Forklift Jobs In Australia With Visa Sponsorship

Forklift jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship are becoming a popular pathway for skilled workers seeking stable employment and long-term opportunities.

As Australia’s warehousing, logistics, construction, and manufacturing industries continue to expand, the demand for licensed forklift operators remains high. Employers often provide visa sponsorship to attract reliable workers from overseas, offering not only competitive salaries but also potential pathways to permanent residency.

With flexible work schedules, additional benefits, and strong job security, forklift roles are ideal for candidates looking to build a career in Australia while meeting critical labor shortages in key industries.

This article sets out every realistic pathway, eligibility, licensing, pay mechanics, and a step-by-step process for candidates and sponsors. Plus due-diligence checks to avoid pitfalls.

Can overseas forklift drivers be sponsored in Australia?

Yes Employers can sponsor where the role aligns to an eligible occupation and the business meets sponsorship obligations.

The primary temporary pathway today is the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482), which replaced the legacy TSS 482 in December 2024; regional employers may use Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494), and experienced hires may be nominated for Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for permanent residence.

Regions with a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) may list Storeperson 741111 or Forklift Driver 721311, enabling tailored labour agreements with concessions.

Reality check: Sponsorship is not automatic. Employers must show a genuine vacancy, pay guaranteed base earnings at or above the indexed thresholds, and match the market rate for the location and grade. Roles dependent on irregular hours, casual shifts or sham ABN arrangements will not meet the genuine full-time test.

Occupation Mapping: Pick the Code that Fits the Actual work

Correct ANZSCO mapping is decisive. Use the code that best reflects day-to-day duties and equipment.

721311 Forklift Driver Operates forklifts to move pallets, containers, crates and bulk materials; often within bonded warehouses, manufacturing plants, ports and distribution centres. Registration or licensing (state High Risk Work Licence) is required. Skill level: typically 4; assessing authority often VETASSESS for skills assessments where relevant.
741111 Storeperson Receives, handles, stores, picks and dispatches goods; commonly uses forklifts, order pickers, pallet jacks and RF scanners as part of broader inventory roles. Used by many warehouses and cold stores when forklift operation is just one element of the job.

Tips to get mapping right

Align your position description with the chosen code: list forklift types (counterbalance, reach, high-reach, clamp, container), order-picking tasks, RF scanning, inbound/outbound, manifesting, and dangerous goods handling where relevant.
Avoid scope creep. If most hours are forklift driving, 721311 usually fits; if the role mixes picking, receiving and dispatch with forklift operation, 741111 is often the correct match.
Match shift pattern (days/afternoons/nights), worksite class (ambient, chilled, frozen, dangerous goods), and load profile (palletised FMCG, steel, timber, bulky goods).

Visa options explained (sponsor-aware)

1. Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

Who it suits: Nationwide sponsors filling ongoing forklift or warehouse roles where local recruitment has failed.
How it works: Employer becomes an approved sponsor, nominates the occupation (e.g., 721311 or 741111) and offers a genuine full-time position that passes both pay tests: the indexed skilled-visa threshold based on guaranteed base pay and the local market rate for the role and location.

The visa may have streams (e.g., core/specialist/labour agreement) depending on the policy settings in place.

Pathways: Time on the SID visa may count towards eligibility for ENS 186 if requirements are met.

2. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494)

Who it suits: Employers in designated regional areas (logistics hubs, ports, agribusiness distribution, mining supply bases).
Key points: Same salary and market rate tests as 482, but tied to regional locations. Provides a route to regional permanent residence when income and residence conditions are met.

3. Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Who it suits: Experienced workers with an employer willing to sponsor for permanent residence now (direct entry) or after a qualifying period on an eligible temporary visa.

4. DAMA / Labour Agreements (region-specific)

When to use: Where the regional DAMA lists Storeperson 741111, Forklift Driver 721311, or a closely allied role, and allows concessions (e.g., English, salary, age) under an endorsed labour agreement. Example: some DAMAs explicitly include Storeperson 741111 with concessions; sponsors must adhere to the agreement’s terms.

Important: Outside DAMA or a specific labour agreement, not every warehouse job will be eligible for sponsorship. Correct mapping and sponsor eligibility are critical.

Eligibility and Registration Requirements for Forklift Jobs in Australia with Visa Sponsorship

This guide explains who is eligible, what licences are required, and the sponsor obligations that must be in place.

Candidate eligibility

Skills and experience

Recent, verifiable experience operating counterbalance and reach/high-reach forklifts; clamp or container handling is an advantage.
Familiarity with RF scanners, warehouse management systems, picking and packing, manifesting, and cycle counts.
Understanding of traffic management, pedestrian separation, stacking, and racking clearances.

