ANZSCO 233612 · MLTSSL
Petroleum Engineer
The 189 cut-off fell to 80 points in Jun 2026, from 85.
Path to permanent residence
The steps for the points-tested visas, with this occupation’s own assessing body, lists, cut-offs, fees and processing times.
Skills assessment
Get a positive assessment from Engineers Australia. It must still be valid when you’re invited: usually 3 years, or less if the assessment says so.
English
Show at least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band, or an equivalent PTE, TOEFL, OET or Cambridge score). Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20.
Points
Score at least 65 on the federal points test, counting nomination points for the 190 (+5) or 491 (+15). For the 189, the latest round invited Petroleum Engineer at 80 points (Jun 2026). Work out your points · see when they change.
Expression of Interest
Submit a free EOI in SkillSelect for the visas this occupation allows: 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated), 491 (regional, nominated). It stays active for 2 years, and your points and date of effect decide your place.
State nomination (190 / 491)
3 of 8 list Petroleum Engineer: New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria. Open or inviting now and listing it: New South Wales. Also open, with no published occupation list: Tasmania (check its criteria). Each state ranks applicants its own way. See every state.
Invitation and visa application
When invited, lodge within 60 days. Base fee for the main applicant: AUD 6,135 for the 189, AUD 6,140 for the 190, AUD 6,140 for the 491; family members pay extra. You’ll also need health checks and police certificates.
Decision and PR
Home Affairs decides 90% of applications within 189: 8 months · 190: 16 months · 491: 18 months. The 189 and 190 are permanent visas. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa; after at least 3 years living and working in regional Australia you can apply for permanent residence (191) if you meet its requirements, including income.
Employer-sponsored route
✓On the Core Skills Occupation List
An Australian employer can sponsor Petroleum Engineer on a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, Core Skills stream (base fee AUD 4,015). The Employer Nomination Scheme (186) is the usual next step to permanent residence for 482 holders who meet its requirements.
What a Petroleum Engineer does
Official description and tasks from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ANZSCO 2022).
Plans and directs the engineering aspects of locating and extracting petroleum or natural gas from the earth. Registration or licensing may be required.
Qualifications and experience: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).
- SpecialisationsMud Engineer, Petrophysical Engineer
- ANZSCO skill level1 of 5 (1 is highest)
- Unit group2336 Mining Engineers
Tasks
ABS lists tasks for the whole unit group, Mining Engineers. Skills assessments and employer nominations compare the duties you’ve done with the ANZSCO description and tasks, so check yours match.
- Conducting preliminary surveys of mineral, petroleum and natural gas deposits with prospectors, Geologists, Geophysicists, other mineral scientists and other engineers to determine the resources present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process
- Preparing operation and project cost estimates and production schedules, and reporting progress, production and costs compared to budget
- Determining the most suitable methods of ore extraction taking account of such factors as depth of overburden, and attitude and physical characteristics of deposits and surrounding strata
- Preparing plans for tunnels and chambers, location and construction of mine shafts, layout of mine development and the application of appropriate mining techniques, often using computer modelling
- Assessing the natural, technical, financial and safety risks associated with the phases of the project development, construction and operations
- Determining the safety of processes, order of extraction and safety of mine walls, evaluating the risk of slippage and advising on the prevention of slippage and rock falls
- Planning and coordinating the utilisation of labour and equipment consistent with efficiency targets, statutes, safety guidelines and environmental conditions
- Planning and conducting research and providing advice on engineering operations for the exploration, location and extraction of petroleum and natural gas
- Determining location for drilling
- Deciding on types of derrick and equipment including seabed platforms
- Devising methods of controlling the flow of oil and gas from wells
189 cut-off history
Lowest score invited in each round, and whether your points would have been enough.
State and territory nomination
Whether Petroleum Engineer is on each state’s current list, and where each program stands.
| State or territory | 190 | 491 | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | – | – | See site |
| New South Waleslisted by unit group | ✓ | ✓ | Inviting |
| Northern Territory | No list | No list | Closed |
| Queensland2025–26 list · also offshore | ✓ | ✓ | Not open yet |
| South Australia | No list | No list | Not open yet |
| Tasmania | No list | No list | Open |
| Victoria | ✓ | ✓ | Not open yet |
| Western Australia | No list | No list | Not open yet |
Program status is for 2026–27. Being listed doesn’t mean a state is inviting now, and each state has its own criteria. “Nominated so far”: 190 / 491 nominations this program year (Home Affairs).
Shortage rating
Shortage nationally, except no shortage in ACT.
- NSWShortage
- VICShortage
- QLDShortage
- SAShortage
- WAShortage
- TASShortage
- NTShortage
- ACTNone
Jobs and Skills Australia’s rating of the labour market. Invitations also depend on planning levels, ceilings and how many EOIs are waiting, so the two don’t always line up.
Every round since 2022
| Round | 189 cut-off | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | 80 | −5 |
| 13 Nov 2025 | 85 | −5 |
| 21 Aug 2025 | 90 | +5 |
| 7 Nov 2024 | 85 | −10 |
| 5 Sep 2024 | 95 | |
| 13 Jun 2024 | 95 | +10 |
| 18 Dec 2023 | – | |
| 25 May 2023 | – | |
| 8 Dec 2022 | 85 | +20 |
| 6 Oct 2022 | 65 | |
| 22 Aug 2022 | – |
After an invitation
Home Affairs’ current processing times for the points-tested visas.
| Visa | Half decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189) | 61 days | 8 months |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | 4 months | 16 months |
| Work Regional (491), state nominated | 5 months | 18 months |
| Work Regional (491), family sponsored | 4 months | 7 months |
Home Affairs, decisions to 31 August 2026. Clock starts when you lodge, which you must do within 60 days of an invitation.
Plan with this occupation
Sources and method
- 189 rounds: Home Affairs invitation rounds and previous rounds. 2022–23 rounds reported offshore and onshore separately; we show the lower score.
- State lists: each state’s official site, checked 15 October 2026. Queensland shows its 2025–26 lists until 2026–27 is announced; NSW lists by ANZSCO unit group; Victoria accepts any occupation on the federal lists.
- Shortage: Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO 2022 codes).
- Processing times: Home Affairs processing times guide.
- Skilled lists and assessing authorities: LIN 19/051, checked 14 October 2026.
- Occupation description, titles and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022, used under CC BY 4.0.
- Employer route: Core Skills Occupation List, LIN 24/089 (compilation 2025-11-07). Fees: Home Affairs visa pages, checked 14 October 2026.
- Agents: embed this occupation on your website.