You want to work in Australia on a sponsored visa — but before your employer can nominate you, your occupation needs to appear on the right list. Get this wrong and the nomination will be refused, no matter how strong everything else in your application is.

Under the Skills in Demand (SID) visa — Subclass 482, which replaced the old TSS visa in late 2024, the occupation requirements depend on which stream your employer is nominating you under: the Core Skills Stream or the Specialist Skills Stream. Each has different occupation requirements, salary thresholds, and conditions.

This guide explains how the occupation lists work for the SID visa in 2026, how to check if your occupation qualifies, what to do if it does not appear on the list, and which stream is right for your situation.

At Magpie Consultants, Umar Ashraf (MARN 2619222) assists employers and sponsored workers with occupation assessments and SID visa nominations across a wide range of industries.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a MARA-registered migration agent.

How Does the Skills in Demand Visa Handle Occupation Lists?

The Skills in Demand visa has two main streams, and the occupation requirements differ between them:

Core Skills Stream — For occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). These are occupations where Australia has identified a genuine skills shortage. The salary threshold is the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — AUD $76,515 from 1 July 2025 — and visa holders can stay for up to 4 years.
Specialist Skills Stream — For highly paid workers in roles that may not appear on the CSOL but where the salary itself demonstrates the specialist nature of the role. The minimum salary is AUD $135,000 per annum. Visa holders can stay for up to 4 years.

A third stream — the Labour Agreement Stream — exists for occupations that cannot be filled through the standard streams but where a specific Labour Agreement has been negotiated between an employer (or industry) and the Australian Government. This is how some occupations that do not appear on the CSOL can still be sponsored.

What Is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the list of occupations eligible for nomination under the Core Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand visa. It replaced the previous Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) that existed under the old TSS 482 framework.

The CSOL is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs and is reviewed periodically. Occupations are identified using ANZSCO codes — the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations — which is the standard classification system used across Australian immigration.

The CSOL includes hundreds of occupations across a wide range of industries, including:

Information and communications technology (software engineers, network administrators, cybersecurity analysts)
Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, structural engineers)
Healthcare (nurses, allied health professionals, medical specialists)
Accounting and finance
Construction and trades (in some circumstances)
Education and training
Hospitality management (not all hospitality roles — check carefully)

Key point: The CSOL is not a complete list of every occupation that could theoretically be sponsored — it is specifically the list of occupations the Government has determined have genuine skills shortages and are appropriate for employer-sponsored migration under the Core Skills Stream.

How to Check If Your Occupation Is on the CSOL

The process for checking CSOL eligibility has several steps that must all be followed correctly:

Identify your ANZSCO code. Every occupation has a six-digit ANZSCO code. This must be identified correctly — many job titles have multiple possible ANZSCO codes, and using the wrong one is a common mistake that leads to nomination refusals.
Check the CSOL on the Department of Home Affairs website. The current CSOL is published at homeaffairs.gov.au and is the authoritative source — not third-party websites which may be out of date.
Check whether any conditions or caveats apply to your specific occupation. Some occupations on the CSOL have caveats — for example, they may only be available in certain states, only for employers with a specific type of business, or only for roles above a certain skill level.
Confirm whether the actual duties match the ANZSCO description. The Department assesses nominations based on the actual duties of the role, not just the job title. If your duties do not match the ANZSCO description for the code your employer nominates, the nomination may be refused.

This is where having a MARA-registered migration agent involved in the occupation assessment makes a significant difference — an experienced agent will identify the correct ANZSCO code, check for caveats, and assess whether the actual role duties match the ANZSCO description before the nomination is lodged.

Core Skills Stream vs Specialist Skills Stream: Which One Is Right for You?

