Importer or Exporter - ANZSCO 133311
Skilled occupation profile
Importer or Exporter
ANZSCO 133311Importers and exporters sell and buy goods produced in Australia for export to overseas markets, or procure products made overseas for import to Australian markets, including raw materials, foodstuffs and manufactured goods.
Occupation guide
Occupation details and migration pathways
This guide brings together the key occupation tasks, possible visa pathways and skills assessment information for Importer or Exporter ANZSCO 133311.
Typical tasks and duties
Importers and exporters may perform the following tasks:
- supervise and coordinate the marketing activities of overseas distributors/agents and assist with administrative, sales and marketing functions
- investigate and assess overseas demand for goods produced in Australia or local demand for goods produced overseas
- research and comply with legal requirements affecting import and export of goods to and from Australia
- discuss orders and arrange for the production of goods with suppliers and distributors/agents
- arrange the shipment of goods, ensuring that all customs barrier control procedures and other documentation requirements are satisfied
- arrange payment for goods, ensuring these payments meet financial regulations in Australia and overseas
- liaise with freight forwarders and customs brokers, who make freight and space bookings with airline or shipping companies and arrange for the movement of cargo from airports and wharves
- monitor the performance of the business and prepare financial statements and report on import/export operations.
Possible visa pathways
This occupation appears on Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Occupations. The right visa pathway depends on factors such as your age, English level, qualifications, work experience, skills assessment, points score, nomination options and employer sponsorship.
Skills assessment
For skilled migration purposes, Importer or Exporter usually requires a suitable skills assessment. Relevant assessing authorities may include:
Additional occupation-specific assessment information
Importer or Exporter is classified as Group B occupations by Vetassess. The criteria for skills assessment of Group B occupations are the following :
- Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree with a highly relevant field of study and at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment in the last five years; Or
- Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree with an additional qualification at least Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma level in a highly relevant field of study and at least two years of post qualification highly relevant employment in the last five years; Or
- Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree without a highly relevant field of study and at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment in the last five years;
According to Vetassess, if you have pre-qualification employment and if all of your employment is before your qualification assessed at the AQF bachelor degree level , you are required to have five years of highly relevant employment in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level completed in the last five years.
Legacy subclass 187 pathway
Do you currently hold, or have you previously held, a subclass 457 or 482 visa?
If you have worked for a sponsoring employer in regional Australia, please note that Importer or Exporter — ANZSCO 133311 was included in the legacy Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) occupation list. The subclass 187 Direct Entry stream is closed to new applications, but the Temporary Residence Transition stream may remain available to certain transitional subclass 457 and subclass 482 workers. Eligibility is limited and depends on your visa history, relevant dates, sponsored regional employment, employer nomination, age, English and other requirements. Being included on this occupation list does not establish eligibility.
If this may describe your circumstances, we can assess whether the subclass 187 transitional arrangements may still apply to you.
Check your options
Check your skilled migration options
If Importer or Exporter is your nominated occupation, complete our skilled visa assessment form so we can review your possible migration pathways.
Reviewed by Principal Migration Consultant
Reviewed by Mohammad Reza Azimi
This occupation page has been reviewed for migration context by Shada Migration Services. Mohammad has assisted clients with Australian migration matters since 2009 and holds a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law from the Australian National University.
Last reviewed: July 2026
