CSOL Occupation List Australia: What It Is and How It Works

What Is the CSOL and Why Was It Introduced?

The Core Skills Occupation List is a legislative instrument that specifies which ANZSCO-coded occupations are eligible for sponsorship under the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

Before 7 December 2024, employer-sponsored migration used two separate lists: the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). The STSOL governed short-term 482 sponsorships (capped at two years per stay), while the MLTSSL opened longer stays and, for 186 Direct Entry, a permanent pathway. This split created a complicated two-tier system where the duration of your temporary visa and your access to permanency depended heavily on which list your occupation appeared on.

The Australian Government's 2023 Migration Strategy — informed by an independent review of the migration system — recommended consolidating these lists into a single, needs-based instrument. The CSOL is the result. It took effect when the old Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa was restructured into the new Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024.

How the CSOL Was Developed

The CSOL was not compiled in-house by the Department of Home Affairs. Instead, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) — the independent statutory body that advises the government on workforce and skills needs — conducted labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations before providing formal advice to Government on which occupations to include.

JSA's methodology focused on identifying genuine, sustained shortages where Australian employers have documented difficulty filling roles from the domestic labour market. The process considered current workforce gaps, projected future demand, and the policy intent that skilled migration should complement — rather than replace — domestic employment and training efforts.

The resulting CSOL covers approximately 456 occupations, based on the 2022 version of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). This is substantially broader than the old 186 Direct Entry list, which previously allowed direct permanent sponsorship for only around 216 occupations. Under the CSOL, around 189 additional occupations gained a direct permanent pathway through 186 Direct Entry that they did not have before.

The list is not static. JSA conducts periodic reviews, and a 2025 consultation round — with submissions closing in September 2025 — fed further advice to Government. A revised list reflecting those consultations is expected to be released in 2026. Before relying on any specific occupation's inclusion, it is worth verifying the current instrument on the Home Affairs occupation list page, as updates can add or remove codes.

Which Visas Use the CSOL?

Two visa products currently require an occupation to appear on the CSOL:

**Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — Core Skills stream**
This is the main temporary employer-sponsored pathway. Employers nominate a position, and the nominee must be working in a CSOL-listed occupation. Nominees sponsored under the Core Skills stream must also be paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which sits at $76,515 for the 2025–26 program year and rises to $79,499 from 1 July 2026. As with all sponsored pathways, the employer must also pay at least the Australian market salary rate for the role — whichever figure is higher becomes the effective floor.

**Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — Direct Entry stream**
This is the permanent employer-sponsored visa. The Direct Entry stream allows employers to nominate overseas workers directly for permanent residence without requiring a period of temporary sponsored work first. The nominee's occupation must be on the CSOL, and the same salary floor (CSIT) applies.

It is worth noting that CSOL occupations can access the 186 Transition stream via a different route — nominees who have worked in an employer-sponsored role in Australia for a qualifying period may be able to use that stream regardless of which list their occupation was on historically. A MARA-registered migration agent can advise on which stream applies to a particular set of circumstances.

Which Visas Do NOT Use the CSOL?

Knowing where the CSOL does not apply is just as important as knowing where it does.

**482 Specialist Skills stream**
The Skills in Demand visa has a second employer-sponsored stream — the Specialist Skills stream — which has no occupation list at all. Instead, it applies to positions in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 where the employer pays at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), which is $141,210 for nominations lodged before 30 June 2026 and $146,717 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 onwards. Manual trades, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers are excluded. If the salary meets the threshold and the occupation falls within the eligible major groups, no occupation list check is needed for this stream.

**482 Labour Agreement stream**
Where a company or industry body has an approved labour agreement with the Australian Government — including Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) — the terms of that agreement govern which occupations can be sponsored, rather than the CSOL. DAMAs in particular can open sponsorship to occupations that do not appear on standard lists, making them an important alternative for regional employers.

