Lists of eligible Skilled Occupations for Australian Visas

Australia’s migration program for the current new financial year 2020-2021 is driven by the need to assist Australia’s economic recovery.

The existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL).

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), comprises 17 occupations focusing mainly on the engineering, health and IT sectors.

What is the Skilled Occupation List?

It is a Combined list containing the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL) listing all occupations that are currently deemed needed to assist with Australia’s skilled labour shortage either independently, state sponsored or through the employer sponsored stream.

You must nominate an occupation from one of these lists and show that you can meet all relevant criteria for the grant of the visa.

The difference among MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL under employer sponsored visa stream

• The short-term stream is for employers to source temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the STSOL for two years, with a possible extension of an additional two years, and with no eligibility to apply for permanent residence.
• The medium-term stream is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill critical skills in occupations included on the MLTSSL for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years.
• The ROL is for highly skilled overseas workers employed in designated regional areas and operates alongside the current STSOL and MLTSSL. It provides for a four-year visa with a permanent residency pathway.

What about the State Nomination Lists?

Each state government/territory creates its own list eligible for state nomination under state nominated visa stream, i.e. subclass 190 and subclass 491 visa applications.

Candidates need to search whether their nominated occupations are on the state government’s occupation list before they proceed in seeking state nomination approval from the relevant state government.

Subclasses	Number of eligible occupations
ENS visa (subclass 186)	216 skilled occupations
Skilled Independent (subclasses 189)	212 skilled occupations
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)	427 skilled occupations
Skilled Regional (Provisional) State or Territory nominated visa (subclass 491)	504 skilled occupations
TSS visa (subclass 482)	508 skilled occupations
Training visa (subclass 407)	509 skilled occupations

My occupation is subject to a caveat – What does this mean?

To ensure that only workers of a higher skill level are sponsored, some occupations on the lists are subject to caveats.

Examples of visa caveats include:

• Applicants must be paid a higher minimum salary than might otherwise be required based on the market rate (e.g. a Recruitment Consultant must have a base salary of at least $90,000)
• The nominated position must not include low skill tasks
• The sponsor must have at least five full time employees
• The sponsor must have at least $1 million turnover, etc.

Is the Skilled Occupations List subject to change?

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (formerly the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) is responsible for regularly reviewing the skilled migration occupation lists to ensure the skilled migration lists reflect genuine skills needs and enable businesses to temporarily access the skills they need to grow if skilled Australian workers are not available.

The MLTSSL and STSOL are reviewed at least biannually to ensure Australia is targeting those occupations which it needs in the short term. Occupations can move between the MLTSSL and the STSOL, or be removed from the lists altogether.

Which occupations and/or courses are on the Permanent Residency List in Australia?

There is no guarantee that your occupation will remain on a list. Therefore, it is important for students to be aware that there is NO guarantee that your studies in Australia will lead you to gain Permanent Residency. We recommend you read our article ‘Which course will lead to PR in Australia?’

Occupations flagged

A “Traffic Light” system is being used – with some occupations flagged that are under consideration for a proposed change in their status on the STSOL and MLTSSL.

What happens if my occupation is removed from one or both lists?

If an occupation has been removed from the list and you have not yet lodged your application with the relevant authorities, you may not be eligible for the visa application you have planned on applying for.

If you are a holder of a subclass 457 visa or have applied for/held a subclass 457 visa prior to 18 April 2017, you can contact our office to learn more about your eligibility for certain visas, as a grandfathering clause may be applicable to you under such circumstances.