English, health, character

Meet the visa stream’s English settings.
Satisfy health and character requirements; supply police certificates when requested.

Work readiness

Ability to work days, afternoons, nights, and in environments such as cold stores with appropriate PPE.
Demonstrated WHS habits: pre-start checks, near-miss reporting, housekeeping, and fatigue management.

Registration and licensing

There is no national professional registration for forklift drivers, but you must hold the correct High Risk Work Licence issued by an Australian state or territory regulator:

LF: Forklift truck licence for standard counterbalance and reach forklifts.
LO: Order-picking forklift truck licence for platforms where the operator is elevated.

How to obtain it

Training and assessment are completed with an approved Registered Training Organisation in Australia and include theory and practical components.
Many sites also require a Verification of Competency on specific models operated on site.
Overseas forklift tickets are not equivalent; plan to obtain the Australian HRWL promptly on arrival if you do not already hold one.

Site inductions and extra tickets (role dependent)

WHS and site induction, traffic management, emergency procedures.
Cold-store practices and PPE where chilled or frozen work applies.
Dangerous goods awareness if relevant.
First Aid/CPR, manual handling; working at heights awareness for LO tasks; client portal inductions as required.

Document checklists

Candidate

Passport and consistent civil documents.
Resume with quantified KPIs such as pallets per shift, pick accuracy, and damage rate.
HRWL (LF and/or LO) and any Verification of Competency certificates; if offshore, a training plan to obtain HRWL on arrival.
References on letterhead confirming duties, equipment, shift patterns, and safety history.
English evidence if required, police and any medical documents.

Employer

Sponsor approval or DAMA endorsement.
Position description and ANZSCO mapping; site addresses and roster model.
Contract showing classification or grade, base salary, ordinary hours, penalties and allowances, and superannuation.
Labour Market Testing evidence if required and salary or market rate justification.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Wrong occupation code: if the role is broader warehousing with occasional forklift use, 741111 Storeperson may be correct rather than 721311. Update the position description before lodging.
Threshold miss: base pay that only meets the indexed threshold after counting overtime or bonuses will fail sponsorship tests.
Casual or ABN arrangements: sponsorship expects genuine full-time employment.
Sparse evidence: thin LMT records, vague position descriptions, or weak salary justifications trigger requests for further information and delays.
Licensing gap: arriving without the HRWL or a booked, imminent assessment can stall onboarding even with a granted visa.

Quick self-checks

Candidate

My daily duties align to 721311 (mostly forklifts) or 741111 (storeperson with forklifts).
I hold LF/LO or have a booked plan to obtain the Australian HRWL immediately on arrival.
I meet English, health, and character settings for my visa stream.
My references evidence KPIs, shift work, and WHS standards.

Employer

We are an approved sponsor or have DAMA endorsement.
Our position description and roster align with the nominated ANZSCO.
The contract’s base salary clears indexed thresholds and meets market rate; terms mirror Australian conditions including penalties, allowances, and super.
Labour Market Testing completed if required and records retained.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1. Define the role and map it to ANZSCO

Decide whether the day-to-day is primarily forklift operation (721311) or warehouse storeperson work that includes forklifts (741111).
List equipment and tasks in the position description: counterbalance, reach/high-reach, clamp, order picker, RF scanning, inbound/outbound, load restraint, cold-store handling.
Align shift pattern (days/afternoons/nights), environment (ambient/chilled/frozen), and KPIs (pallets/hour, pick accuracy).

Step 2. Choose the visa route

Skills in Demand 482: nationwide employer sponsorship for ongoing roles.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494: similar rules, tied to a designated regional area, with a regional PR pathway.
Employer Nomination Scheme 186: permanent residence where eligibility is met (direct entry or after qualifying time on a temporary sponsored visa).
DAMA (labour agreement): region-specific; use only where Forklift Driver 721311 or Storeperson 741111 is listed and endorsed.

Step 3. Confirm sponsor readiness

Employer: Hold or obtain approved sponsor status (or DAMA endorsement). Confirm internal capability to lodge a nomination and meet ongoing obligations.
Candidate: Confirm you can work full-time and meet English, health, and character requirements for the chosen stream.

Step 4. Set salary and conditions correctly

Draft a contract showing classification/grade, base salary, ordinary hours, roster, penalties, allowances (e.g., cold-store, leading hand, mobile plant), and superannuation.
Ensure the guaranteed base pay (not overtime/bonuses) clears the indexed salary thresholds and the overall package meets the market rate for the location and grade.
Confirm equivalent terms and conditions to Australians in the same role.

