Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the list of occupations that are eligible for sponsorship under the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. It is a legislative instrument made by the Minister for Home Affairs under the Migration Regulations 1994.

The CSOL was introduced as part of the Skills in Demand visa reform package that replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa structure. It replaced the former Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for employer-sponsored temporary visa purposes.

The CSOL is a legislative instrument made under the Migration Regulations 1994. It is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation and is subject to parliamentary disallowance. The Minister has power to amend the CSOL to add or remove occupations, and updates are published as amending instruments. The list applies across the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa and informs eligibility for the Subclass 186 and 187 permanent employer-sponsored pathways.

For an employer to sponsor a worker under the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa, the nominated occupation must appear on the CSOL. The key steps:

1. Occupation check: The employer confirms the role matches a CSOL occupation using the ANZSCO classification system. Each occupation is identified by its 6-digit ANZSCO code.
2. Skills assessment: Some CSOL occupations require a formal skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority before the sponsorship nomination can be approved.
3. Labour Market Testing (LMT): For most CSOL occupations, the sponsor must conduct LMT — advertising the position and demonstrating that no suitable Australian worker is available — before nominating an overseas worker.
4. Salary requirement: Workers sponsored under the Core Skills stream must be paid at least the applicable Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is set by the Minister.

The CSOL is broader than the former MLTSSL and STSOL combined lists. It encompasses skilled occupations across a wide range of industries. The former STSOL two-year cap on the TSS visa for short-term occupations no longer applies — all CSOL occupations are eligible for the four-year Subclass 482 visa period.

Workers on occupations on the CSOL may be eligible for the Subclass 186 or 187 permanent employer-sponsored visa after meeting experience requirements, subject to the occupation also being on the relevant instrument for those visa subclasses.