In further efforts to fill Australia’s urgent skills needs in critical sectors, help build local jobs and rebuild the economy following the impact of COVID-19, the Acting Minister for Immigration, Alan Tudge, has introduced a Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)***. It will be subject to review but, currently reads as follows:

• 111111 Chief Executive or Managing Director

• 133111 Construction Project Manager

• 233512 Mechanical Engineer

• 253111 General Practitioner

• 253112 Resident Medical Officer

• 253411 Psychiatrist

• 253999 Medical Practitioner nec

• 254111 Midwife

• 254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

• 254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

• 254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)

• 254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

• 254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

• 254499 Registered Nurses nec

• 261312 Developer Programmer

• 261313 Software Engineer

• 312911 Maintenance Planner

*** Another 17 occupations have been added to the list as of June 2021. Click here for a full list of relevant occupations and PMSOL within

The effect is that employees sponsored by Australian businesses in an occupation on the PMSOL will also be able to apply for a travel exemption to enter or return to Australia. This is in addition to the cohort who can travel to Australia without having to request a travel exemption.

PMSOL visa holders will still be subject to strict 14-day quarantine requirements upon arrival in Australia which is also at their expense.

Furthermore, any Australian business seeking to sponsor someone in a PMSOL occupation from 1 October 2020 onwards, will need to demonstrate their difficulties in filling the position with a suitably qualified Australian employee. These labour market testing efforts include the added requirements to advertise in three forums with a national reach, one of which must include the Jobactive website. This is one forum more than the current requirement.

For more information please contact us to discuss further.