Signwriter - ANZSCO 399611
Skilled occupation profile
Signwriter
ANZSCO 399611Signwriter designs, fabricates and paints signs for displays, buildings, hoardings, boats and structures. Registration or licensing may be required.
Occupation guide
Occupation details and migration pathways
This guide brings together the key occupation tasks, possible visa pathways and skills assessment information for Signwriter ANZSCO 399611.
Typical tasks and duties
Signwriter may perform the following tasks:
- conferring with clients and responding to proposals, sketches and written instructions to determine composition of signs
- designing and creating signs and graphics using computer software and signmaking machines
- designing and creating signs by measuring and calculating letter size, preparing the surface, applying background paint using brushes, sprays and rollers, and creating the letters using brushes, stencils, enamel paint and decals
- designing and creating wall murals, screen prints, gold leaf work and custom vehicle art
- painting signs and lettering using lacquers, varnishes, paints and other materials
- painting signs on brick, metal, timber, glass, plastic and other surfaces
- making and erecting three dimensional signs
- preparing cost estimates for labour and materials
- may erect and work on scaffolding
- may install signs on-site
Possible visa pathways
This occupation appears on STSOL and CSOL and 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, Signwriter usually requires a suitable skills assessment. Relevant assessing authorities may include:
Additional occupation-specific assessment information
The assessment authority for this occupation is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and the TRA skills assessment will assess if your educational qualifications and work experience are at a professional level and closely related to your nominated occupation for migration purposes.
You are required to receive a positive assessment for your qualifications and work experience from Trades Recognition Australia if you are planning to migrate to Australia through skill migration program.
Click here to read further information regarding the assessment process of Trades Recognition Australia.
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 Signwriter — ANZSCO 399611 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 Signwriter 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