Canadian --> Australia for work
 

Hi,

First post. For background info I'm a Canadian ATPL holder with 3,500TT, 1,500 multi turbine PIC, currently acting PIC of a nine seat twin turbo prop under 12,500lbs in Northern Canada.

Wondering the feasibility of gaining employment in Australia? Has the pilot shortage hit Australia as hard as it has North America and Asia? I recently came across a post on a differing form that stated some carries in Australia have begun paying for visas for qualified pilots across seas. Is there truth to this? It appears I can go the route of being sponsored by an employer, or I can go under the guise of no nomination but each comes with a risk. The first option has the risk that no employer is going to sponsor me unless I've already converted my licenses, and the second options comes with the risk of paying for a visa with no employment on the other side.

Google “457 visa”. Adding pilots to that category of visa was recently announced by the government. A 457 visa requires an employer sponsorship.

Converting your licences will be non-trivial, but the better employers may have assistance in place for that.

I hear that th shortage is starting to be felt: the talent pool for even Qantas is a fraction of its former size, and I hear that the regional operators are fretting.

When comparing salaries it is helpful to know that Australia is about 30% more expensive than southern Canada. (But less tha Fort Mac!). Good luck.