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Tips on Getting a Job Offer & Visa Sponsorship in Australia – IT Professional
Hey everyone,
I’m Mohammad, a 31-year-old backend developer from Iran with:
2+ years of experience in Python/Django
3 years as a network administrator
1 year as a programming tutor
I’m currently seeking a job offer with visa sponsorship that can lead to permanent residency in Australia.
My wife and I are fully prepared to relocate to Australia immediately upon securing a visa and job offer.—
Education:
Master’s in Information Technology
Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering
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Languages & Family:
My English level is intermediate; we use it daily – but no certificate.
My wife, 33, is from Indonesia and is:
An English teacher and university lecturer
Has 5 years of teaching experience
Holds a Master’s in Japanese Area Studies
JLPT N3 certified
Her TOEFL is expired
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Questions:
Which visa types are most suitable for our case (as a developer with IT experience and a spouse who is an academic and English teacher)?
What is the best pathway to secure a job and eventually gain permanent residency?
What skills or certifications should I focus on to improve my chances in the Australian job market?
Any tips for improving eligibility or preparing applications?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Mohammad -
3 Replies
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Hi Mohammad, thanks for your detailed post and welcome to the community. 👋
It’s great to see that both you and your wife are committed to relocating to Australia, and I think that gives you a strong foundation to work from.
You’ve asked a few excellent questions, and I’ll touch on those in a moment, but before diving into specific pathways I just wanted to flag something that may be worth thinking about.
While you’re clearly skilled in IT, it might actually be your wife who is the stronger primary applicant when it comes to migration.
Here’s why that might be the case:
Occupation suitability: University lecturers and school teachers (especially English or ESL) are regularly listed on skilled occupation lists for state nomination or regional visas here in Australia. In some cases, they may even be eligible for direct employer sponsorship with a pathway to permanent residency.
Experience and qualifications: Your wife has five years of teaching experience, a master’s degree, and speaks English fluently in daily life. That combination is very appealing to both state governments and education sector employers, especially in regional areas where demand is high.
English language requirements: Most skilled and sponsored visas require proof of English language ability. While your wife’s TOEFL is expired, she may be in a stronger position to get a high score again compared to someone without a teaching or academic background.
Communication-based roles: For employers who need clear communication, especially in client-facing or teaching positions, your wife’s experience as a lecturer could give her the edge.
That’s not to say your own background wouldn’t be valuable in Australia, particularly with your Python and Django skills, but many IT employers look for candidates with more commercial experience and strong English language results. That may limit your chances of sponsorship in the short term, though there are definitely still things you can do to strengthen your profile.
So what might be a good path forward?
1. Consider applying with your wife as the primary applicant
She could explore skilled visas like the 190 (State Sponsored) or 491 (Regional). Many states are actively looking for teachers, particularly in regional locations. If she receives an invitation, you can be added to the application as a dependent.
2. If your wife secures a job with sponsorship (e.g. 482 or 186 visa)
You can accompany her as a dependent on the visa. This allows you to live and work in Australia, giving you the opportunity to gain local experience and potentially move toward permanent residency later.
3. In parallel, you could
Work toward an ACS skills assessment for your IT qualifications
Improve your English by taking the IELTS or PTE (aiming for at least 7 in each band if possible)
Gain more experience or certifications in high-demand frameworks or cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Docker, or REST APIs)
Target regional employers or smaller startups who are sometimes more open to sponsorship
This combined approach might give you the best chance of success, allowing one of you to lead with the stronger profile while the other builds experience in Australia.
Feel free to keep us updated as you explore your options, and don’t hesitate to post any other questions along the way.
I’m happy to help guide you where I can.
All the best
Mark
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Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for taking the time to write such a detailed and insightful response — I really appreciate it. 🙏
Your point about my wife potentially being the stronger primary applicant makes a lot of sense. She does have solid qualifications and experience in education, and we’ll definitely look more closely into the 190 and 491 visas. We hadn’t considered making her the lead applicant before, so that’s extremely valuable advice.
Regarding my own background — you’re right that many IT roles in Australia expect a higher level of English proficiency and commercial experience. I’m actively working on improving my English and plan to take the IELTS or PTE soon, aiming for at least band 7 in each area as you suggested.
Also, I realized after posting that I didn’t mention a few relevant parts of my skillset. I’ve worked extensively with Docker and REST APIs, and while I tried to keep the post less technical for the forum, those are definitely core to my backend experience. The main skill I’m still working to add is AWS, which I now realize is quite important in the Australian market. I’ve already completed over 20 professional certificates on Coursera, including ones in cloud computing, but not specifically AWS — so that’s something I’ll be prioritizing moving forward.
Thanks again for the helpful breakdown and encouragement. We feel more confident now in exploring the right strategy and pathways. I’ll be sure to update this thread as we progress and may reach out with a few more questions soon! 🙂
Best regards,
Mohammad -
Hi Mohammad, thanks so much for your kind message and thoughtful reply. 🙂
We are seeing that Docker and REST API experience are definitely valuable skills in the Australian market, especially if you’re aiming for backend or DevOps-related roles. Many job ads here list AWS as a key requirement, so focusing on that next makes perfect sense. Even starting with an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or AWS Solutions Architect Associate can really boost your profile when paired with the skills you already have.
Also, completing all those professional certificates on Coursera shows a strong commitment to continuous learning, and you should definitely highlight that on your CV and LinkedIn. Australian employers do value demonstrated initiative, especially when paired with practical experience.
As for your wife, I’m really glad you’re exploring the possibility of her being the primary applicant. If she’s confident with English, it may even be worth looking at the 189 visa pathway in the future, especially if she’s able to secure a positive skills assessment and scores well in IELTS or PTE. It could open doors to permanent residency without needing employer or state sponsorship, depending on points and occupation ceilings at the time.
Please do keep us updated on your progress — and if you need help feel free to reach out. You’re not alone in this, and I’m sure your journey will help others in the community too.
Wishing you both the very best as you take the next steps.
Cheers
Mark
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