Australia Skilled Occupation List 2026: How to Check If Your Job Qualifies

What is the Skilled Occupation List?

"The Skilled Occupation List" is really a set of occupation lists that decide who can use Australia's skilled visas. Home Affairs publishes them as one combined list of eligible skilled occupations, and each occupation is tagged with the list (or lists) it sits on. Put simply: if your occupation is not on the right list for the visa you want, you cannot apply for that visa, regardless of your qualifications, work experience, or points score.

The lists are set by the Australian Government in legislative instruments and published by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). They are updated periodically, informed by advice from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) about labour market needs. Occupations are added and removed based on where Australia has identified genuine skills shortages and where the domestic labour market can meet demand without migration.

Understanding how the list works — and which sub-list your occupation sits on — is one of the most fundamental steps in assessing your skilled migration options.

The four lists explained

Since 7 December 2024 there are four key lists. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is used for employer-sponsored visas; the older three lists still apply to the points-tested and regional visas:

CSOL replaced the old employer-sponsored lists when the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. The 482 now has a Specialist Skills stream (no occupation list, but a much higher salary threshold), a Core Skills stream (CSOL occupations) and a Labour Agreement stream. The 186 Direct Entry stream also uses the CSOL, while the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream has no list — it uses the occupation from your 482. A separate "Essential Skills" pathway for lower-paid roles was flagged in the government's Migration Strategy but has not been introduced as a visa stream.

MLTSSL is where you want your occupation to be for the points-tested visas. Being on the MLTSSL gives you access to the full range of points-tested pathways — including the independent Subclass 189, which requires no state nomination. An occupation on the MLTSSL signals that Australia has identified a genuine medium-to-long-term need for those skills.

STSOL occupations are considered by DHA to be in shorter-term demand or higher supply. They are excluded from the independent 189 visa — you will need state nomination (190 or 491) to use an STSOL occupation for a points-tested visa. States also publish their own priority lists, drawn from these national lists.

ROL occupations have the most restricted access — only available for regional visa pathways (491 and employer-sponsored 494). This typically reflects occupations where demand is concentrated in regional areas but not in metropolitan centres.

Understanding ANZSCO codes

Every occupation on the skilled occupation lists is identified by an ANZSCO code — the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. Home Affairs uses the 2022 version of ANZSCO for the 482 and 186 visas (including the CSOL) and the 2013 version for all other skilled visas (the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL). The ABS released a replacement classification, OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia), in December 2024, but as at September 2026 skilled visa lists still use ANZSCO codes — check the Home Affairs page before relying on an OSCA code. Before you can check whether your occupation is eligible for skilled migration, you need to identify the correct ANZSCO code for your role.

ANZSCO codes are hierarchical six-digit numbers. The first digit is the major group (2 = Professionals), the first two digits the sub-major group (26 = ICT Professionals), the first three the minor group, the first four the unit group (2613 = Software and Applications Programmers), and all six the specific occupation.

It is important to identify the most accurate ANZSCO code for your actual role, not just the code that appears most eligible. DHA and skills assessing bodies assess your duties against the ANZSCO unit group description — if there is a mismatch between your claimed occupation and your actual work, your skills assessment or visa application can be refused.

How to check your occupation

The definitive source for skilled occupation eligibility is the Department of Home Affairs website. The process is straightforward:

1. Go to the Skilled occupation list page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
2. Open the combined list of eligible skilled occupations, which shows whether each occupation is on the CSOL, MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL.
3. Search by your occupation title or six-digit ANZSCO code within those documents.
4. Check which list your occupation appears on and which visa subclasses are listed against it.
5. Confirm the relevant assessing authority for your occupation — this will be listed in the same document or in the linked occupation pages.

Do not rely on third-party websites or tools — including immigration agent websites, forums, or comparison sites — as your primary source. These are frequently outdated and have caused applicants to proceed with visa applications based on incorrect eligibility information. The DHA website is the only authoritative source.

Skills assessment bodies

Once you have confirmed your occupation is on the relevant list, the next step is obtaining a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority. Each occupation is assigned to a specific body that evaluates whether your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards.

Skills assessment costs typically range from $400 to $1,000 or more depending on the assessing body, the complexity of the application, and whether you opt for standard or expedited processing where available. Some bodies also charge additional fees for recognition of prior learning assessments or appeals.

What happens when an occupation is removed

DHA periodically reviews the Skilled Occupation Lists and removes occupations where labour market conditions have changed — typically where supply now meets demand without migration, or where an occupation is being restructured. Home Affairs says pending nomination and visa applications are not adversely affected when an occupation is later removed, but people who have not yet been invited or nominated can lose that pathway.

If your occupation is removed from the lists while you are in the process, the practical implications depend on your stage:

• If you have already received an invitation and lodged your visa application: You are generally protected — your application is assessed based on the list at the time of invitation.
• If you have an EOI in SkillSelect but have not yet been invited: Your EOI may no longer be valid for that visa subclass and you may need to reassess your pathway.
• If you are still at the planning stage: You need to explore alternative occupations or visa pathways.

Even if your occupation is removed from the points-tested lists, you may still be eligible for employer-sponsored visas (Subclass 482), which use the separate CSOL — or, for high earners, the Specialist Skills stream, which has no occupation list.

What to do if your occupation is not listed

Finding that your occupation is not on any of the lists is not necessarily the end of your Australian migration options. There are several alternative pathways to consider:

1. Check for a related or alternative ANZSCO code. Many roles sit at the boundary of two or more ANZSCO unit groups. A software developer working primarily on embedded systems might qualify under Software Engineer or Electronics Engineer. Discuss the options with a Registered Migration Agent or directly with the relevant assessing body.
2. Employer-sponsored Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand). The Core Skills stream uses the CSOL, which is a different list from the MLTSSL and STSOL, and the Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list for roles paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold. If an Australian employer needs your skills and is willing to sponsor you, this is often a viable path even when independent or state-nominated pathways are not available.
3. State and territory-specific occupation lists. Each state and territory publishes its own nomination priorities, chosen from the national MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL. An occupation that is rarely invited for the 189 may still be in demand for a 190 or 491 nomination in a particular state — particularly in regional areas with niche skill shortages.
4. National Innovation visa (subclass 858). For people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement in a profession, sport, the arts or academia and research, the National Innovation visa (which replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024) offers a pathway outside the standard occupation lists.

Key tips for checking your eligibility

• Always use homeaffairs.gov.au as your primary source — not third-party immigration websites, social media groups, or comparison tools. The lists change periodically and outdated information is pervasive online.
• Confirm your ANZSCO code with your skills assessing body before applying. Most major bodies — ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS — have pre-assessment enquiry processes or published guidance on how to identify the right code. Use these resources.
• Read the ANZSCO unit group description carefully. Your skills assessment and ultimately your visa application will be evaluated against the tasks listed in the ANZSCO description for your occupation unit group. If your actual duties do not align, flag this early.
• Do not apply for a skills assessment in an occupation you do not genuinely work in. Misrepresenting your occupation in a migration application is a serious matter and can result in a permanent bar from Australian visas.
• Monitor DHA announcements. Subscribe to DHA email updates or check the site regularly if you are in a longer-term migration planning phase — occupation list changes can affect your strategy significantly.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Skilled occupation list
• Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream
• Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Specialist Skills stream
• Department of Home Affairs — National Innovation visa (subclass 858)
• Australian Bureau of Statistics — About OSCA