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**What this instrument does (mechanical effect)
It lists which occupations count as "skilled occupations" for particular skilled visa pathways and assigns which organisations are the "relevant assessing authorities" that must carry out skills assessments for those occupations (see sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 10AA and 11).
It creates three named occupation lists used in the visa rules: the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (s8), the Short‑term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) (s9), and the Regional Occupation List (ROL) (s10). Each list is a table of occupations (with ANZSCO codes) and those occupations are declared to be "skilled occupations" for the visa applicant classes the instrument covers (s7(3)–(6)).
It specifies, by occupation, which assessing body should do a skills assessment for applicants from any country (s10AA and s11). Some occupations have more than one acceptable assessing authority (for example, accounting occupations: CPAA, CAANZ or IPA) while many trades and technical occupations are allocated to Trades Recognition Australia or VETASSESS (see s10AA and the mapping table in s11).
It contains timing and transitional rules about when the lists and assessor assignments apply to particular visa invitations and applications, and preserves the effect of the previous instrument for people who fell under that earlier regime (see Part 3, especially ss12–15, 16–17).
Who this affects
Migrant applicants for several skilled visa subclasses who rely on a skills assessment or an invitation to apply: principally Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent), Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated), Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)), and Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) (see s7 and s15).
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Direct links to the current provisions in Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019.
This instrument is made under the following provisions of the Migration Regulations 1994: (b) subregulation 1.15I(1); (c) subregulation 2.26B(1); (d) subitem 1137(4C) of Schedule 1; (e) item 4 of the table in subitem 1138(4) of Schedule 1; (f) paragraph 1229(3)(k) of Schedule 1; (g) subitem 1241(5) of Schedule 1.
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Regulations, including skilled occupation.
In this instrument:
applicable list: see subsection 7(2).
Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List: see subsection 8(1).
nec is short for not elsewhere classified.
Regional Occupation List: see subsection 10(1).
Regulations means the Migration Regulations 1994.
Short‑term Skilled Occupation List: see subsection 9(1).
university lecturer includes the following:
(a) a research associate in a university;
(b) a research fellow in a university.
Application (1) This section applies to a class of persons mentioned in column 1 of an item of the following table:
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:417.95pt; margin-left:5.65pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:407.15pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Application of this section</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:236.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Column 1</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Classes of persons</span></p></td><td style="width:123.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Column 2</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Applicable lists (see subsection</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">(2))</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">1</span></p></td><td style="width:236.75pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(a) persons who are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent) visa on or after the day this instrument commences; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(b) persons who:</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(i) are not nominated by a State or Territory government agency; and</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(ii) are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(c) spouses or de facto partners of persons to whom paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a) or (b) applies</span></p></td><td style="width:123.9pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">Medium and Long</span><span style="font-size:10pt">‑</span><span style="font-size:10pt">term Strategic Skills List</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">2</span></p></td><td style="width:236.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">persons who apply for a Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa on or after the day this instrument commences</span></p></td><td style="width:123.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">Medium and Long</span><span style="font-size:10pt">‑</span><span style="font-size:10pt">term Strategic Skills List</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">3</span></p></td><td style="width:236.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(a) persons who:</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(i) are nominated by a State or Territory government agency; and</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(ii) are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated) visa on or after the day this instrument commences; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(b) spouses or de facto partners of persons to whom paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a) applies; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(c) persons who:</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(i) are the spouses or de facto partners of persons who are nominated by a State or Territory government agency; and</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(ii) are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated) visa on or after the day this instrument commences</span></p></td><td style="width:123.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(a) Medium and Long</span><span>‑</span><span>term Strategic Skills List; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(b) Short</span><span>‑</span><span>term Skilled Occupation List</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">4</span></p></td><td style="width:236.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(a) persons who:</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(i) are nominated by a State or Territory government agency; and</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(ii) are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(b) spouses or de facto partners of persons to whom paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a) applies; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(c) persons who:</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(i) are the spouses or de facto partners of persons who are nominated by a State or Territory government agency; and</span></p><p style="margin-left:41.4pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">(ii) are issued an invitation to make an application for a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa</span></p></td><td style="width:123.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(a) Medium and Long</span><span>‑</span><span>term Strategic Skills List; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(b) Short</span><span>‑</span><span>term Skilled Occupation List; and</span></p><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:14.2pt; text-indent:-14.2pt; line-height:normal; font-size:10pt"><span>(c) Regional Occupation List</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Employers, state/territory nomination agencies and migration agents who guide applicants, because the occupation lists and the identity of the required assessing authority determine whether an applicant can meet the "skills assessment" component of a visa application.
The assessing bodies named in the instrument (professional bodies, accreditation councils, VETASSESS, TRA, ACS, Engineers Australia, etc.), because the instrument assigns them statutory responsibility (and associated workload and fee income) for immigration skills assessments for particular occupations.
Why it matters (practical consequences)
Whether an applicant’s occupation appears on the MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL determines which visa streams they can pursue and the points and regional rules that apply (s7(3)–(6)). The list an applicant’s occupation appears on affects eligibility, points, and sometimes the length or conditions of the visa pathway.
The instrument fixes which organisation will assess an applicant’s overseas qualifications and employment for immigration purposes (s10AA and s11). Applicants must obtain the correct type of skills assessment from the specified authority; an assessment from the wrong authority can make a visa application invalid or delayed.
The timing rules and amendments (Part 3, ss12–17) create procedural incentives for applicants about when to submit a skills assessment or accept an invitation: in some circumstances earlier assessments (or older invitations) are preserved under the earlier instrument; in others, new assessor assignments apply regardless of when the assessment was completed (see s15(2)–(3)).
