different Visa Subclasses Assess Work Experience
Every visa subclass sets its own standard. What applies to one pathway won't necessarily apply to another.
Skilled Independent, Nominated, and Regional visas (189, 190, 491)
The 189, 190, and 491 visas run on a points test, with a minimum threshold of 65 points.
Skilled employment in your nominated or closely related occupation contributes up to 20 points, combined across overseas and Australian experience. You can check how this is calculated on the 189 points table.
Before any of this counts, you need a positive skills assessment. The assessing authority decides whether your prior roles meet the skill level required for your occupation.
Employer-sponsored visas (482, 186, 494)
For the 482 Skills in Demand visa, your experience needs to sit in your nominated occupation and align with the position your employer is sponsoring you for. A skills assessment applies to some occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List.
The 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa generally requires a skills assessment under the Direct Entry stream. The Temporary Residence Transition stream doesn't.
The 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa also requires relevant experience matched to your nominated occupation, assessed through the same skills assessment process.
Training visa (407)
The 407 Training visa works differently.
You generally need at least 12 months of relevant work experience, or relevant study, directly related to your proposed training program, completed within the last 24 months.
The experience has to connect to the specific training activity your sponsor nominates. Your general field isn't enough on its own.
What Documents Prove Your Experience Is Relevant?
Your documents carry as much weight as the experience itself.
A skills assessor or case officer can only accept employment they can verify against your paperwork. For every role you want to claim, prepare:
Full employment dates (start and end)
Your exact job title and employer name
The number of hours worked per week
Reference letters describing your actual day-to-day duties
Payslips confirming paid employment
Bank statements showing salary deposits
A complete employment history, without gaps, makes it easier for an assessor to confirm your experience matches the requirements of your nominated occupation.
Missing dates or vague job titles are one of the most common reasons applications stall at the assessment stage.
Why Every Case Gets Assessed Individually
Two applicants with the same job title can get different outcomes.
Assessing authorities look at the tasks you actually performed, not just the label on your payslip. Your specific ANZSCO unit group, the visa subclass you're applying for, and how complete your documents are, all shape whether your experience counts.
A general breakdown of the rules is a starting point. It can't replace a review of your own employment history against your nominated occupation and chosen visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does experience in a completely unrelated occupation count at all?
Generally, no.
Skills assessing authorities and the Department of Home Affairs only count experience in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation under the same ANZSCO Unit Group. Experience in an unrelated field typically can't be claimed on a points test, or used to meet a skills assessment threshold, no matter how many years you worked.
Can I combine overseas and Australian experience in different occupations?
You can combine overseas and Australian experience for points purposes, but both periods still need to sit in your nominated or a closely related occupation.
You can't combine shorter periods of unrelated overseas work with unrelated Australian work to reach a threshold. Each period is assessed separately, against the same relevance rule.
What if my job title doesn't match my ANZSCO occupation exactly?
Job titles vary between employers and countries.
Assessing authorities look at your actual duties against the ANZSCO description for your nominated occupation. A detailed reference letter describing your responsibilities matters more than matching your exact job title to the ANZSCO name.
Does unpaid or volunteer experience count?
No.
Only paid employment of at least 20 hours a week counts toward a skills assessment or points test claim. Unpaid internships, volunteer work, and full-time study don't meet the employment definition used across Australian skilled and employer-sponsored visas.
How much relevant work experience do I need?
It depends on your visa subclass.
Points-tested visas award more points for longer periods, up to a maximum of 20 points for combined overseas and Australian experience.
Employer-sponsored visas generally need experience matched to the sponsored position, rather than a fixed year count. The Training visa generally needs at least 12 months of relevant experience or study.
Not Sure If Your Work Experience Is Relevant?
Every visa has different requirements, and eligibility depends on your individual employment history and nominated occupation.
A registered migration agent can review your work history against the visa pathway you're considering, before you lodge anything.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Visa requirements change, and every applicant's circumstances differ. Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent before making any visa decision. MARN: 1572961.
