Comparing 8 IT Occupations for Australian Migration
8 IT occupations on the CSOL
After ANZSCO 2021 added new ICT codes, there are now eight IT occupations frequently considered for skilled migration that all appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and are all assessed by ACS (Australian Computer Society). The table below compares all eight at once — each ANZSCO code, skill level and visa 189 status is verified directly against T1 sources.
Comparison table
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Skill level | ACS | Visa 189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 261313 | 1 | ACS | |
| Systems Analyst | 261112 | 1 | ACS | |
| Network Engineer | 263111 | 1 | ACS | |
| ICT Business Analyst | 261111 | 1 | ACS | |
| Developer Programmer | 261312 | 1 | ACS | |
| DevOps Engineer | 261316 | 1 | ACS | |
| Database Administrator | 262111 | 1 | ACS | |
| Analyst Programmer | 261311 | 1 | ACS |
The “Visa 189” column shows whether an occupation is on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) — the list that determines eligibility to lodge a visa 189 Skilled Independent application.
Which occupations qualify for visa 189?
The visa 189 (Skilled — Independent) requires no sponsorship and is the goal for many IT professionals. However, not all eight occupations are on the MLTSSL. Based on the current MLTSSL instrument (LIN 19/051, Compilation No. 5):
- On the MLTSSL (eligible for 189): Software Engineer, Systems Analyst, Network Engineer, ICT Business Analyst, Developer Programmer, Analyst Programmer
- Not on the MLTSSL (not eligible for 189): DevOps Engineer (261316), Database Administrator (262111)
Why the two newer codes are absent from the MLTSSL: LIN 19/051 was made in 2019, before ANZSCO 2021 created code 261316 and before the DBA role was grouped here. DevOps and DBA professionals seeking permanent residency through the points-tested stream should therefore consider the visa 190 (state nomination, +5 points) or the visa 491 (+15 points), as well as the 482 → 186 TRT pathway.
The ANZSCO groups and what they mean
The eight occupations fall into three different ANZSCO unit groups, and this affects how ACS conducts its assessment:
- Group 2611 (Business Analysts): ICT Business Analyst (261111), Systems Analyst (261112) — oriented towards analysing requirements and system solutions
- Group 2613 (Software Programmers): Analyst Programmer (261311), Developer Programmer (261312), Software Engineer (261313), DevOps Engineer (261316) — oriented towards software development and infrastructure operations
- Group 2631 (Network/Systems Admins): Computer Network and Systems Engineer (263111) — network infrastructure
- Group 2621 (Database Admins): Database Administrator (262111) — database administration
Which group an occupation belongs to does not change the CSOL conditions or the ACS assessment, but it does affect how you describe the work in your ACS application. A Data Engineer (combining DBA work and ETL programming) needs to identify the most appropriate ANZSCO code clearly before lodging.
What all 8 occupations have in common
- All sit at Skill Level 1 (requiring a degree-level qualification or equivalent experience)
- All are on the CSOL, making them eligible for the visa 482 Core Skills, visa 190/491 and visa 186
- All are assessed by ACS — a single authority for the entire ICT group
- English requirement of at least Vocational (IELTS 5.0 in each band) for the visa 482; Competent (IELTS 6.0) for the visa 189/190
Next steps
To choose the right ANZSCO code for a specific role, and to understand the ACS assessment process, see the related articles on choosing an ICT ANZSCO code and the ACS skills assessment. Detailed articles for each occupation are linked below.