Feature	Core Skills Stream	Specialist Skills Stream
Occupation requirement	Must be on the CSOL	No specific occupation list — but role must be genuine specialist role
Salary threshold	AUD $76,515 (CSIT, from 1 July 2025)	AUD $135,000 minimum
Maximum stay	4 years	4 years
Skills assessment required	Sometimes — depends on occupation	No formal skills assessment
Labour Market Testing	Required (with exceptions)	Exempt
PR pathway via 186	Yes — after 3 years with sponsor	Yes — after 3 years with sponsor
Typical use case	Nurses, engineers, IT professionals, accountants	Highly paid specialists, executives, niche expertise roles

What If Your Occupation Is Not on the CSOL?

If your occupation does not appear on the Core Skills Occupation List, you have three possible pathways:

Pathway 1: Specialist Skills Stream

If the role pays at least AUD $135,000 per annum and is genuinely a specialist role, your employer may be able to nominate you under the Specialist Skills Stream without needing the occupation to be on the CSOL. This stream is designed for highly paid specialists, senior executives, and niche expertise roles.

Pathway 2: Labour Agreement

In some industries where specific occupations are not on the CSOL but there is a demonstrated need, a Labour Agreement between the employer (or industry body) and the Australian Government may allow sponsorship. Labour Agreements are complex to negotiate and typically take considerable time — they are not suitable for urgent hiring needs.

Pathway 3: Reconsider the ANZSCO Classification

In many cases, an occupation appears to be off the CSOL because the wrong ANZSCO code has been identified. A properly classified role under the correct ANZSCO code may in fact appear on the CSOL. This is common in roles that sit at the boundary between two occupational categories, or in jobs with modern titles that do not appear in the ANZSCO documentation but align with a listed occupation.

Common Mistakes With CSOL Occupation Classification

Using the job title to find the ANZSCO code — job titles and ANZSCO codes often do not match directly. The correct approach is to analyse the duties of the role and match them to ANZSCO descriptions.
Assuming any IT role qualifies — not all IT roles are on the CSOL. Help desk support, basic data entry, and general admin roles with some tech duties are commonly refused.
Not checking caveats — some CSOL occupations have conditions attached that restrict where, how, or for whom they can be nominated. Missing a caveat leads to a nomination refusal that could have been avoided.
Using outdated occupation lists — the CSOL replaced the MLTSSL and STSOL. Checking the old lists for current eligibility will produce incorrect results.
Assuming the employer’s job description matches the ANZSCO duties — employers often write job descriptions for HR purposes, not immigration purposes. A migration agent will reconcile the two before lodging.

Skills Assessment Requirements for the Core Skills Stream

Some occupations on the CSOL require a formal skills assessment from a relevant Australian assessing body before a nomination can be lodged. This varies by occupation:

Engineering roles: Typically assessed by Engineers Australia or the National Engineering Register
Accounting roles: Assessed by CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA
ICT roles: Assessed by the Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Trade roles: Assessed by the Trades Recognition Authority (TRA)
Nursing and health roles: Assessed by AHPRA or the relevant health board

Skills assessments can take weeks to months depending on the assessing body. If your occupation requires a skills assessment, this must be obtained before the employer nomination can be lodged — not after. Planning the timeline accordingly is essential.

For a detailed guide on trade course qualifications and the TRA assessment pathway, see: Which Trade Course Is Best for PR in Australia?

How a MARA-Registered Migration Agent Can Help

Getting the occupation classification right before a nomination is lodged is one of the most valuable things an experienced migration agent does — because a refused nomination due to incorrect ANZSCO classification wastes the employer’s Labour Market Testing, the application fees, and months of processing time.

At Magpie Consultants, Umar Ashraf (MARN 2619222) assists with:

Correct ANZSCO code identification for the nominated role
Checking current CSOL status and any applicable caveats
Determining whether Core Skills Stream, Specialist Skills Stream, or Labour Agreement is appropriate
Advising on skills assessment requirements and body selection
Preparing and lodging employer nominations and visa applications
Responding to Department requests for additional information during processing

We advise clients and employers in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the list of occupations eligible for nomination under the Core Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482). It replaced the former MLTSSL and STSOL under the old TSS 482 framework. Occupations are listed by ANZSCO code and may have caveats or conditions attached.

