In order to fill critical skills needed to support Australia’s economic recovery from Covid, a new list of occupations eligible for sponsorship has been released by the Australian government. The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) has now been updated. The list identifies 41 occupations which fill critical skills needs in the country. Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing by the immigration department. The other skilled occupation lists are still active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority. So if you are planning to migrate to Australia, this is the information available so far regarding the PMSOL.
New list for skilled migration
The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), first announced in September 2020, is developed to ensure a number of critical occupations are filled. This in order to continue to create Australian jobs and aid in Australia’s ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19. On 22 June 2021, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke MP has announced the inclusion of 22 more skilled occupations on the PMSOL.
The list is temporary and occupations may change as Australia recovers from the pandemic. Existing skilled migration occupation lists remains active and visas will still be processed. But priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.
Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List
The 41 occupations listed on the PMSOL are:
- Chief Executive or Managing Director
- Construction Project Manager
- Accountant (General) (added in June 2021)
- Management Accountant (added in June 2021)
- Taxation Accountant (added in June 2021)
- External Auditor (added in June 2021)
- Internal Auditor (added in June 2021)
- Surveyor (added in June 2021)
- Cartographer (added in June 2021)
- Other Spatial Scientist (added in June 2021)
- Civil Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Geotechnical Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Structural Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Transport Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Electrical Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) (added in June 2021)
- Petroleum Engineer (added in June 2021)
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (added in June 2021)
- Veterinarian
- Orthotist or Prosthetist (added in June 2021)
- General Practitioner
- Resident Medical Officer
- Psychiatrist
- Medical Practitioners nec
- Midwife
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) / Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) / Registered Nurse (Medical) / Registered Nurse (Mental Health) / Registered Nurse (Perioperative) / Registered Nurses nec
- Multimedia Specialist (added in June 2021)
- Analyst Programmer (added in June 2021)
- Developer Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software and Applications Programmers nec (added in June 2021)
- ICT Security Specialist (added in June 2021)
- Social Worker
- Maintenance Planner
- Chef (added in June 2021)
ANZSCO codes are available on the homeaffairs website.
Travel exemptions
Australia’s border restrictions remain in place at the moment. It means temporary visa holders must obtain a travel exemption before travelling to Australia. You can apply for the exemption from the immigration website. Very limited flights are currently available to and from Australia.
All travellers arriving in Australia are subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. This include Australian citizens and permanent residents. Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation will be subject to quarantine arrangements at their own expense.
If you are arriving on a quarantine-free flight from New Zealand, you will not be subject to quarantine.
Visa subclasses
Priority processing of nomination and visa applications for PMSOL occupations applies to these employer sponsored visa subclasses:
