Urban and Regional Planner
An Urban and Regional Planner prepares plans and policies for the use and development of land, influencing how communities are shaped in Australia's cities and regional areas. Planners work in councils, state planning authorities, and private practice.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
Strong demand driven by housing supply targets and urban renewal programs across all major Australian cities.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | New South Wales | View nomination → |
| QLD | Queensland | View nomination → |
| WA | Western Australia | View nomination → |
| SA | South Australia | View nomination → |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory | View nomination → |
Key duties
- Assess development applications and provide planning advice and recommendations
- Prepare planning scheme amendments, structure plans, and strategies
- Consult with communities and stakeholders on planning proposals
- Advise on zoning, subdivision, heritage, and environmental overlays
Skills required
- Planning legislation and planning scheme administration
- Urban design and land use planning principles
- Community engagement and consultation facilitation
- GIS and spatial analysis
Typical qualifications pathway
Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning; Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) membership is standard. VETASSESS assesses qualifications.
Visa & occupation list information
Listed on STSOL and CSOL, supporting subclasses 186, 190, 482, 491, and 494 For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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