Subclass 190 Visa Occupation List: What Applicants Must Check

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list for the subclass 190 program, and the list is defined in a legislative instrument rather than on a single webpage. You must check the current list for the subclass 190 program, confirm your occupation’s ANZSCO code and assessing authority, and understand that the 2013 ANZSCO version applies to this visa. The official skilled occupation list page states which visas are covered, but directs you to the legislative instrument for the actual list of eligible occupations.

Which visas use the skilled occupation list

The combined skilled occupation list covers several visa programs, including the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). The full list of visas that draw on it is:

Visa subclass	Visa name
186	Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
187	Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) – Temporary Residence Transition stream
189	Skilled Independent – Points-tested stream
190	Skilled Nominated
407	Training
482	Skills in Demand – Core Skills Stream
485	Temporary Graduate
489	Skilled Regional (Provisional)
491	Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
494	Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

For the subclass 190, the occupation list is the one set out in the legislative instrument for the relevant visa program. The official page does not reproduce the full list; it explains how the list is structured and directs you to the instrument for the current eligible occupations.

What the list contains for each occupation

For each occupation, the combined list specifies four things:

• The ANZSCO code for the occupation. ANZSCO provides information on the skill level of jobs, and the qualifications or experience needed to work in them.
• Caveats that exclude the use of the occupation in certain circumstances. The official page notes these caveats apply to the ENS Direct Entry stream and SID visas only, so they are not a factor for the subclass 190.
• Which list the occupation appears on: the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
• The assessing authority for skills assessments.

The list also tells you which list your occupation is on, which matters because different skilled visas draw from different lists. For the subclass 190, your occupation must appear on the list that the subclass 190 program uses.

ANZSCO version: 2013 applies to subclass 190

The Department uses two different versions of ANZSCO depending on the visa. For the subclass 190, the 2013 version applies. The 2022 version is used only for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), including the occupations on the CSOL.

This distinction matters if you have previously held another type of skilled visa. The official page warns that if you have held another skilled visa, updates to the ANZSCO dictionary may have reclassified your occupation or split it into multiple specialisations. In that situation, you must select an occupation code that aligns with the tasks and responsibilities of your position. For a subclass 190 application, you should confirm that your nominated occupation and its ANZSCO code are correct under the 2013 version.

Removed occupations and pending applications

If an occupation is removed from the skilled occupation lists, pending nomination and visa applications will not be adversely impacted. If you already hold a skilled visa, you will not be impacted by removed occupations unless your circumstances change and your employer needs to make a new nomination application. You may be impacted if you change your occupation or employer and your occupation is no longer on the combined list of eligible skilled occupations.

For a subclass 190 applicant, this means that if your occupation is removed after you lodge but before a decision, your application should not be adversely affected. However, if you change occupation or employer and your new occupation is not on the list, that could affect your eligibility.

What the occupation list does not tell you

The skilled occupation list page does not provide state or territory nomination requirements. The subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory government, and each jurisdiction sets its own criteria. The official page does not list those requirements, so you must check the relevant state or territory migration website for nomination requirements, including any occupation lists specific to that jurisdiction. For example, the Victorian Government’s subclass 190 nomination requirements are not covered on the Commonwealth skilled occupation list page.

What to do next

Before lodging a subclass 190 application, you should take the following steps:

1. Find the current list of eligible skilled occupations for the subclass 190 program in its legislative instrument. The official page directs you to this instrument rather than reproducing the list.
2. Confirm your occupation’s ANZSCO code under the 2013 version, which applies to the subclass 190.
3. Identify the assessing authority for your occupation and check what it requires for a skills assessment.
4. Check whether your occupation is on the relevant list for the subclass 190 program.
5. Check the state or territory nomination requirements separately, as these are not covered on the Commonwealth skilled occupation list page.

The official skilled occupation list page is the starting point, but it does not contain the full list of eligible occupations. You must verify the current list in the legislative instrument and confirm your occupation is eligible before you apply.