Step 5. Complete Labour Market Testing (if required)

Employer: Run compliant advertising and keep evidence (ad copies, dates, platforms, response summaries). This supports the genuine vacancy requirement.

Step 6. Build the employer nomination pack

Position description tied to ANZSCO and daily equipment.
Contract and salary justification (market rate evidence).
Roster/shift model and site addresses (ambient/chilled/frozen, DG if relevant).
LMT evidence (where required).
Sponsor approval details or labour agreement endorsement (if using DAMA).

Step 7. Build the candidate evidence pack

Passport and civil documents; up-to-date resume with quantified KPIs.
High Risk Work Licence (LF forklift and/or LO order-picking forklift). If offshore, provide equivalent training history and a plan to obtain the Australian HRWL immediately on arrival.
Verification of Competency (VOC) for specific forklift models, if the site requires it.
References confirming equipment handled, environments (e.g., cold-store), shifts, KPIs, and safety performance.
English evidence (if required for the stream), police certificates, and any requested medicals.

Step 8. Nomination lodgement (employer)

Sponsor submits the nomination for the chosen visa and stream with all attachments.
Double-check the ANZSCO code, work locations, and the genuine full-time statement are consistent across forms and documents.

Step 9. Visa application (candidate)

Lodge your visa referencing the approved nomination.
Upload all personal evidence (identity, HRWL/VOC or training plan, English, police, medical where relevant, and family member documents if included).
Pay attention to declaration accuracy; inconsistencies cause delays.

Step 10. Respond quickly to any Requests for Further Information

Use clear filenames and a brief cover note mapping each attachment to the question asked.
If something material changes (job location, family members, passport), submit an updated change in circumstances promptly.

Step 11. Decision and grant

Review the visa grant notice: check conditions, travel validity, and any work/location restrictions (especially for regional pathways).
If onshore, note any bridging visa conditions during processing.

Step 12. Pre-arrival preparation

Employer

Schedule WHS induction (traffic management, pedestrian separation, pre-starts, near-miss reporting).
Book any site-specific online inductions and arrange PPE issue (hi-vis, safety boots, cold-store gear).
Prepare payroll onboarding (bank, TFN, super).

Candidate

If offshore and HRWL is required post-arrival, book the RTO training/assessment window and study the theory guides.
Organise accommodation and transport to the site; confirm shift start times and supervisor contact.

Step 13. Onboarding and day-one compliance

Complete site WHS induction and any client portal training.
Present HRWL (or attend booked assessment), VOC records, and identity documents.
Review SOPs for forklifts (speed limits, horn use, battery/charging, LPG, load centres, racking heights).
Verify payslip details and superannuation setup.

Step 14. First ninety days plan

Hit objective KPIs: pallets/hour, pick accuracy, on-time dispatch, damage rate near zero.
Record toolbox talks, near-miss reports, refresher VOCs, and any cold-store or DG training—these strengthen future ENS 186 or regional PR pathways.
Keep a simple evidence ledger: dates, rosters, roles, equipment used, training completed.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Wrong occupation code: If the PD describes broad warehouse tasks with some forklift use, 741111 Storeperson may be the correct code—not 721311. Fix the PD before lodging.
Threshold miss: Offers that only clear the income threshold after counting overtime or discretionary bonuses will fail sponsorship tests.
Casual/ABN arrangements: Sponsorship expects genuine full-time employment—avoid sham contracting or unstable hours.
Sparse documentation: Missing LMT evidence, thin salary justification, or vague PDs trigger RFIs and delays.
Safety readiness: Lack of HRWL, VOC, or induction discipline can halt onboarding even after the visa is granted.

Quick readiness checklists

Candidate

My duties match 721311 (mainly forklifts) or 741111 (storeperson with forklifts).
I hold LF/LO or have a booked pathway to obtain them on arrival.
My references show KPIs and environments (ambient/chilled/frozen).
My contract shows base pay, penalties/allowances, and super, and passes both indexed threshold and market rate tests.

Employer

We are an approved sponsor (or hold DAMA endorsement).
PD, roster, and tools align with the nominated ANZSCO.
Labour Market Testing completed (if required) and records retained.
Contract provides equivalent terms and conditions to Australians and complies with payroll/super and record-keeping rules.

Mini email templates

Candidate → Employer (verification)

Hello [Name], please confirm the visa subclass you intend to use, the ANZSCO code for my role, and that the base salary meets both the indexed threshold and market rate. Kindly share a draft contract showing classification, hours, penalties, allowances, and super, plus any required tickets (LF/LO, VOC, cold-store). Thank you.

