MD121 and MD122 Priority Occupations List (ANZSCO)

Every ANZSCO occupation in the Priority 1 group of Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, expanded from the group codes in the Directions, with the conditions that apply to each sector.

Since 19 September 2026, Home Affairs has processed most skilled visa applications under two new Ministerial Directions. Direction 121 covers the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Direction 122 covers the permanent and provisional skilled visas: 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888. Both put the same group of sectors first in the queue, whether the applicant is in Australia or offshore.

The catch is that the Directions do not list the occupations one by one. Many of them are written as group codes, such as Sub-Major Group 33 or Minor Group 411, and the reader has to work out which occupations sit inside. This guide does that work. Below is every ANZSCO occupation that falls inside the Priority 1 sectors, expanded from the group codes in the Directions themselves.

What Directions 121 and 122 do

A Ministerial Direction under section 499 of the Migration Act tells Home Affairs delegates the order in which to consider applications. It does not change who is eligible for a visa and it does not change the skilled occupation lists. It only decides who is processed first.

Both Directions commenced on 19 September 2026 and replace Direction 119. They apply to applications that were lodged before that date but not yet decided, as well as new applications.

Direction 121, for the Skills in Demand (482) visa, has five tiers: Priority 1 sectors, then the Specialist Skills stream, then applicants who were in Australia when they lodged, then offshore applicants without combined applications, then everyone else. Direction 122 has four tiers: Priority 1 sectors, then applicants who were in Australia when they lodged, then offshore applicants without combined applications, then everyone else.

The Priority 1 sectors are Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing, Resources, and occupations related to Australia's law enforcement and defence interests. The sector definitions are identical in both Directions.

How to read the occupation codes

ANZSCO codes are hierarchical. A 2-digit code is a Sub-Major Group, a 3-digit code is a Minor Group, a 4-digit code is a Unit Group, and a 6-digit code is a single occupation. When a Direction names a group, every occupation inside that group is Priority 1, and each occupation has equal priority. The lists below follow ANZSCO 2022 (version 1.3) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is the version the Directions' occupation titles match.

In total, the group and occupation codes in the Directions expand to 242 individual ANZSCO occupations across Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Resources and Law enforcement. Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing, and Defence are defined by duties and circumstances rather than by ANZSCO codes, so they are explained separately.

Priority 1 does not mean eligibleBeing on this list does not make an occupation eligible for any visa. Your nominated occupation still has to be on the relevant skilled occupation list for the visa you are applying for, and you still need to meet every criterion in the Act and the Regulations. Priority 1 only affects how quickly an eligible, complete application is likely to be picked up.

CONSTRUCTION

Direction wording: an occupation in any of the following groups, where each occupation is of equal priority.

Sub-Major Group 33 - Construction Trades Workers (18 occupations)

Unit Group 3311 - Bricklayers and Stonemasons

• 331111 - Bricklayer

• 331112 - StonemasonUnit Group 3312 - Carpenters and Joiners

• 331211 - Carpenter and Joiner

• 331212 - Carpenter

• 331213 - JoinerUnit Group 3321 - Floor Finishers

• 332111 - Floor Finisher

Unit Group 3322 - Painters

• 332211 - PainterUnit Group 3331 - Glaziers

• 333111 - GlazierUnit Group 3332 - Plasterers and Renderers

• 333211 - Plasterer (Wall and Ceiling)

• 333212 - Renderer (Solid Plaster)Unit Group 3333 - Roof Tilers

• 333311 - Roof Tiler

Unit Group 3334 - Wall and Floor Tilers

• 333411 - Wall and Floor TilerUnit Group 3341 - Plumbers

• 334112 - Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber

• 334113 - Drainer

• 334114 - Gasfitter

• 334115 - Roof Plumber

• 334116 - Plumber (General)

• 334117 - Fire Protection Plumber

Sub-Major Group 82 - Construction and Mining Labourers (19 occupations)

Unit Group 8211 - Building and Plumbing Labourers

• 821111 - Builder's Labourer

• 821112 - Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer

• 821113 - Earthmoving Labourer

• 821114 - Plumber's Assistant

Unit Group 8212 - Concreters

• 821211 - Concreter

Unit Group 8213 - Fencers

• 821311 - Fencer

Unit Group 8214 - Insulation and Home Improvement Installers

• 821411 - Building Insulation Installer

• 821412 - Home Improvement Installer

Unit Group 8215 - Paving and Surfacing Labourers

• 821511 - Paving and Surfacing Labourer

Unit Group 8216 - Railway Track Workers

• 821611 - Railway Track Worker

Unit Group 8217 - Structural Steel Construction Workers

• 821711 - Construction Rigger

• 821712 - Scaffolder

• 821713 - Steel Fixer

• 821714 - Structural Steel Erector

Unit Group 8219 - Other Construction and Mining Labourers

• 821911 - Crane Chaser

• 821912 - Driller's Assistant

• 821913 - Lagger

• 821914 - Mining Support Worker

• 821915 - Surveyor's Assistant

Unit Group 1331 - Construction Managers (2 occupations)

• 133111 - Construction Project Manager

• 133112 - Project Builder

Unit Group 1332 - Engineering Managers (1 occupation)

