Can I sponsor a tyre fitter, car detailer, service advisor or car salesperson in Australia?

Why not

The Core Skills list starts, with few exceptions, at skill level 3, the trade-certificate level; tyre fitting, detailing and sales sit at levels 4 and 5. The sales occupations that are listed (sales representatives, sales and marketing managers) carry caveats that exclude front-line retail and transactional roles, which is exactly what a dealership salesperson or service advisor does. Labour market testing is irrelevant until an occupation is nominable.

Who can do the work now

The role does not have to wait for a visa. Three groups can work for you today without sponsorship, and tyre centres, detailers and dealerships already run on them:

• Working holiday makers (417 and 462): any role, six months per employer; register with the ATO for the 15 per cent rate and pay super. Employing working holiday makers.
• International students: 48 hours a fortnight in term, unlimited in breaks. Employing international students.
• Partner, graduate (485) and bridging visa holders: full work rights, a VEVO check and nothing else. Who can work for you now.

SponsorTalent lists candidates by occupation, visa and city, so you can see who can start on Monday before you make contact; search is free and a contact unlocks for A$30.

From tyre fitter to mechanic

A tyre fitter who has been doing brakes, suspension and servicing for years, or an overseas-trained mechanic working as a detailer while waiting for a ticket, can have real, documented experience assessed against the Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology through recognition of prior learning at a registered training organisation, then obtain a Trades Recognition Australia assessment and be nominated as a Motor Mechanic (General), which is on the Core Skills list. It takes months and only works where the experience is genuine; WIDEN assesses whether it is realistic before anyone pays: RPL for trades. The listed trades and their assessment rules: automotive occupations you can sponsor.

The DAMA route

Designated Area Migration Agreements are the exception to the lists. Regional agreements carry occupations the national lists omit; the Kimberley list (October 2025 version), for example, includes forklift drivers, truck drivers, retail and hospitality roles, and other regional agreements carry some of the same. The business must be in the region, endorsed by the regional body, and the worker must meet the agreement’s concessions on English, salary and age. Which agreement covers your area: sponsor workers in your state; how DAMAs compare with the other routes: PALM, labour agreement or DAMA.

The mistake to avoid

Do not nominate the role under an occupation it is not. A tyre fitter nominated as a Motor Mechanic or a service advisor as a Fleet Manager is tested against the duties, the qualification, the award classification and the pay, and a mismatch is refused, can bar the business from sponsoring for years, and exposes the worker to cancellation. If the person genuinely does the listed job and holds its qualification, nominate that job at its rate; if not, use the routes above.

Frequently asked questions

Is tyre fitter on the skilled occupation list? No. Tyre fitter, vehicle detailer and car washer are on no Australian skilled list, so the 482, 186 and 494 are not available.

Can a dealership sponsor a service advisor or salesperson? No. Service advisor, parts interpreter and car salesperson are not listed, and the listed sales occupations exclude front-line retail roles by caveat.

Can my tyre fitter become a sponsorable mechanic? Yes, if they have genuine, documented mechanical experience: recognition of prior learning against the Certificate III, then a TRA assessment, after which they can be nominated as a Motor Mechanic (General).

Who works tyre and detailing roles without sponsorship? Working holiday makers, international students (48 hours a fortnight in term) and partner, graduate and bridging visa holders with full work rights, after a VEVO check.