Employer → Candidate (pre-start checklist)

Hi [Name], attached are your WHS induction details, start time, PPE list, and documents to bring (passport, HRWL, VOCs, bank, TFN, super). Please confirm receipt and advise if you need assistance booking HRWL assessment.

Salary Expectations for Forklift Jobs in Australia with Visa Sponsorship

For skilled workers seeking forklift jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship, salary expectations are an important consideration. Forklift operators are in steady demand across warehouses, logistics hubs, factories, and construction sites, making this a practical entry point for sponsored employment.

Average Pay Rates

Hourly wages: Forklift drivers in Australia typically earn between AUD 24 – AUD 32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and industry.
Full-time annual salary: This translates to approximately AUD 50,000 – AUD 70,000 per year for full-time roles.
Overtime and shift loading: Evening, weekend, or public holiday shifts often attract penalty rates, increasing total earnings.

Factors Influencing Salary

Experience and Certification – Workers with advanced forklift licenses (such as high-reach or order picker) can earn higher rates.
Industry Type – Jobs in mining, construction, and large-scale logistics often pay more than small warehouse roles.
Location – Forklift jobs in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth tend to offer higher wages due to demand and cost of living. Regional areas may provide additional visa sponsorship incentives.
Employer Type – Large companies and multinational logistics firms often offer better pay and employee benefits packages.
Sponsorship Terms – Some employers include housing allowances, relocation assistance, or training as part of the visa sponsorship arrangement.

Additional Benefits

Superannuation contributions (retirement savings paid by the employer).
Opportunities for career growth into supervisory or warehouse management roles.
Access to safe working conditions under Australia’s workplace safety laws.
Job stability due to ongoing demand in logistics and supply chain industries.

How to find legitimate sponsors (and avoid pitfalls)

Target the right employers

Large 3PLs, retail DCs, manufacturing plants, ports, cold-chain networks, and facility management providers. These organisations run multi-site operations with persistent forklift demand—and are the likeliest to be or become approved sponsors.

Due-diligence Checklist (ask in writing)

Business identity: legal name, ABN/ACN, site addresses, and a company email domain.
Sponsor status: are they an approved sponsor or using a labour agreement/DAMA Which visa subclass and stream
Occupation mapping: which ANZSCO code, and which duties/tools justify it
Labour Market Testing: has it been completed (if required), and can they summarise the evidence
Contract essentials: classification/grade, base salary, hours/roster, loadings/allowances, superannuation, and lawful deductions

Red Flags (walk away if you see)

Requests to pay sponsorship fees or “job purchase” money.
Pressure to work on a visitor visa, cash-in-hand, or as ABN contractor for what is clearly an employee job.
Base pay that only hits the visa threshold after overtime or bonuses.
No written contract or refusal to provide the company ABN/ACN.

Candidate profile that wins sponsorship

Licensing: Current LF/LO licence, VOCs for specific forklifts, and clean incident history.
Performance: Evidence of KPIs—picks/hour, pallet movements/shift, zero damage, high audit scores.
Systems: RF scanning, major WMS platforms, inventory accuracy and cycle counts.
Environments: Experience across ambient, chilled, frozen, DG, and cross-dock operations.
Safety leadership: Near-miss reporting, toolbox talk participation, compliance with traffic management and pedestrian separation rules.
Soft skills: Shift handover notes, team communication, basic numeracy for stock counts, and incident documentation.

Regional pathways and data snapshot

Forklift roles are spread across all states with concentrations in Victoria and New South Wales, reflecting major port and retail logistics hubs. Regional logistics parks in Queensland, SA and WA also present opportunities, particularly under 494 or DAMA arrangements where listed occupations and concessions apply.

DAMA use case: Some regional agreements specifically include Storeperson 741111 (and, in some cases, forklift roles), confirming a structured local mechanism for sponsorship when mainstream lists don’t fully capture on-the-ground shortages.

Conclusion

Forklift jobs with visa sponsorship are viable in Australia when you align the right occupation code, the right visa pathway, and a compliant contract.

Map the role carefully to 721311 Forklift Driver or 741111 Storeperson, pick the most suitable route—SID 482, 494, 186, or a DAMA labour agreement—and ensure the base salary (not overtime) clears the indexed threshold while matching the market rate.

Present a clean evidence file with LF/LO licences, VOCs, references and safety credentials. Sponsors should document Labour Market Testing (where required) and issue detailed contracts that mirror Australian conditions.

With accurate mapping, lawful pay settings and disciplined onboarding, forklift professionals can progress from offer to arrival and, where eligible, toward permanent residence confidently and compliantly.