Sponsor a Heavy Diesel Mechanic from Overseas
Qualified heavy diesel mechanics for mining, transport, civil and earthmoving employers in Australia and New Zealand. We find them, interview them and handle the sponsorship and visa paperwork.
Get a recruitment plan within 1 business day
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp +61 413 124 717 · Phone +61 434 944 499
Machines don’t make money when they’re parked
If you run haul trucks, a road transport fleet, earthmoving plant or mining equipment, you already know the problem. Ads for heavy diesel mechanics sit for weeks. The applicants who do turn up often lack the experience you need. Meanwhile, servicing falls behind and equipment sits idle.
You’re not imagining the shortage. Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 Occupation Shortage List found that nearly half of all trade occupations were in shortage. Diesel Motor Mechanic (ANZSCO 321212) is on the Australian Government’s Core Skills Occupation List, which means you can sponsor one from overseas under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.
A few questions worth answering honestly: – How many diesel mechanics do you need? – How long have the positions been vacant? – What have you already tried? – What happens to your business if you can’t fill them?
How it works
Step 1: Tell us what you need (Day 1) Send us the role, site location, equipment types (e.g. CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi, Kenworth, Volvo), roster (e.g. FIFO, DIDO or residential), salary range and start date. Within one business day you’ll get an initial recruitment plan.
Step 2: We check that the role can be sponsored Before you spend money, we check the basics. Is your business eligible to sponsor? Does the salary meet the threshold? What labour market testing is needed? Which visa pathway fits best?
Step 3: Labour market testing in Australia In most cases, Australian law requires you to advertise the role in Australia before you nominate an overseas worker. That means at least two advertisements, with applications open continuously for at least 4 weeks, all within the 4 months before you lodge the nomination. We can help set this up so it meets the requirements.
Step 4: We source and screen overseas candidates We recruit through our networks in the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. Our UAE team speaks Arabic, Urdu, Bengali and Hindi. Candidates go through résumé screening, in-country, in-person interviews, practical skills checks and reference checks.
Step 5: Interview in person, if you want to Join one of our employer guided interview tours to the Philippines or the UAE, and meet your shortlisted candidates face to face before you commit. Zoom interviews are also available.
Step 6: Skills assessment (if required) Some candidates need a formal skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) before they can apply for a 482 visa. For Diesel Motor Mechanics, this applies to candidates holding passports from the Philippines, India, Fiji, Hong Kong, Macau, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe, unless they’re exempt. We’ll tell you early whether your candidate needs one.
Step 7: Sponsorship, nomination and visa Our registered migration agents prepare and lodge: 1. Standard Business Sponsorship, which approves your business as a sponsor 2. Nomination of the diesel mechanic position 3. The worker’s visa application
Step 8: Arrival and settling in We stay in touch with you and your new mechanic after arrival to help the placement work long term. [Describe the onboarding and settlement support you actually provide, e.g. airport pickup, accommodation help, induction.]
Which visa?
| Visa | What it’s for | Key points |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482): Core Skills stream | The main temporary employer-sponsored visa | Diesel Motor Mechanic is on the Core Skills Occupation List. Nominations can be for up to 4 years. The salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate. |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Permanent residence | Usually reached through the Temporary Residence Transition stream, once the worker has worked for you, or another sponsor, on a 482 visa for at least 2 of the last 3 years. Direct Entry may suit some experienced candidates. |
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) | Regional employers | May suit regional mining and agricultural areas. Ask us whether your postcode qualifies. |
| New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | NZ employers | Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector) is on New Zealand’s Green List, Tier 2. That can give qualified workers a pathway to residence after 2 years working in NZ. The employer must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand. |
Indicative timeline
Every case is different, and Home Affairs sets the processing times, not us. A typical sequence:
| Stage | Indicative time |
| Recruitment plan | Within 1 business day |
| Labour market testing (advertising) | At least 4 weeks |
| Sourcing, shortlisting and interviews | 1-4 weeks |
| TRA skills assessment (if required | 3 – 12 weeks |
| Sponsorship, nomination and visa processing | Varies. See the Home Affairs visa processing times guide |
| Total, from enquiry to mechanic on site | 3 -6 months, based on your recent cases |
What it costs
There are two kinds of cost: government charges, which are set by law and paid to the Australian Government, and our professional fees.
Government charges (Australia, from 1 July 2026)
| Charge | Who pays | Amount |
| Standard Business Sponsorship application | Employer | $420 |
| 482 nomination application | Employer | $330 per nomination |
| Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, 482, turnover under $10m | Employer | $1,200 per year of the nominated visa period |
| SAF levy, 482, turnover $10m or more | Employer | $1,800 per year of the nominated visa period |
| 482 visa application charge, main applicant | Usually the worker (employers may choose to pay) | $4,015 |
| 186 nomination application (where a fee applies) | Employer | $540 |
| SAF levy, 186 (one-off) | Employer | $3,000 (turnover under $10m) / $5,000 ($10m or more) |
| 186 visa application charge, main applicant | Usually the worker | $6,140 |
Example: a small business (turnover under $10m) sponsoring one diesel mechanic on a 4-year 482 visa pays $420 + $330 + $4,800 SAF = $5,550 in government charges. This doesn’t include the worker’s visa charge, family members, skills assessments, medicals or travel.