Mechanisms, costs and incentives (testing the purpose-claims)
Who pays: Individuals (migrant applicants) pay fees for skills assessments; named assessing authorities also incur administrative costs in delivering assessments (see s10AA and s11 for the bodies assigned). There is no new direct government fee in this instrument, but it changes which private/industry bodies receive assessing fees.
Who decides: The instrument is an administrative specification that assigns occupations and assessing authorities; it does not change visa eligibility rules in the Migration Regulations themselves but implements those rules by identifying occupations and assessors (see authority references in s3 and the operative provisions in s7 and s10AA).
Behavioural effects and compliance burden: Applicants and agents must check both (a) which list their occupation appears on and (b) which assessing body they must use. Changes to assessing authority assignments can require applicants to obtain a fresh assessment if they were relying on a previous authority, increasing cost and delay risk (see transitional rules in ss13–15).
Concentrated benefits and capture risk: Assigning particular professional bodies as the statutory assessing authority concentrates assessment work (and fee revenue) with named organisations. That creates a predictable commercial benefit to those organisations; the instrument does not itself explain selection criteria, so the possibility of concentrated benefits exists (see mapping in s10AA and s11).
Substitution and timing incentives: Because the instrument contains detailed transitional rules (for example, continued application of IMMI 18/051 for some invitations (s13) and special rules about when amendment packages apply to assessments made before or after commencement days (s14–s17)), applicants may time their skills assessments or visa applications to rely on a preferred assessing authority or on an older list. The instrument explicitly preserves older arrangements in limited windows to avoid retrospective disadvantage (s13–s15).
Implementation risk: Administratively, the Department must ensure online systems and guidance reflect which body is the correct assessor for each occupation and at which date the change applies. Mismatches between system assignment and the instrument's transitional conditions (for example, assessments dated on or before a threshold date) are a practical source of errors and appeals (see s15 and s17).
Key cross-references and notable exceptions
The instrument operates by reference to provisions of the Migration Regulations 1994 (listed in s3). The occupations specified are applied to particular visa regulation hooks (see s7(3)–(6)).
There is a narrow exception for item 9 in the MLTSSL: "dancer or choreographer" does not apply where the position is an exotic dancer (s8(2)).
Several later instruments and schedules amend assessor assignments and the lists; the instrument contains specific saving and application rules for those amendments (see ss14–17).
Practical checklist for an affected applicant
(References in parentheses are to the section numbers of the instrument.)
Meaning of applicable list (2) A list mentioned in column 2 of the item is an applicable list for the class of persons. Specification of occupations (3) For the purposes of paragraph 1.15I(1)(a) of the Regulations, each occupation mentioned in column 1 of an item of an applicable list for the class is specified to be a skilled occupation for the class. (4) For the purposes of paragraph 1.15I(1)(c) of the Regulations, each occupation is applicable to each member of the class. (5) For the purposes of subitem 1137(4C) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations, if table item 1 of the table in subsection (1) of this section applies, each occupation is specified as a skilled occupation for the purposes of table item 4 of the table in subitem 1137(4B) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations. (6) Each occupation is also specified as a skilled occupation: (a) if item 1 of the table in subsection (1) of this section applies—for the purposes of subitem 1241(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations; or (b) if item 2 of the table in subsection (1) of this section applies—for the purposes of paragraph 1229(3)(k) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations; or (c) if item 3 of the table in subsection (1) of this section applies—for the purposes of item 4 of the table in subitem 1138(4) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations; or (d) if item 4 of the table in subsection (1) of this section applies—for the purposes of subitem 1241(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations. (7) However, if a circumstance mentioned in subsection 8(2) for an item in the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List applies to the item mentioned in that subsection, then the occupation mentioned in column 1 of that item does not apply to a person mentioned in subsection (1).
(1) The occupations set out in the following table are the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List.
| Item | Column 1Occupation | Column 2ANZSCO code |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | construction project manager | 133111 |
| 2 | engineering manager | 133211 |
| 3 | child care centre manager | 134111 |
| 4 | nursing clinical director | 134212 |
| 5 | primary health organisation manager | 134213 |
| 6 | welfare centre manager | 134214 |
| 7 | arts administrator or manager | 139911 |
| 8 | environmental manager | 139912 |
| 9 | dancer or choreographer | 211112 |
| 10 | music director | 211212 |
| 11 | musician (instrumental) | 211213 |
| 12 | artistic director | 212111 |
| 13 | accountant (general) | 221111 |
| 14 | management accountant | 221112 |
| 15 | taxation accountant | 221113 |
| 16 | external auditor | 221213 |
| 17 | internal auditor | 221214 |
| 18 | actuary | 224111 |
| 19 | statistician | 224113 |
| 20 | economist | 224311 |
| 21 | land economist | 224511 |
| 22 | valuer | 224512 |
| 23 | management consultant | 224711 |
| 24 | architect | 232111 |
| 25 | landscape architect | 232112 |
| 26 | surveyor | 232212 |
| 27 | cartographer | 232213 |
| 28 | other spatial scientist | 232214 |
| 29 | chemical engineer | 233111 |
| 30 | materials engineer | 233112 |
| 31 | civil engineer | 233211 |
| 32 | geotechnical engineer | 233212 |
| 33 | quantity surveyor | 233213 |
| 34 | structural engineer | 233214 |
| 35 | transport engineer | 233215 |
| 36 | electrical engineer | 233311 |
| 37 | electronics engi |
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.