Understanding skilled migration and occupation lists in Australia

Layla Nate
4 min readOct 5, 2023

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In a world that has become so globalised and connected, more people than ever before decide to move their families to other parts of the world and start fresh. And with four of Australia’s major cities ranking on the Forbes 20 best cities in the world list, it’s no surprise that so many choose this country as their final destination.

This article will take a closer look at migration services in Australia, the skilled migration and occupation lists and how one can obtain permanent residency (PR) in Australia.

What is the skilled occupancy list (SOL) in Australia?

The SOL is a list of assorted jobs which are highly sought in Australia. The government uses this to handle the skilled migration programme, which enables people educated in these areas that are from other nations to move to the country on either a temporary or permanent basis.

The SOL goes through continuous reviews and revisions to guarantee that it remains relevant to the labour market in Australia, which is constantly evolving.

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) encompasses jobs in various areas, such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, construction, etc.

A distinct six-digit ANZSCO code is associated with each profession listed within the SOL. This number is used to determine the profession as well as the abilities and credentials necessary for employment in it.

If you happen to be a qualified individual who has an interest in immigrating to Australia through this route, you must have an occupation that is included on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in order to be considered for the skilled visa.

Nonetheless, it is important to remember that just because your occupation is on the list, doesn’t mean that you will be successful as other criteria must be met for an applicant to be successful.

Types of skilled migration visas

There are several types of skilled visas you can apply for. These include:

  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
  • Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
  • Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
  • Skilled-Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
  • Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)
  • Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
  • Regional Sponsored Visa (Subclass 187)
  • Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)
  • Employer nominated visa ( Subclass 186)

The first step

As outlined above, there are many different types so if you want to relocate but you’re unsure which visa will serve your purposes most efficiently, you should make contact with registered migration services in Australia to get some guidance on the matter.

They will be ready to guide you throughout the procedure and assist you in determining whether you qualify before you even begin writing an application. This will give you the greatest possible opportunity to navigate effectively what may appear to be a complicated process for obtaining a visa.

What other requirements does an immigrant need to satisfy?

Before applying for a skilled visa, applicants must read through the other points of eligibility and establish whether or not they meet them. In most cases, these include:

  • The candidate can’t be older than 45 when submitting their application.
  • The candidate must be of a good character; this can seem like a loose definition but there are specific evaluations that can verify this.
  • The candidate is required to have a level of English proficiency that allows them to work while they are in Australia.
  • A medical exam performed by an expert doctor must attest to the applicant’s excellent health for them to be considered.
  • The candidate has to demonstrate that they meet the requirements to obtain a skilled position that appears on the appropriate list.
  • Proof of such abilities must be provided by a skills assessing authority, an evaluating body that has been permitted to operate by the government of Australia.

After submitting an expression of interest for an independent or State nominated skilled visa , individuals granted a skilled visa can obtain permanent residency in Australia if selected.

However, each visa type’s requirements may differ, so researching your preferred visa type is essential. Alternatively, speak to a migration agent in Australia to discover the best visa type for your circumstances.

The skilled independent visa; the application process

A skilled worker who does not have sponsorship from an Australian company, a family member, or a territory or state may apply for a permanent visa under the subclass 189 programme.

This visa is awarded based on a point system. To be qualified to apply for this visa type (Subclass 189), prospective applicants need to acquire a score of at least sixty-five points in the assessment. The first step is for the applicant to create an expression of interest, which they should submit and then wait to be asked to apply for this visa.

It’s important to note that this pathway is highly competitive, the higher points you have, the more chances one holds to be invited.

The candidates will then have sixty days to complete their application seeking this visa once they have been invited to apply. After receiving approval for the visa, the applicant and any family accompanying them would have the opportunity to reside, work, and pursue further education in Australia permanently.

Not only can this process get confusing and take time, you’re at risk of making mistakes on your application without the proper guidance. So reaching out to some migration services in Australia can be invaluable. They have specialised teams who can give you clear answers and the best chance of a new chapter down under.

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Layla Nate
Layla Nate

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