What is the PMSOL?

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies occupations which fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The list is based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments.

Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing.  All other skilled occupation lists will remain active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority.

The occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) were based on advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with relevant Commonwealth agencies and will be reviewed regularly.

“Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions, but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.”

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said the PMSOL would be complemented by strengthened labour market testing requirements.

“In addition to the current requirements of two national advertisements, employers must also advertise their vacancy on the Government’s jobactive website,” Minister Cash said.

Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL.

Information about Australia’s travel exemption processes for those in critical skills and sectors can be seen

What does it mean if my occupation is on the PMSOL?

Visa applications from applicants with an occupation on the PMSOL list are given priority processing under the following visa subclasses:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)

• Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)

If your occupation is on the PSMOL, you will be granted an exemption to travel to Australia

If you are currently outside Australia and you have been sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the PMSOL, you have grounds for application for an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions.

You can apply for this exemption yourself, or your employer may do it for you. The mandatory 14-day quarantine period still applies and will still be at the traveller or sponsor’s expense

Which occupations are on the list?

The 44 occupations (ANZSCO code) on the PSMOL are:

Chef (351311)*

Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)

Construction Project Manager (133111)

Accountant (General) (221111)*

Management Accountant (221112)*

Taxation Accountant (221113)*

External Auditor (221213)*

Internal Auditor (221214)*

Surveyor (232212)*

Cartographer (232213)*

Other Spatial Scientist (232214)*

Civil Engineer (233211)*

Geotechnical Engineer (233212)*

Structural Engineer (233214)*

Transport Engineer (233215)*

Electrical Engineer (233311)*

Mechanical Engineer (233512)

Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) (233611)*

Petroleum Engineer (233612)*

Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)*

Veterinarian (234711)

Orthotist or Prosthetist (251912)*

General Practitioner (253111)

Resident Medical Officer (253112)

Psychiatrist (253411)

Medical Practitioners nec  (not elsewhere classified) e.g.Dermatologists,Emergency Medicine Specialists,Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Ophthalmologists,Pathologists,Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologists, and, Radiation Oncologists)

Midwife (254111)

Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)

Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)

Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)

Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)

Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)

Registered Nurses nec (254499) e.g Aboriginal Health Nurse, Flight Nurse, Immunisation Nurse, Nursing Officer (Defence Forces), Pathology Nurse, Radiology Nurse, Red Cross Blood Service Nurse, Registered Nurse (Infection Control), Remote Area Nurse

Hospital Pharmacist (251511)

Industrial Pharmacist (251512)

Retail Pharmacist (251513)

Multimedia Specialist (261211)*

Analyst Programmer (261311)*

Developer Programmer (261312)

Software Engineer (261313)

Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399)*  (No occupations have currently been identified for this residual category, which gives scope to be creative about the skills and tasks required!)

ICT Security Specialist (262112)*

Social Worker (272511)

Maintenance Planner (312911)

Will more occupations be added to the list?

The PMSOL is a temporary list and will be subject to change as the Australian government assesses the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian labour market and the resulting changing skill demands. The Department of Home Affairs website contains the most up to date information on the current PMSOL