**Points-tested visas: 189, 190, 491**
The CSOL does not govern points-tested skilled migration at all. Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), and subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional) use a different list — the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) — as well as state and territory occupation lists for the 190 and 491. An occupation can appear on both the CSOL and the MLTSSL, on only one of the two, or on neither. The two lists serve different programs and are maintained separately.

How to Check Whether Your Occupation Is on the CSOL

The Department of Home Affairs publishes the current CSOL as both a downloadable document and as part of its Skilled Occupation List web page. The list is organised by ANZSCO code and occupation title. To use it:

1. Identify your 6-digit ANZSCO code. If you are unsure of your code, the ABS ANZSCO search tool and the Home Affairs occupation search function are the standard references. Describing your duties in detail to the search tool — rather than just a job title — tends to produce more accurate results, since many roles share similar titles but sit under different codes.

2. Search the CSOL for that 6-digit code. The list on the Home Affairs site shows both the ANZSCO code and whether that occupation has a designated assessing authority. An assessing authority is the body responsible for formally evaluating whether a nominee's qualifications and work experience match the requirements for that occupation under Australian standards.

3. Check the assessing authority column. Most occupations on the CSOL have a designated body — for example, Engineers Australia for engineering roles, the Australian Computer Society for ICT occupations, or VETASSESS for a broad range of trade and professional occupations. The nomination may require a positive skills assessment from that body before it can be approved, though specific exemptions exist in some cases.

4. Confirm the current instrument. Because JSA reviews the list periodically, it is good practice to cross-reference against the legislative instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation (currently Migration (Specification of Occupations — Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024, IMMI F2024L01620) rather than relying solely on third-party reproductions, which may not reflect the most recent update.

Note that the 2025 JSA review has submitted its advice to Government, and an updated list incorporating that advice is expected to be released in 2026. Depending on when you are reading this, the occupation count and specific inclusions may have changed.

CSOL vs MLTSSL: Understanding the Difference

A common source of confusion is the relationship between the CSOL and the MLTSSL. These are separate lists maintained for different purposes, and sitting on one does not guarantee you appear on the other.

| Feature | CSOL | MLTSSL |
|---|---|---|
| Governs | 482 Core Skills stream, 186 Direct Entry | 189 (all applicants), 190 & 491 (alongside state lists) |
| Type of pathway | Employer-sponsored | Points-tested (independent or state/territory nominated) |
| Sponsor required | Yes | No (189); Nomination required (190, 491) |
| Permanent residence | Via 186 Direct Entry or after qualifying work | 189 is direct permanent; 190 grants PR on grant |
| Occupation count (approx.) | ~456 | ~212 |
| Who sets it | Jobs and Skills Australia advises Government | Department of Home Affairs, informed by JSA and policy |

An occupation can appear on both lists, giving the holder options across employer-sponsored and independent pathways. Alternatively, an occupation might be on the MLTSSL but not the CSOL (making independent migration viable but employer sponsorship under Core Skills ineligible), or on the CSOL but not the MLTSSL (opening employer-sponsored routes while closing the independent 189 pathway).

Before drawing conclusions from any comparison, verify both lists against the current instruments, since they are updated at different times and through different processes.

What If Your Occupation Is Not on the CSOL?

Not appearing on the CSOL does not necessarily mean employer-sponsored migration is unavailable — it means you need to look at alternative routes.

**Specialist Skills stream (482)**
If your role falls within the eligible ANZSCO major groups and the salary meets the SSIT (currently $141,210, rising to $146,717 from July 2026), the Specialist Skills stream may apply without any occupation list check.

**Labour Agreements and DAMAs**
If an employer has an approved labour agreement — or is located in a DAMA region — the agreement can specify occupations outside the standard CSOL. There are currently multiple active DAMAs covering regional areas of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, and other parts of the country. Each DAMA has its own occupation schedule, salary concessions, and English language provisions.

