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Migration Program Skill stream 2021-22 and Travel Exemption for critical sectors

The Australian Migration policy in 2021-22 will continue to focus on Australia’s economy from COVID-19.  The priority is given to categories that provide investment, talent, and critical skills to Australia, to assist Australia’s economic recovery.

The three priority categories within the Skill stream for 2021-22 are:

  • Business Innovation and Investment Program (Changes have introduced)
  • Global Talent Visa Program
  • Employer Sponsored Program

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies 41 ​occupations, including 22 new skilled occupations added on 22 June 2021. The 41 occupations (ANZSCO code) are:

  • Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
  • Construction Project Manager (133111)
  • Accountant (General) (221111)*
  • Management Accountant (221112)*
  • Taxation Accountant (221113)*
  • External Auditor (221213)*
  • Internal Auditor (221214)*
  • Surveyor (232212)*
  • Cartographer (232213)*
  • Other Spatial Scientist (232214)*
  • Civil Engineer (233211)*
  • Geotechnical Engineer (233212)*
  • Structural Engineer (233214)*
  • Transport Engineer (233215)*
  • Electrical Engineer (233311)*
  • Mechanical Engineer (233512)
  • Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) (233611)*
  • Petroleum Engineer (233612)*
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611)*
  • Veterinarian (234711)
  • Orthotist or Prosthetist (251912)*
  • General Practitioner (253111)
  • Resident Medical Officer (253112)
  • Psychiatrist (253411)
  • Medical Practitioners nec (253999)
  • Midwife (254111)
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
  • Registered Nurses nec (254499)
  • Multimedia Specialist (261211)*
  • Analyst Programmer (261311)*
  • Developer Programmer (261312)
  • Software Engineer (261313)
  • Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399)*
  • ICT Security Specialist (262112)*
  • Social Worker (272511)
  • Maintenance Planner (312911)
  • Chef (351311)*

* Indicates occupation added in June 2021

A travel exemption may be granted to individuals in critical sectors or with critical skills:

  • travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
  • providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
  • with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services (such as in medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, aged care, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and the maritime industry)
  • delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery (such as financial technology, large scale manufacturing, film, media and television production and emerging technology), where no Australian worker is available
  • providing critical skills in religious or theology fields
  • sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
  • whose entry would otherwise be in Australia’s national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority.

At Migration Affairs, we help our clients through this process. The travel exemption requests need to be particularised and must include travel details, reasons for travel, supporting statements and accompanying evidence. A request under this category can be made prior to grant of the visa.

Have more specific questions about your visa? Get in touch with Migration Affairs today.

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