Skilled Occupation List 2026 · Australia
Find your occupation. Find your visa. Find your future.
Search Australia's official Skilled Occupation List for 2026. Check which states are inviting your role, see the best courses to study, calculate your migration points — and learn exactly how to boost your score.
Australia is hiring globally — here's the picture.
Understanding the Lists
The 4 streams that decide your visa.
Australia divides skilled jobs into four streams based on demand, duration, and region. Your stream determines which visa you can apply for — and whether your job leads to permanent residency.
Core Skills Occupation List
Main list for the new Skills in Demand visa (482) Core Skills Stream. Covers occupations with sustained labour shortage.
Medium & Long-Term Strategic Skills
Long-term demand occupations across Australia. Best for permanent pathways via the 189 visa with no employer or state needed.
Short-Term Skilled Occupation List
For shorter-term skill needs. Mostly used for the 482 (Short-Term Stream) and state-nominated 190 visas.
Regional Occupation List
Specifically for occupations needed in regional areas. Used for the 491 and 494 regional visas with PR pathway after 3 years.
The Search Tool
Search 80+ in-demand occupations in seconds.
Type your job, dream career, or study field. See the best Australian course, eligible visas, and which states have been inviting that role.
Skilled Visa Pathways
10 visa subclasses — only some lead to PR.
Choosing the right visa is as important as choosing the right occupation.
Skilled Independent (Points-Tested)
Australia's most coveted PR visa. No employer or state needed — just enough points and an MLTSSL occupation.
Skilled Nominated
State-nominated PR visa. Adds 5 bonus points. You commit to living in the nominating state for 2 years.
Skilled Work Regional
5-year provisional visa for regional Australia. Adds 15 bonus points. PR via 191 visa after 3 years.
Skills in Demand
Employer-sponsored work visa. Three streams: Specialist, Core, and Essential Skills. PR via 186 after 2 years.
Employer Nomination Scheme
Direct PR via employer sponsorship. Three streams: Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, and Labour Agreement.
Employer Sponsored Regional
5-year regional employer-sponsored visa. PR pathway via 191 after 3 years. Wider occupation list than 491.
Temporary Graduate
Post-study work visa. 2 years for Vocational stream, 2–4 years for Post-Higher Education depending on qualification.
Regional Sponsored Migration
Closed to new applicants but still relevant for transition stream applicants who held the older 489/494 visas.
Training Visa
For occupational training in your nominated field. Up to 2 years. Useful for upskilling toward an SOL occupation.
SkillSelect Invitation Trends
5 years of invitation rounds at a glance.
The Department of Home Affairs invites the highest-scoring candidates in regular SkillSelect rounds. See which fields Australia keeps inviting.
Smart Migration Points Calculator
Will you score 65 points? See exactly how to reach 85+.
Australia's minimum is 65 — but invitation rounds typically need 85–95+. Fill in your details and our smart calculator tells you exactly what to add to boost your score.
Your Profile
Study Pathways for PR
Diploma · Bachelor · Master — pick the right rung.
Your level of study must match the skill level required by your nominated occupation.
Diploma & Trade Qualifications
⏱ 1–2 years · From AUD 14k–22k/yr
- Cookery & Hospitality (Cert IV + Diploma)
- Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical (Cert III)
- Childcare (Diploma of Early Childhood)
- Aged Care & Disability Support
- Diploma of Nursing → Enrolled Nurse
Bachelor's Degrees
⏱ 3 years · From AUD 32k–48k/yr
- Bachelor of Nursing (Registered Nurse)
- Bachelor of IT / Computer Science
- Bachelor of Engineering (any specialisation)
- Bachelor of Commerce / Accounting
- Bachelor of Education (Primary / Secondary)
Master's & Postgraduate
⏱ 1.5–2 years · From AUD 38k–55k/yr
- Master of Professional Accounting
- Master of IT / Cybersecurity / Data Science
- Master of Engineering (any specialisation)
- Master of Teaching (Primary / Secondary)
- Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
Search 10,000+ programs across 40+ Australian universities and TAFEs.
Frequently Asked
Everything Kerala & GCC students ask us about the SOL.
If your application or nomination is already pending, removal usually won't impact you. The same applies if you already hold a skilled visa — unless your circumstances change and you need to lodge a new nomination. If you're changing employer or occupation and your role is no longer eligible, it can affect future applications.
The most reliable PR-aligned courses are: Bachelor / Master of Nursing, Bachelor / Master of IT and Computer Science, Master of Professional Accounting, Bachelor / Master of Engineering, Bachelor / Master of Teaching, Master of Social Work, Cert III + Diploma in Commercial Cookery, and Trade qualifications (Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Automotive).
Australia awards points for: age (max 30 for ages 25–32), English (up to 20), skilled employment overseas and in Australia (up to 35 combined), education (up to 20), Australian study (5), regional study (5), STEM (10), Professional Year (5), NAATI (5), and partner / single applicant (10). Minimum is 65, but invitation rounds usually need 85–95+.
Strongly worth considering — especially for the 491 visa, which awards 15 bonus points for regional nomination plus another 5 for studying regionally. Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide now count as regional under federal definitions.
For the Australian Study Requirement, you need at least 2 years (92 weeks) of continuous study aligned with your nominated occupation, completed at a CRICOS-registered Australian provider. After completing, you become eligible for a 485 visa with 2–4 years of work rights.
Each ANZSCO occupation has a defined skill level (1–5). Skill Level 1 typically requires a Bachelor's degree or higher (RN, Software Engineer, Primary Teacher). Diploma-level courses align with skill levels 2–4 (Enrolled Nurse, Trades, Cookery).
PR holders can: invite eligible family members, get a Medicare card, travel in/out of Australia for 5 years, work without restriction, access social security (after waiting periods), and use First Home Buyer schemes. After 4 years as PR, you can apply for citizenship.
Aim for MLTSSL if you can — it unlocks the 189 visa with the broadest PR pathway. CSOL is the powerhouse for employer-sponsored visas (482 → 186). STSOL is fine for state-nominated 190 but narrower. ROL gives the strongest regional pathway via 491.
Talk to our education counsellors
Choosing a course is the first step. We'll help you get it right.
Guide to Heights is an education and admissions consultancy. We help you choose the right course and university for your career goals. For PR and visa lodgements, please consult a registered migration agent.
!! Guide to Heights is an education consultancy. We do not provide PR, visa, or migration services. For visa & PR advice always consult a registered MARA migration agent. Data sourced from Department of Home Affairs.