New Occupation Lists & Skill Select Updates

On 19 April, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Australia amended the current Lists of Occupations Australia as we know it.

On 19 April 2017, the:

Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) replaced the previous ‘Skilled Occupation List’ (SOL) and is available in Schedule 1.

You must nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) if you are applying for any of the below:

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) (unless nominated by a State or Territory Government)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work Stream.

Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) replaced the previous ‘Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List’ (CSOL) and is available in Schedule 2.

There is no separate STSOL list as visa programmes that utilise this list can also access some additional occupations on the MLTSSL. For ease of reference, there is now a combined list of both the STSOL and the eligible MLTSSL occupations together.

The Combined list of eligible skilled occupations are valid  for any of the below:

• Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) – Direct Entry Stream
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – if nominated by a State or Territory Government
• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)
• Training visa (subclass 407)

However, the downside of the latest update in Australian Immigration is a list of over 200 Occupations removed from the Occupation lists.

With a less than 24 hours notice, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection removed over 200 occupations from both Short term (CSOL) and Long term (SOL1) occupation lists. 

The update affects all applicants that did not have a lodge application on or after 19th of April 2017.

For all those currently looking for immigration to Australia, feel free to register for an assessment or give us a call at +971 4 456 0076 and check if your case has been impacted by this update and if you are still eligible to apply for Australian Permanent Residency.

For those already impacted by the latest update, the waiting time begins. Until 1st of July 2017 when the new Immigration year starts under the Australian Skills Select program, no invitations or nomination will be issued if your occupation is part of the 200 Removed Occupation Lists.

Also, the  following occupations will be still available under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (189 Independent Visa) but not for Short-term Skilled Occupation List (190 state nomination):

1.  Chemical Engineer

2.  Civil Engineering Technician

3.  Electrical Linesworker

4.  Electronics Engineer

5.  Industrial Engineer

6.  Materials Engineer

7.  Medical Administrator

8.  Pressure Welder

9.  Production Manager (Mining)

10. Production or Plant Engineer

11. Project Builder

12. Ship’s Engineer

13. Ship’s Master

14. Ship’s Officer

15. Stonemason

16. Telecommunications Network Planner

If the latest updates are unclear and need additional information, please fill in the assessment form or use our contact form to email us and ask for clarification.

Until then, if your occupation is still in the list and you are thinking about applying for Permanent Residency in Australia, we advise all applicants to not delay their process or take the occupation lists for granted and keep an eye on the ceilings of their category.  #LiveBetter #StartNow

Occupations Australia – Find out more about opportunities for engineers in Australia