New Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Announced

17 May 2010 —

DIAC has announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for General Skilled Migration (GSM). The new SOL does not apply for non-GSM visas, such as ENS, RSMS or Subclass 457.

The new SOL can be found here (PDF) and is proposed to commence 1 July 2010.

The new list comprises 181 occupations. The old SOL had 408.

The new SOL is based on ANZSCO (Australian & New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) and not ANSCO (Australian Standard Classification of Occupations).

Some of the occupations which are no longer on the SOL include: Cook, chef, Hairdresser, Pharmacist, Graphic Designer.

Some of the retained occupations include: Accountant, Architect, Engineers, medical professionals, Motor Mechanic, and many building trades.

As previously announced, the new SOL does not apply to GSM applicants who, on 8 February 2010:

• Held a Subclass 485 (skilled graduate) visa or had a pending subclass 485 visa application; and who
• Apply for a permanent or provisional onshore GSM visa by 31 December 2012; or at the date of the announcement had a pending GSM visa application.

Transitional arrangements will apply to international students who, on 8 February 2010:

• Held a subclass 572 (vocational education and training sector), subclass 573 (higher education sector); or
• Held a subclass 574 (postgraduate research sector) student visa.

These students can apply for a subclass 485 (skilled graduate) visa using the current SOL as long as they lodge their subclass 485 application by 31 December 2012.

As the new SOL is based on ANZSCO, the names of occupations and tasks associated with occupations need to be carefully checked.

The MIA will be asking DIAC for details of how case officers will be advised to handle the change to ANZSCO, in particular with regard to the description of tasks.

Click (PDF) for a copy of the new SOL.

Also available is a new SOL FAQ (PDF), a fact sheet (PDF) on the List and a fact sheet (PDF) for those unable to apply for independent GSM.

More general information can be found here.

The MIA will be responding publicly to this List.