Moving to Perth for the work.
WA runs on trades and resources, and the work is genuinely there. The hard parts are the paperwork before you fly and the rental market when you land — especially if you're away on a swing while your family settles in.
Moving to Perth as a tradie or FIFO worker
TRA or VETASSESS sign-off gates the skilled visa routes.
Electrical, plumbing and gas need WA licensing; most other trades need tickets.
For FIFO, suburb choice should follow your terminal run.
The sequence that actually works
- 1Step 1Get your trade skills assessed
Most trades go through Trades Recognition Australia or VETASSESS. Expect a document review and, for some trades, a practical or technical interview. This is the long pole — begin it before anything else.
- 2Step 2Confirm your visa route
Employer-sponsored, state-nominated through WA, or skilled independent. WA nominates a wide range of trades, but occupation lists change. Use a registered migration agent (MARA) rather than a forum thread.
- 3Step 3Plan your WA licence conversion
Electrical, plumbing and gas work are licensed in WA and overseas qualifications need formal recognition before you can work unsupervised. Carpenters, riggers and machine operators generally need tickets rather than a licence.
- 4Step 4White card and site tickets
A WA construction induction (white card) is mandatory for site work and can be done quickly once you arrive. Site-specific tickets — working at heights, confined space, EWP, HR licence — pay for themselves fast.
- 5Step 5Choose a suburb around the roster, not the office
If you're FIFO, your commute is to Perth Airport at 4am, not to the CBD. That changes the suburb calculus completely — and it's the decision families most often get wrong.
- 6Step 6Land and get working
Tax file number, ABN if you're going out on your own, bank account, WA driving licence and a rental secured. Agents want employment evidence, which is easier once your contract is signed.
Occupation lists, licensing rules and nomination criteria change regularly. Confirm current requirements with a registered migration agent and the relevant WA licensing authority.
Suburbs that suit a roster
On a 2:1 or 8:6 swing, what matters is an easy airport run, a house your partner is happy in alone, and a street with other families on the same rhythm.
Straight run to the airport, big blocks, lots of FIFO families.
Southern value, strong young-family community, freeway access.
Northern coastal, newer estates, train line to the city.
Closest established area to the airport terminals.
Central-south, good schools, easy Tonkin Highway run.
Furthest north and cheapest — a longer airport run for the space.
Ballpark costs
- Trade skills assessmentA$1,000 – A$3,500
- Visa (skilled, with partner)A$5,000 – A$9,000
- Tools shipped or replacedA$2,000 – A$8,000
- White card + site ticketsA$300 – A$1,500
- Ute or work vehicleA$15,000 – A$35,000
- Temporary accommodation (4 weeks)A$2,500 – A$4,500
- Bond + rent in advanceA$3,500 – A$6,000
Someone on the ground while you're away.
We inspect properties, send video walkthroughs, handle agents and help your family settle in — so the move doesn't stall every time you fly out.