Apiarist
An Apiarist manages colonies of honey bees for honey production, beeswax, pollination services, and queen bee rearing. Australia has a commercially significant apiculture industry and its disease-free status makes Australian bees valuable globally.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
Growing demand due to pollination services for agriculture and increasing biosecurity requirements following Varroa mite detection.
Occupation list membership
Which Department of Home Affairs skilled lists this occupation currently appears on.
- STSOLShort-Term Skilled Occupation List
Occupations eligible for shorter-term sponsored visas including Subclass 482 (short-term stream).
- CSOLCombined Skilled Occupation List
The merged skilled list that consolidates previous MLTSSL and STSOL eligibility under the Skills in Demand program.
Assessing authority
The body that assesses skills for migration purposes for this occupation.
- VETVETASSESSVisit official site →
Visa pathways
Australian visa subclasses for which this occupation is currently eligible.
- 186Learn more →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 190Learn more →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Learn more →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 491Learn more →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Learn more →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations
States and territories that currently nominate this occupation for skilled migration.
| Code | State / Territory | Details |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | Queensland | View nomination → |
| WA | Western Australia | View nomination → |
| SA | South Australia | View nomination → |
| TAS | Tasmania | View nomination → |
Key duties
- Manage and inspect hive colonies for health and productivity
- Extract, filter, and package honey and other bee products
- Provide pollination services to orchards and broadacre crops
- Control pests and diseases including Varroa mite management
Skills required
- Bee biology, colony management, and queen rearing
- Honey extraction and processing
- Biosecurity and disease identification
- Apiary site management and hive transport logistics
Typical qualifications pathway
Certificate II or III in Beekeeping is typical, with practical experience in commercial apiary operations. VETASSESS assesses qualifications for migration.
Visa & occupation list information
Listed on STSOL and CSOL, supporting subclasses 186, 190, 482, 491, and 494. The dual listing provides access to both employer-sponsored and points-tested visa pathways For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
anzsco.com.au is information-only. For personalised advice on your situation, always consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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