What is ANZSCO and why does it matter for your Australian visa? (2026)

ANZSCO — the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations — is the system the Australian government uses to define, group, and code every recognised occupation. If you are applying for a skilled visa, your occupation's ANZSCO code controls which visa pathways are open to you, which skills assessment body assesses your qualifications, and whether you can even submit an Expression of Interest.

What is ANZSCO?

ANZSCO assigns every occupation a six-digit code and a skill level from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest). The classification is jointly maintained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Statistics New Zealand. For migration purposes, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) uses these codes to standardise how occupations are compared across applicants from different countries, industries, and educational systems.

Each occupation entry in ANZSCO includes:

• A title and six-digit code (for example, Software Engineer is 261313)
• A skill level rating
• A list of typical tasks
• Alternative titles and related occupations
• A nominated skills assessment authority

The code is not just an administrative label. It is the anchor for nearly every decision made about your skilled visa application.

How ANZSCO works in practice

When you begin a skilled migration application, you nominate an occupation. Home Affairs, and the relevant skills assessment authority, then match that nomination to an ANZSCO code. Everything downstream flows from that code.

Skills assessment

Each ANZSCO code is linked to a specific assessing authority — for example, Engineers Australia assesses engineering occupations, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) assesses most ICT roles, and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) assesses nurses. Your skills assessment must be conducted by the authority listed against your ANZSCO code. You cannot choose a different body, and you cannot swap codes to get a preferred assessor.

Occupation lists

Home Affairs maintains several lists of ANZSCO-coded occupations that are eligible for skilled visas. The main one for points-tested visas is the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Occupations on the MLTSSL are eligible for the broadest range of visa subclasses. Other lists, such as the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and regionally specific lists, carry more restrictions.

If your ANZSCO-coded occupation is not on any current list, you generally cannot lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect for points-tested visas like the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190), or Skilled Regional (Subclass 491).

Points test

For points-tested visas, your ANZSCO occupation also shapes how your experience is counted. Years of skilled employment must be in — or closely related to — your nominated ANZSCO occupation to attract points. Work in a different role may not count, even if it used similar skills.

Occupation list eligibility and points cutoffs shift regularly. You can track how your occupation is performing in current invitation rounds on the Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard.

Employer-sponsored visas

For employer-sponsored pathways such as the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482), the ANZSCO code of the position being sponsored must appear on the relevant occupation list. The sponsoring employer nominates the role; Home Affairs matches it to an ANZSCO code and checks list eligibility.

When ANZSCO applies and where it gets complicated

ANZSCO affects most skilled and employer-sponsored visa pathways. It is less directly relevant to family, tourist, and student visas, but it still surfaces wherever a visa has a work or skills component.

Choosing the right code

Many applicants work across several roles or have job titles that don't map neatly to a single ANZSCO entry. A developer who also manages a team might consider both Software Engineer (261313) and ICT Project Manager (135112). The right choice depends on which role best reflects your primary duties — not which code appears on a more favourable list.

Choosing a code that doesn't match your actual duties is a misrepresentation. Home Affairs and assessing authorities scrutinise job descriptions, employment references, and payslips. If the code doesn't fit your work history, the assessment will likely fail.

When an occupation is removed or added to a list

Occupation lists are updated periodically. An occupation that was eligible when you began planning may be removed before you lodge. Conversely, new occupations are sometimes added — this became prominent during the 2026–27 budget cycle, when the government signalled further changes to the points test and list structures. The post What the 2026–27 Federal Budget means for skilled migration (189, 190, 491) covers those policy signals in detail.

Applying under a different ANZSCO code than your assessment

You must lodge your EOI under the same ANZSCO code for which you received a positive skills assessment. Changing codes after assessment means obtaining a new assessment — a separate process that takes additional time and fees.

Regional visas and occupation eligibility

Some occupations are only eligible for regional visa pathways. If your ANZSCO code is not on the MLTSSL but appears on a regional list, you may be limited to the Skilled Regional (Subclass 491) or Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) pathway. That is not necessarily a disadvantage — regional visas offer their own route to permanent residence — but it does affect planning.

SkillSelect and invitation rounds

Once you hold a positive skills assessment and meet the minimum points threshold, you submit an EOI in SkillSelect using your ANZSCO code. Home Affairs then issues invitations by occupation, ranked by points score and EOI submission date. The March 2026 SkillSelect invitation round is a useful reference for understanding how cutoffs vary by occupation.

Common questions

What does an ANZSCO code look like and where do I find mine?

ANZSCO codes are six-digit numbers — for example, 261313 for Software Engineer or 254111 for Registered Nurse. You can search the full list on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. Your skills assessment outcome letter will also state the ANZSCO code under which you were assessed.

Can I use any ANZSCO code I want for my visa application?

No. You must nominate the code that genuinely matches your primary occupation and for which you hold a positive skills assessment. Nominating a code that doesn't reflect your actual duties is a misrepresentation, and assessors will check your employment evidence against the typical tasks listed for that code.

Does ANZSCO apply to the 482 employer-sponsored visa?

Yes. For the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482), the position being sponsored must correspond to an ANZSCO-coded occupation on the relevant list. Both the occupation code and the salary level of the role affect eligibility under the 482 framework.

What happens if my occupation is removed from the eligible list after I lodge my EOI?

If your occupation is removed from the MLTSSL or other relevant list after you have submitted an EOI but before you receive an invitation, your EOI may no longer be valid for that visa subclass. Home Affairs provides guidance on transitional arrangements when list changes occur — check the Home Affairs website or speak to a MARA-registered agent for your specific circumstances.

How often are ANZSCO codes and occupation lists updated?

The ANZSCO classification itself is updated infrequently by the ABS. Occupation lists, however, can change with little notice — they are a policy lever, not a fixed schedule. Monitoring SkillSelect rounds and Home Affairs announcements is the only way to stay current.

Where to go next

See how your ANZSCO occupation is ranking in current invitation rounds on the Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard.