Written By
Mudassar

Are you planning your move to Australia in 2025? If yes, The Australia Skilled Occupation List (SOL) could be your gateway to success! The SOL will help you discover whether your profession is currently in demand and also explore the visa options available through our comprehensive SOL guide.

Understanding the most sought-after occupations is crucial if you’re considering permanent settlement in Australia. Enhance your migration prospects by pursuing qualifications in high-demand sectors, particularly those featured on the Western Australia Skilled Occupation List and other state-specific lists.

Australia State-Specific SOL 2024-2025 Updates

State	Skilled Nominated Visa(Subclass 190)	Skilled Work Regional Visa(Subclass 491)
ACT	1,000	800
NSW	3,000	2,000
NT	800	800
QLD	600	600
SA	3,000	800
TAS	2,100	760
VIC	3,000	2,000
WA	3,000	2,000
Total	16,500	9,760

The table above highlights the recent updates to the SOL at the time this piece was written. Nonetheless, for those seeking state-specific information about the skilled occupation list in Australia, we have compiled the most recent 2024-2025 occupation list updates below:

The Key Components of Australia Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Additionally, if you are looking for more comprehensive information about the Australia Skilled Occupation List, we’ve compiled an essential guide below for international students in Australia:

The ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) code for each profession provides detailed information about job skill levels and required qualifications or experience.
Please clearly indicate whether the occupation appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Regional Occupation List (ROL), or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) ROL List.
Designated assessing authorities for skills evaluation.
Specific conditions that may restrict occupation usage (applicable only to ENS and TSS visas).

Pro Tip:
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL): Select an occupation from this list to pursue skilled migration opportunities.
Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL): Your profession must appear on this list when seeking state or territory government nomination.The RSMS ROL is a distinct occupation list specifically designed for RSMS visa applications.

Types of Visas in Australia

For skilled professionals whose occupations appear on the Australia Skilled Occupation List or Western Australia Skilled Occupation List, Australia offers several visa pathways. Here are the available visa options if you meet the qualification requirements and have relevant experience:

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) – enables skilled workers with employer nominations to permanently live and work in Australia.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) – allows regionally nominated skilled workers to reside, work, and study in regional Australia for 5 years.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – a points-based pathway permitting employer-nominated skilled workers permanent residency status.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – offers state-nominated skilled workers permanent residency through a points-tested system.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – temporary visa enabling employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions lacking qualified Australian candidates.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work stream designed for recent international graduates with qualifications matching Australia’s in-demand occupations.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): This is a provisional visa for state/territory-nominated skilled workers seeking to live and work in regional Australia.

Eligibility Criteria for Australian Visa

Since eligibility criteria vary significantly across these visa categories, we strongly advise conducting thorough research on all requirements after identifying the most suitable visa pathway for your circumstances. To qualify for the visas mentioned above, you must meet certain basic criteria:

Be between 18 and 45 years of age
Receive an official invitation to submit an application
Achieve the required points score
Fulfill educational and skill requirements
Demonstrate relevant work experience in your nominated skilled occupation
Possess competent English language proficiency
Satisfy Australian health standards
Pass character assessment requirements

Conclusion

You can agree with me that this piece is not to be skimmed through. If you want to move to Australia for any reason, the skilled occupation list is a comprehensive document you must look into as carefully as possible. Aside from determining the jobs you can access, it has an overall impact on the life and privileges you’ll enjoy in Australia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my occupation is removed from the list? +

Suppose you have a pending application or nomination. In that case, the removal of an occupation from the Australia skilled occupation list or list will not affect your case. This protection also extends to current skilled visa holders, unless their circumstances change requiring a new nomination application.

However, if you’re planning to switch occupations or employers and find your occupation has been removed from the combined eligible skilled occupations list, this could impact your application process. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with study abroad experts for personalized guidance and assistance.

What are the top courses for permanent residency? +

The following courses offer strong pathways to permanent residency in Australia:

IT courses
Nursing
Social Work
Building and Construction
Education and Training
Automotive and Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Civil Engineering

How does the points-based system work for skilled migration and state nomination? +

Both migration pathways utilize points-based assessment systems considering various factors:

Age – younger applicants receive higher points allocations.
English proficiency – higher test scores earn additional points.
Skilled employment duration – relevant work experience in your nominated occupation outside Australia
Advanced qualifications
Australian study requirement – completion of qualifying degree/postgraduate programs with approved providers
Additional factors include regional study, partner qualifications and English ability, single applicant status, and completion of an Australian professional year.

View the full breakdown of points:

Nomination/sponsorship

nomination/sponsorship (where applicable)
state or territory government nomination (visa subclass 190) – 5 points
nomination from state/territory government or eligible family member sponsorship for residing and working in specified/designated areas – 15 points (increased from previous 10 points)

English Language Requirements

Proficient English level – 10 points
Superior English level – 20 points

Additional Point-Scoring Factors

STEM qualifications (Master’s by Research or Doctorate with minimum 2-year study duration) – 10 points (a 5-point increase from the previous allocation)
Partner points – 10 points available if your partner has obtained a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the Australia skilled occupation list and demonstrates competent English (doubled from the previous 5 points)
Single applicants now receive 10 points.
Partners demonstrating competent English without skills assessment receive 5 points.

Is studying in regional Australia beneficial? +

Given the introduction of subclass 491 visas and enhanced point allocations for regional residence, pursuing regional opportunities is strongly recommended. Regional visas also benefit from priority processing. However, verify that your target occupation has employment prospects in your chosen regional location.

For those pursuing academic pathways, subclass 189 visas offer flexibility to reside anywhere across metropolitan or regional Australia. Note that point requirements (currently a minimum of 80 points, subject to change per invitation round) are competitive. Consider supplementing points through Professional Year programs, NAATI certification, and achieving high English scores.

Does your qualification align with skilled occupation requirements? +

Verify that your qualification level meets the minimum educational requirements for your target occupation on the relevant skilled occupation lists. For instance, teaching roles typically require at least a bachelor’s degree qualification.