How do I check if my occupation is on the Skills in Demand visa list?

Search the CSOL on the Department of Home Affairs website (homeaffairs.gov.au) using your ANZSCO code. If you are unsure of your ANZSCO code, identify it by matching your role’s actual duties to the ANZSCO classification descriptions — not just by job title. A migration agent can confirm the correct code and check for any applicable caveats.

What if my occupation is not on the CSOL?

If your occupation is not on the CSOL, you may still be eligible via the Specialist Skills Stream (if the role pays $135,000+), a Labour Agreement (in specific industries with negotiated agreements), or through a reclassification of the role under a different but correct ANZSCO code that does appear on the CSOL.

Does the Skills in Demand visa still use the old MLTSSL and STSOL?

No. The MLTSSL and STSOL were replaced by the single Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) when the Skills in Demand visa replaced the TSS 482 in late 2024. Always check the current CSOL — not the old lists, which are no longer applicable to new nominations.

Do I need a skills assessment for the Skills in Demand visa?

It depends on your specific occupation. Some occupations on the CSOL require a formal skills assessment from an approved Australian assessing body (such as Engineers Australia, ACS, or TRA). Others do not. Check the specific requirements for your ANZSCO code before lodging a nomination.

Can hospitality workers be sponsored under the Skills in Demand visa?

Some hospitality management and supervisory roles appear on the CSOL, but many front-line hospitality roles (wait staff, kitchen hands, general cooks) do not. Each role must be assessed individually — some cook occupations may qualify under certain ANZSCO codes or through Labour Agreements in specific regions.

What is the Specialist Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand visa?

The Specialist Skills Stream is for roles paying at least AUD $135,000 per annum that are genuinely specialist in nature. There is no specific occupation list — any occupation may qualify — but the role must be a genuine specialist position. No formal skills assessment or Labour Market Testing is required, and no CSOL check is needed.

Is there a maximum number of SID visa nominations an employer can lodge?

There is no fixed cap on individual employer nominations, but employers must demonstrate that they have a genuine need for each nominated position and have complied with Labour Market Testing requirements (for Core Skills Stream). The Department may scrutinise employers who lodge large numbers of nominations, particularly in industries with known compliance issues.

Key Takeaways

The CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List) is the current occupation list for the Skills in Demand visa Core Skills Stream. The old MLTSSL and STSOL no longer apply to new nominations.
Check the actual CSOL on homeaffairs.gov.au — not third-party sites, which may be out of date.
ANZSCO code identification must be based on actual job duties, not job titles. Incorrect ANZSCO classification is a leading cause of nomination refusals.
Some CSOL occupations have caveats — always check for conditions before lodging a nomination.
If your occupation is not on the CSOL, the Specialist Skills Stream ($135,000+) or a Labour Agreement may be alternatives.
Skills assessments are required for some occupations — confirm requirements early as they can take months to obtain.

Need Help With a Skills in Demand Visa Nomination? Contact Magpie Consultants

Whether you are an employer trying to sponsor a worker or an overseas professional checking your eligibility, getting the occupation classification right from the start saves time, money, and frustration.

At Magpie Consultants, Umar Ashraf (MARN 2619222) and our team handle employer-sponsored visa nominations from occupation assessment through to visa grant. We advise in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Book a consultation: magpieconsultants.com.au/book-appointment
Location: Office 3, 8/10 Childs Road, Epping VIC 3076, Melbourne
Languages: English, Urdu (اردو), Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), Hindi (हिन्दी)

DISCLAIMER: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Australian immigration law changes frequently. The information provided reflects our understanding as of June 2026. For advice tailored to your specific circumstances, please consult a registered migration agent. Umar Ashraf is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) — MARN 2619222. You can verify registration at mara.gov.au.

Skills in Demand Visa Occupation List 2026: Is Your Job on the Core Skills Stream?