Skilled Occupation Lists Australian Migration

The skilled occupation list (SOL) summarises the occupations Australia needs to fill skill shortages. An applicant must nominate a skilled occupation in their application. Skilled occupation has the meaning given by regulation 1.15I. The current list of eligible skilled occupations can be found in a legislative instrument [below] for the relevant visa program in the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments signed by the Minister for Immigration. If a person has skills in more than one occupation on the SOL, they must decide one occupation as are no provisions in migration legislation that enable an applicant or the Minister to change their nominated skilled occupation after their visa application has been lodged. The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) [the list is below] identifies 44 occupations which fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

On this page;

  1. How to start: our process
  2. Book Appointment Now!
  3. Visas applicable to the Skilled Occupation Lists
  4. Occupations available for the skilled visa and Legislative instruments
  5. Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List
  6. Employer sponsored visa subclasses for PMSOL occupations

How to start: our process always starts with a consultation.

Please complete and submit the “Australian Visa assessment form” and then book an appointment for a one on one meeting with an Australian lawyer to get an assessment done.

Book Appointment Now!

Book under: ‘03. Migration Law - basic PR assessment and general advice - 1 hr’

Australian Migration PROCESS - Three Steps

Visas applicable to the Skilled Occupation Lists

The following visas are available to individuals who are qualified to work or train in an eligible skilled occupation in Australia and can meet all other requirements:

  • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)*
  • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
  • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
  • Training visa (subclass 407)
  • Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
  • Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work
  • Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).

Skilled occupation has the meaning given by regulation 1.15I.

Reg 1.15I Skilled occupation

  1. A skilled occupation, in relation to a person, means an occupation of a kind:
    1. that is specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing to be a skilled occupation; and
    2. if a number of points are specified in the instrument as being available — for which the number of points are available; and
    3. that is applicable to the person in accordance with the specification of the occupation.
  2. Without limiting subregulation (1), the Minister may specify in the instrument any matter in relation to an occupation, or to a class of persons to which the instrument relates, including:
    1. that an occupation is a skilled occupation for a class of persons;
    2. that an occupation is a skilled occupation for a person who is nominated by a State or Territory government agency.

Occupations available for the skilled visa and Legislative instruments

The table below provides information on the formal legislative instrument(s) which specify the occupations available for the skilled visa types listed.

Visa Program(s)Subclasses (streams or types)Legislative Instrument(s)
Skilled independent visasSkilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
Skilled nominated visasSkilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

 

LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
Employer sponsored visa programsSkilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)LIN 19/219: Occupations for Subclass 494 Visas

LIN 19/260: Assessing Authorities for Subclass 494 Visas

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)LIN 19/048​: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities— Subclass 482 Visa
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)LIN 19/049:​ Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)LIN 19/047: ​Specification of Occupations — Subclass 187 Visa

IMMI 12/096: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities

Other temporary visa programsTemporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate WorkLIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
Training visa (subclass 407)LIN 19/050: Specification of Occupations—Subclass 407 Visa

Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies 44 occupations which fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The list is based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments.

Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing. All other skilled occupation lists will remain active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority.

The list is temporary and priority occupations may change as Australia recovers from the pandemic.

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List [PMSOL]

The 41 occupations (ANZSCO code) are:

* Indicates occupation added in July 2021

Employer sponsored visa subclasses for PMSOL occupations

Priority processing of nomination and visa applications for PMSOL occupations applies to these employer sponsored visa subclasses:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
  • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)