Summary of 11 March 2019 changes
This page summarises changes to the
combined list of eligible skilled occupations for Australia's skilled visa programs that came into effect on
11 March 2019 and it outlines a new requirement for employers sponsoring overseas trained doctors.
Subclasses (streams or types)
| Key Changes
|
|---|
|
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/049) has been published, with eligible skilled occupations for this program included on the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) only.
216 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. Overseas workers must be nominated in one of these skilled occupations
unless separate arrangements are in place under a labour agreement or transitional arrangements* apply to the worker in relation to a
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream nomination. |
|
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187) | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/047) has been published, with eligible skilled occupations for this program included on the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), as well as, the
Regional Occupation List (ROL) for employers in regional areas.
673 skilled occupations continue to be eligible for this visa program. These occupations (and related assessing authorities where applicable) apply to
both Direct Entry and TRT streams. Overseas workers must be nominated in one of these occupations
unless transitional arrangements* apply to the worker in relation to a
TRT stream nomination. |
|
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument
(LIN 19/051) has been published, with eligible skilled occupations for this program included on the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) only.
212 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
|
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument
(LIN 19/051) has been published and visa applicants will continue being able to access the
Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) and
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) - in order to support Australia's regional economy.
427 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
|
Training visa (subclass 407) | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/050) has been published, with eligible skilled occupations for this program included on the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), as well as, the
Regional Occupation List (ROL) for regional employers.
509 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
|
Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/048) has been published. This instrument lists:
- STSOL occupations as eligible for the Short-term stream of the visa
- MLTSSL and ROL occupations (for employers in regional areas) as eligible for the Medium-term stream of this visa.
The skilled occupations included in this instrument are those which were previously available for the subclass 457 visa program, as well as new skilled occupations from the new ROL list.
508 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. Overseas workers must be nominated in one of these skilled occupations
unless separate arrangements are in place under a labour agreement. Work experience related caveats have been removed and there have been some changes to regional caveats for certain occupations. |
|
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument
(LIN 19/051) has been published and applicants for this visa program will continue being able to access the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
212 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
|
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - Family nominated | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument
(LIN 19/051) has been published and applicants for this visa program will continue being able to access the
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
212 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
|
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - State or Territory nominated | A new skilled occupation list and new instrument (LIN 19/051) has been published and skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government can apply with an occupation on the
Short-term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL), Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL), which allows workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas.
504 skilled occupations are now eligible for this visa program. |
The
combined list of eligible skilled occupations has been updated to reflect the above changes. The combined list indicates:
- whether a skilled occupation is on the STSOL, MLTSSL or ROL
- which visa subclasses are available for a particular skilled occupation
- whether any occupational caveats apply to subclass 186 or TSS visa programs
*Note: Skilled occupation list requirements will
not apply to
TRT stream applicants who either:
- held a subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017 and continues to hold this visa (or a TSS visa / related bridging visa at time of application)
- lodged a subclass 457 visa application on or before 18 April 2017, which was subsequently granted, and continues to hold this visa (or a TSS / related bridging visa at time of application).
Visas for General Practitioners (GPs) initiative
The Visas for GPs initiative will manage growth in Australia's medical workforce by regulating the number of doctors entering Australia through the skilled migration program to work in the primary healthcare sector.
From 11 March 2019, a Health Workforce Certificate will be required for an employer to nominate a position in select the following occupations for filling by a doctor who would require a visa to work in Australia:
- General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111);
- Resident Medical Officer (ANZSCO 253112); and
- Medical Practitioners not elsewhere classified (ANZSCO 253999).
A Health Workforce Certificate will be required for employer nominations for positions in these occupations for the following visas:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa;
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa; and
- Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa.
Under this initiative, the number of doctors entering the primary healthcare workforce through the skilled migration program will be reduced by about 200 doctors a year, over a period of four years.
This initiative will direct doctors into areas that have lower access to services such as rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.
Further information on the Visas for GPs initiative and the Department of Health process for obtaining a Health Workforce Certificate is available here:
Department of Health's DoctorConnect website.
