How to hire a panel beater with visa sponsorship

The candidates available now

Live counts from candidate profiles on SponsorTalent. Search and filter them at /find/panel-beater; profiles show visa status, location and experience before you unlock contact details.

Where they want to work

Can your business sponsor a panel beater?

Panelbeater, ANZSCO 324111, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Eligible employer visas in our list data: 482, 494 and 186. The occupation you nominate must match the duties of the job: the ANZSCO title is Panelbeater.

Caveat: none recorded on the Core Skills Occupation List (WIDEN's copy of the Home Affairs list, read 6 November 2026).

The 482 Specialist Skills stream (salary at least A$146,576) is not available, because it excludes ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8 and this occupation is in major group 3.

Sponsoring from regional Australia opens the 494 as well; see regional sponsorship and DAMA for employers.

What you must pay

The nominated position must pay at least A$79,423 (2026–27 Core Skills Income Threshold for the 482 and 186, and the TSMIT for the 494), and no less than an Australian panel beater in the same role and location is paid. SponsorTalent's occupation data puts the market range for panel beaters at roughly A$60,000 to A$90,000, depending on experience and location. Check a specific offer with the sponsorship salary check.

Checks before you make an offer

The assessing authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). A skills assessment is not needed for every 482: it applies where the Department's instrument lists the occupation for the worker's passport country. Profiles on SponsorTalent show whether a candidate already holds an assessment.

In NSW, anyone doing work that affects the mechanical operation or structure of a motor vehicle needs a motor vehicle tradesperson certificate for each class of repair work they do (motor mechanic, panel beater and others), and carrying on a repair business also needs a motor vehicle repairer licence. Other states have their own rules, so check with the regulator in the employer's state.

Sources: NSW Government: working as a motor vehicle tradesperson · NSW Government: automotive licences and the repairer licence

Who sponsors panel beaters

Smash repair shops, vehicle service centres, insurance-aligned repair networks, regional auto businesses are the usual employers of panel beaters.

Where the shortage sits, according to our occupation data: sustained shortage particularly in regional and outer-metro areas — insurance repair backlog drives demand.

The steps

1. Find the candidate. Search panel beater candidates and unlock the profiles that fit, or post the role so candidates apply to you.
2. Sponsorship. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement or DAMA) before it can nominate. WIDEN explains the requirements in how to become an approved sponsor.
3. Nomination. You nominate the position as Panelbeater at a salary that meets the threshold and the market rate. Costs are in WIDEN's cost to sponsor a worker and our sponsorship cost calculator.
4. Visa. The worker lodges the visa after the nomination. For the legal steps for your case, use a registered migration agent: book WIDEN Migration Experts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor a panel beater on a 482 visa?

Yes. Panelbeater, ANZSCO 324111, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). In SponsorTalent's list data it is eligible for the 482, 494 and 186 employer-sponsored visas. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement) before you nominate.

What is the minimum salary for a sponsored panel beater?

At least A$79,423 for 2026–27, and no less than the market rate an Australian panel beater would be paid for the same job.

How many panel beaters are looking for sponsorship on SponsorTalent?

The live count is on this page and on the Panel Beater candidate search at /find/panel-beater. Profiles are anonymous until you unlock one.

Who handles the sponsorship and nomination?

Your business lodges them, usually through a registered migration agent. WIDEN Migration Experts (MARN 1576536) can prepare the sponsorship, nomination and visa; SponsorTalent itself is a marketplace for finding candidates.