The CSOL Occupation List for Visa 482: How to Search and Pick the Right ANZSCO

From July 2023, most visa 482 applications use the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) to determine which occupations qualify. Before that it was the MLTSSL and STSOL — two older lists that no longer apply to most new cases. If your occupation is not on the CSOL, the 482 nomination will be refused.

What the CSOL is and why it matters

The CSOL is an occupation list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs, listing the ANZSCO codes (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) approved for the visa 482 under the Core Skills stream.

Each occupation on the CSOL has:

An ANZSCO code (6 digits)
An English occupation name
An ANZSCO skill level (1–5)
Sometimes a restriction note (for example: only applies to certain regions)

How to search the CSOL

Step 1: Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au → Work in Australia → Skill occupations → Core Skills Occupation List.

Step 2: Download the CSOL file (Excel or PDF) and search by occupation name or ANZSCO code.

Step 3: Confirm the occupation is on the list and check any accompanying notes.

Note: the CSOL is updated periodically — use the latest version, not an old file downloaded earlier.

Finding the right ANZSCO code for your job

It is not always obvious which code fits the actual job. A suggested process:

Search by occupation name: find the English phrase that describes your job in the CSOL file
Compare the ANZSCO description: every ANZSCO code has a detailed description on the ABS (abs.gov.au) — read it carefully and compare it with your actual work
Confirm the skill level: ANZSCO is divided into 5 levels, from professional (level 1) to labourer (level 5). Your qualifications and experience must correspond to the skill level of that ANZSCO code

For example: “Software Engineer” might be 261313 (Software Engineer) or 261399 (ICT Professionals nec) — read the descriptions to determine which is more accurate for the actual work.

When the occupation is not yet on the CSOL

If your occupation is not on the CSOL, some pathways:

Labour Agreement stream: some occupations not on the CSOL can still be sponsored through a Labour Agreement if there is a special agreement with the Department.

The closest ANZSCO code: sometimes the actual work fits an ANZSCO code that is on the CSOL, even if the job title is different. What matters is the content of the work, not the job title.

Wait for a list update: the CSOL is reviewed periodically — some emerging occupations may be added later.

One ANZSCO code — many job titles

An ANZSCO code usually covers several job titles (alternative titles). For example, ANZSCO 135112 (ICT Project Manager) includes “IT Project Manager”, “Digital Project Manager” and “Technology Project Manager”.

What matters is the content of the actual work, not the job title in the employment contract. The Department assesses substance, not title.

Skill level and qualification requirements

The ANZSCO skill level corresponds to a level of education and experience:

Level 1: a bachelor’s degree or higher
Level 2: a bachelor’s degree or specialised professional recognition
Level 3: a Certificate III/IV or 3–4 years of experience
Level 4: a Certificate II/III or 1–2 years of experience
Level 5: no formal qualification required

To qualify for the visa 482, your qualifications and experience must correspond to the skill level of the ANZSCO code.