Hairdresser Migration to Australia: ANZSCO 391111 Pathway Explained
Hairdresser is one of the few personal-service occupations on Australia's skilled migration lists. This covers pay ranges, the TRA skills assessment, the English requirement, and the realistic visa pathways — including why regional towns are the strongest opening. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Hairdresser: ANZSCO 391111
- 0:14 Graduate: about $50,000.
- 0:24 TRA pathway:
- 0:36 Visa English requirement:
- 0:47 Pathways: 482 sponsorship,
- 1:00 Some DAMAs include hairdresser
- 1:19 Chain salons already recruit
- 1:30 Stronger English opens
- 1:40 Where to read more
Transcript
Hairdresser is one of the very few personal-service occupations that actually qualifies for Australian skilled migration — ANZSCO code 391111.
Pay ranges from about $50,000 for a graduate with Certificate III, up to $130,000 for a specialist in colour or extensions.
Getting assessed goes through TRA — either an Offshore Skills Assessment or the Job Ready Program for onshore practical testing. The whole pathway typically takes 12 to 18 months.
The skilled visa typically needs competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each band — which matters here because hairdressing is genuinely client-facing work.
The realistic routes are a subclass 482 sponsorship with a salon, the subclass 491 regional pathway, or the points-tested subclass 189 or 190 if the points stack up.
Some Designated Area Migration Agreements include hairdresser specifically — the Adelaide DAMA is one named example.
Regional and rural towns often lack hairdressing services altogether, which is why the regional pathway is described as the most accessible route into this occupation.
Chain salons already have established international recruitment — Just Cuts is the largest chain in Australia, alongside Hairhouse Warehouse, Tony and Guy, and Vidal Sassoon.
Community-language salons can accept lower English, but building English confidence is what opens the door to mainstream salons and higher pay.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
Short versions
- Hairdressers are on the skilled migration list (0:41)
- Regional towns are short on hairdressers (0:35)
- Australia's chain salons are already recruiting overseas (0:34)
Talk it through with a registered agent
Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.