**State and Territory Occupation Lists**
For the points-tested 190 and 491 visas, individual states and territories publish their own occupation lists and nomination criteria. Some occupations not on the national MLTSSL may still attract a state nomination, providing a separate route toward permanent residence.

**Workforce Agreement (Industry Labour Agreements)**
Certain industries — including meat processing, the fishing industry, and others — have sector-specific labour agreements that allow sponsorship of occupations under different terms than the standard CSOL framework.

If an occupation does not appear on any of the available lists and no labour agreement applies, the employer-sponsored migration pathway for that specific role may be genuinely closed off under current settings. Discussing the full picture with a MARA-registered migration agent is the most reliable way to confirm what options remain.

The JSA Review Cycle and Future Changes

The CSOL is reviewed annually. Jobs and Skills Australia opens a public consultation inviting submissions from industry bodies, employer groups, unions, education providers, and state governments. Each submission argues for occupations to be added, retained, or removed based on evidence of current labour market conditions.

In 2025, JSA accepted submissions until 26 September 2025 and submitted its formal advice to Government on 20 October 2025. That 2025 review was also notable for being the first conducted against the new Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) framework — a new Australian-specific classification system being developed to eventually replace ANZSCO. However, as of the time of writing, ANZSCO remains the operative reference for visa programs. No transition schedule from ANZSCO to OSCA for migration purposes has been announced.

The 2026 CSOL — incorporating the JSA advice from the 2025 consultation — is expected to be released in 2026, though an exact date is subject to Government decision-making. Any occupation currently on the CSOL that JSA believes no longer reflects a genuine shortage could be removed. Equally, occupations not currently listed could be added.

This review cycle means that occupation list eligibility can change between the time a worker or employer begins planning a nomination and the time it is lodged. Verifying against the current instrument at the point of lodgement — not at the planning stage — is essential.

What does CSOL stand for and what is it used for?

CSOL stands for Core Skills Occupation List. It is an Australian Government legislative instrument that specifies which occupations are eligible for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream. An occupation must appear on the CSOL for an employer to nominate under those pathways.

How many occupations are currently on the CSOL?

The CSOL introduced on 7 December 2024 covers approximately 456 occupations under the 2022 ANZSCO classification. This number may change as JSA completes its annual reviews — a 2025 consultation submitted advice to Government in October 2025, and an updated list is expected in 2026. Always verify the current instrument on the Home Affairs website or the Federal Register of Legislation before relying on a specific count.

Is the CSOL the same as the MLTSSL?

No. The CSOL and the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List) are separate lists for different visa programs. The CSOL governs employer-sponsored pathways (482 Core Skills, 186 Direct Entry). The MLTSSL governs points-tested independent migration (subclass 189) and contributes to state-nominated pathways (190, 491). An occupation can be on both, one, or neither list.

What happens if my occupation is not on the CSOL?

Several alternatives may apply depending on the role and salary level. The 482 Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list — it uses a high salary threshold (currently $141,210, rising to $146,717 from July 2026) instead. Labour agreements and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) can allow sponsorship of occupations not on the standard CSOL. For points-tested pathways, separate state and territory occupation lists for the 190 and 491 visas may also be relevant. A MARA-registered migration agent can assess which alternatives apply to a specific situation.

Do I still need a skills assessment if my occupation is on the CSOL?

In most cases, yes. The CSOL lists a designated assessing authority alongside each occupation. Nominees are generally required to obtain a positive skills assessment from that body before the nomination or visa can be approved. There are limited exemptions — for example, certain exempt applicants under the relevant legislative instrument — but these are occupation and circumstance specific. The assessing authority and its requirements should be confirmed early in the process, as assessment timeframes can add months to the overall timeline.

Who decides which occupations go on the CSOL?

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) — the independent statutory body established to advise Government on workforce and skills matters — conducts labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations before providing formal recommendations to the Australian Government. The Government then makes the final determination, which is enacted through a legislative instrument registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. JSA runs a formal consultation round annually, with submissions open to industry groups, employers, unions, and the public.