Government charges change, usually on 1 July. We’ll confirm the current amounts in your written quote.
Our professional fees
| Service | |
| Employer sponsorship package (advertised as “Visa Sponsorship 5 Years for $2,500”) | |
| Recruitment (sourcing, screening and interviews) | |
| Employer guided interview tour (Philippines / UAE) | |
| 186 permanent residence nomination |
You’ll get a written quote and a written services agreement before any work starts.
Salary: the minimum you must pay
For 482 Core Skills and 186 nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is $79,423 a year. You must also pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate, meaning what an Australian worker would earn in the same role at your workplace, if that’s higher. In most cases superannuation doesn’t count towards the threshold. The threshold is indexed every 1 July.
For heavy diesel mechanics in mining and resources, market rates are often well above the threshold. We’ll help you benchmark the salary properly.
Your obligations as a sponsor
Sponsoring a worker comes with legal obligations. In summary, you must:
- pay the sponsored worker at least the nominated salary, and on the same terms as Australian employees
- have the worker do the job they were nominated for
- not recover sponsorship, nomination, SAF levy, recruitment or employer-side migration agent costs from the worker, directly or indirectly (for example through wage deductions or repayment clauses)
- keep records and give them to Home Affairs when asked
- tell Home Affairs about certain changes (e.g. the worker leaves or the business changes) within the required timeframe
- pay reasonable return travel costs if asked
- cooperate with inspectors
We’ll explain the full list before you sign up, and help you stay compliant.
Why employers choose us
- Registered migration agents and lawyers in-house: Nathan Joo (MARN 1173091), Anthony Ross (MARN 0317382), Yuri Marshall (MARN 0320165) and Parsa Shahbandi, LLB GDLP, Solicitor (LPN 5510977)
- Recruiting since 1987 for Australian and New Zealand employers
- Blue-collar trades focus: mining, fabrication, heavy vehicle and plant maintenance, construction and civil
- On the ground overseas: offices in Makati City (Metro Manila), the UAE and Hong Kong, with 20 years of local UAE experience
- Employer guided interview tours to the Philippines and the UAE, so you can meet candidates in person
- Australian and NZ offices: Brisbane CBD, Ormeau, Eight Mile Plains, Paddington, Sydney and Auckland
- One team for recruitment and migration, so there’s no hand-off between a recruiter and a separate migration agent
Frequently asked questions
Is Diesel Motor Mechanic an occupation I can sponsor? Yes. Diesel Motor Mechanic (ANZSCO 321212) is on the Core Skills Occupation List for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. The role, salary and your business still have to meet the requirements.
What’s the minimum salary? For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, at least $79,423 a year (the Core Skills Income Threshold) and at least the market rate for the role, whichever is higher.
Can I ask the worker to pay back sponsorship or recruitment costs? No. It’s against Australian law for a sponsor to recover sponsorship, nomination, SAF levy or recruitment costs from a sponsored worker. It’s also illegal for anyone to ask for or accept payment in exchange for sponsorship. The worker may pay their own personal costs, such as their visa application charge, medicals and skills assessment.
Does my candidate need a skills assessment? Only in some cases. For Diesel Motor Mechanics it’s mandatory for 482 applicants holding passports from the Philippines, India, Fiji, Hong Kong, Macau, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe, unless they’re exempt. Trades Recognition Australia does the assessment.
Can the mechanic become a permanent resident? Often, yes. After at least 2 years of sponsored work, the worker may be able to apply for a permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream, if all requirements are met.
Can you guarantee the visa will be approved? No. Nobody can lawfully guarantee a visa outcome. The decision is made by the Department of Home Affairs. What we can do is assess your case properly, prepare complete applications and tell you about any risks upfront.
Get your recruitment plan within 1 business day
Tell us about the roles you need to fill. We’ll come back within one business day with an initial recruitment plan: where we’d recruit from, the visa pathway, an indicative timeline and costs.
Employer enquiry form – Your name – Company name – ABN / NZBN – Email – Phone / WhatsApp – Trade(s) needed * (e.g. Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Auto Electrician, Plant Mechanic) – Number of workers needed – Work location (town / site and state) – Roster (e.g. FIFO, DIDO, residential; roster pattern) – Salary range offered – Ideal start date / timeframe * – Have you sponsored workers before? (Yes / No / Currently an approved sponsor) – Annual turnover (Under $10m / $10m or more / Prefer not to say) – Interested in an interview tour? (Philippines / UAE / Zoom only) – Anything else we should know? – Preferred contact method (Email / Phone / WhatsApp)
Get my recruitment plan
Or WhatsApp us on +61 413 124 717
Compliance footer
Immigration assistance is provided by registered migration agents: Nathan Joo (MARN 1173091), Anthony Ross (MARN 0317382) and Yuri Marshall (MARN 0320165), and by Parsa Shahbandi, Solicitor (LPN 5510977). Our registered migration agents follow the Code of Conduct for registered migration agents. We can’t guarantee any visa or sponsorship outcome; all decisions are made by the Australian Department of Home Affairs or Immigration New Zealand. Workers are never charged for sponsorship, nomination or recruitment by an employer, or in exchange for a job offer. Government charges, thresholds and requirements change regularly; the figures on this page were current as at I November 2026 and will be confirmed in writing before you proceed. This page is general information, not legal or migration advice for your situation.