Migrate to Australia as an ICT professional

With the globally increasing needs of skilled workers, Australia is inviting skilled immigrants to work, study, and live there. Australia’s goal is to improve economic growth and compete with other developed nations. Many businesses are improving their productivity along with the adaptation to new technologies. It will directly increase the demands of IT professions. The Australian Government announced reforms to Australia’s temporary and permanent skilled visa programs on 18 April 2017. The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) was replaced by a combined list containing the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and Regional Occupation List (ROL).

ICT Professions on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL)

1. Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

The occupations on medium and long-term skilled occupation lists are eligible for a temporary visa. They have the pathways to a permanent residency through employer sponsorship, state sponsorship, or skilled independent.

• ICT business analyst – 261111
• System analyst – 261112
• Multimedia specialist – 261211
• Analyst programmer – 261311
• Developer programmer – 261312
• Software engineers – 261313
• Software and applications programmers (NEC) – 261399
• ICT security specialist – 262112
• Computer network and systems engineer – 263111

2. Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)

The occupation on short-term skilled occupation list is limited to a temporary visa. They don’t necessarily have a pathway to permanent residency. There might be some states offering PR through state sponsorship, with additional criteria to be met.

• ICT project manager – 135112
• ICT project manager – 135112
• ICT managers (NEC) – 135199
• ICT trainer – 223211
• Web developer – 261212
• Software tester – 261314
• Database administrator – 262111
• Systems administrator – 262113
• Network administrator – 263112
• Network analyst – 263113
• ICT Quality assurance engineer – 263211
• ICT support engineer – 26212
• ICT systems test engineer – 263213
• ICT support and test engineers (NEC) – 263299
• Web administrator – 313113

All the skill assessments are handled by the Australia Computer Society (ACS). To qualify for skilled migration to Australia, you should choose an occupation from the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). However, if you are applying for skilled migration via nomination by a State or Territory Government, you have the choice of designating an occupation from the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).

General skilled migration (GSM) is the path for skilled workers to migrate to Australia. The applicants must meet the requirements to qualify for the visa.

Understanding which Occupation List to use

• If applying for a General Skilled Migration visa and you are not nominated by the state or territory government, you must choose an occupation from MLTSSL.
• If applying for a General Skilled Migration visa and you are nominated by the state or territory government, you must choose an occupation from STSOL.

 Difference between MLTSS and STSOL

Medium and long-term strategic skills list is for overseas skilled workers to fill the critical skills in occupation for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for PR after three years.

Short-term skilled occupation list is for overseas skilled workers to fill in the occupation for two years with the possibility of extending an additional two years with no eligibility to apply for PR.

Visa Pathways for IT Professionals

ICT experts on the MLTSSL occupation list should consider the General Skilled Visa, including subclass 189, 190, and the new temporary Regional Skilled Visa Subclass 491. Occupations on the short-term list may only be considered for the state nominated visa subclass 190 and/or for the new visa Subclass 491 if on the relevant state occupation lists.

Due to the high demand for IT professionals by the Australian community, the employer-sponsored pathway is also available.

Skills Assessment for IT Professionals

Like every single other occupation, to be considered for a general skilled visa, IT experts are required to acquire a positive skills assessment from the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as the very first step to go through the skilled visa application process.