ACT has updated the ACT Critical Skills list for the 2025-26 financial year. The list will reduce from 152 ANZSCO 4-digit Unit Groups to 105. Additionally, the name of the list will change to ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation list (or the ACT Migration Occupation list for short) to better reflect the role of the list: determining eligibility for ACT nomination.

Before lodging an application for nomination, it is recommended that you obtain specific migration advice relevant to your circumstances from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection or a Registered Migration Agent.

Related:

• ACT Canberra Small Business Owner Pathway – 491 visa
  
• ACT Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements (190 and 491 visa)
• State requirements for 190 visa
• Canberra Matrix Points Calculator

About the ACT Occupation List

The ACT Occupation List identifies the skills that are currently in demand in Canberra (for migration purposes).  The ACT Occupation List is used to determine the eligibility for ACT support of the following programs:

• Skilled Visas: ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa.
• Employer Nomination: Regional Certifying Body support of an Employer Nomination under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Skilled Visa Applicants

The ACT Occupation List determines if the occupation is available for ACT nomination of a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa. To determine your eligibility for ACT nomination you must read the ‘Guidelines for applying for ACT nomination’ and make sure that you meet the nomination criteria.

Employer Sponsored Nomination

Employers seeking to nominate highly skilled workers under the Direct Entry pathway of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) must seek the support of the Regional Certifying Body (RCB) before the RSMS nomination can be assessed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Applying for Regional Certifying Body (RCB) support

As part of the application for RCB support, employers must demonstrate that the position cannot be filled from the local labour market.

• If the nominated occupation has a status of open on the ACT Occupation List, the application for RCB support is deemed to meet this criterion.
• If the nominated occupation has a status of ‘closed’, or is not listed on the ACT Occupation List, the application for RCB support does not meet this criterion. You should refer to the RCB guidelines for other pathways to demonstrate that the position cannot be filled from the local labour market.