• 133211 - Engineering Manager

Unit Group 2321 - Architects and Landscape Architects (2 occupations)

• 232111 - Architect

• 232112 - Landscape Architect

Unit Group 2332 - Civil Engineering Professionals (5 occupations)

• 233211 - Civil Engineer

• 233212 - Geotechnical Engineer

• 233213 - Quantity Surveyor

• 233214 - Structural Engineer

• 233215 - Transport Engineer

Unit Group 3121 - Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians (7 occupations)

• 312111 - Architectural Draftsperson

• 312112 - Building Associate

• 312113 - Building Inspector

• 312114 - Construction Estimator

• 312115 - Plumbing Inspector

• 312116 - Surveying or Spatial Science Technician

• 312199 - Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians nec

Unit Group 3122 - Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (2 occupations)

• 312211 - Civil Engineering Draftsperson

• 312212 - Civil Engineering Technician

Unit Group 3126 - Safety Inspectors (1 occupation)

• 312611 - Safety Inspector

Unit Group 3129 - Other Building and Engineering Technicians (5 occupations)

• 312911 - Maintenance Planner

• 312912 - Metallurgical or Materials Technician

• 312913 - Mine Deputy

• 312914 - Other Draftsperson

• 312999 - Building and Engineering Technicians nec

Unit Group 3222 - Sheetmetal Workers (1 occupation)

• 322211 - Sheetmetal Worker

Unit Group 3223 - Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers (3 occupations)

• 322311 - Metal Fabricator

• 322312 - Pressure Welder

• 322313 - Welder (First Class) (Aus) or Welder (NZ)

Unit Group 7111 - Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators (5 occupations)

• 711111 - Clay Products Machine Operator

• 711112 - Concrete Products Machine Operator

• 711113 - Glass Production Machine Operator

• 711114 - Stone Processing Machine Operator

• 711199 - Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators nec

Unit Group 7121 - Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators (1 occupation)

• 712111 - Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator

Unit Group 7212 - Earthmoving Plant Operators (6 occupations)

• 721211 - Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)

• 721212 - Backhoe Operator

• 721213 - Bulldozer Operator

• 721214 - Excavator Operator

• 721215 - Grader Operator

• 721216 - Loader Operator

Individual occupations named in the Direction

• 341111 - Electrician (General)

• 341112 - Electrician (Special Class)

HEALTHCARE

An occupation in any of the following groups, where each occupation is of equal priority. This includes the whole of Sub-Major Group 25 (Health Professionals) and Minor Group 411 (Health and Welfare Support Workers).

Sub-Major Group 25 - Health Professionals (83 occupations)

Unit Group 2511 - Nutrition Professionals

• 251111 - Dietitian

• 251112 - Nutritionist

Unit Group 2512 - Medical Imaging Professionals

• 251211 - Medical Diagnostic Radiographer

• 251212 - Medical Radiation Therapist

• 251213 - Nuclear Medicine Technologist

• 251214 - Sonographer

Unit Group 2513 - Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals

• 251311 - Environmental Health Officer

• 251312 - Occupational Health and Safety Adviser

Unit Group 2514 - Optometrists and Orthoptists

• 251411 - Optometrist

• 251412 - Orthoptist

Unit Group 2515 - Pharmacists

• 251511 - Hospital Pharmacist

• 251512 - Industrial Pharmacist

• 251513 - Retail Pharmacist

Unit Group 2519 - Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals

• 251911 - Health Promotion Officer

• 251912 - Orthotist or Prosthetist

• 251999 - Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec

Unit Group 2521 - Chiropractors and Osteopaths

• 252111 - Chiropractor

• 252112 - Osteopath

Unit Group 2522 - Complementary Health Therapists

• 252211 - Acupuncturist

• 252212 - Homoeopath

• 252213 - Naturopath

• 252214 - Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

• 252215 - Traditional Māori Health Practitioner

• 252299 - Complementary Health Therapists nec

Unit Group 2523 - Dental Practitioners

• 252311 - Dental Specialist

• 252312 - Dentist

Unit Group 2524 - Occupational Therapists

• 252411 - Occupational Therapist

Unit Group 2525 - Physiotherapists

• 252511 - Physiotherapist

Unit Group 2526 - Podiatrists

• 252611 - Podiatrist

Unit Group 2527 - Audiologists and Speech Pathologists or Therapists

• 252711 - Audiologist

• 252712 - Speech Pathologist or Speech Language Therapist

Unit Group 2531 - General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers

• 253111 - General Practitioner

• 253112 - Resident Medical Officer

Unit Group 2532 - Anaesthetists

• 253211 - Anaesthetist

Unit Group 2533 - Specialist Physicians

• 253311 - Specialist Physician (General Medicine)

• 253312 - Cardiologist

• 253313 - Clinical Haematologist

• 253314 - Medical Oncologist

• 253315 - Endocrinologist

• 253316 - Gastroenterologist

• 253317 - Intensive Care Specialist

• 253318 - Neurologist

• 253321 - Paediatrician

• 253322 - Renal Medicine Specialist

• 253323 - Rheumatologist

• 253324 - Thoracic Medicine Specialist

• 253399 - Specialist Physicians nec

Unit Group 2534 - Psychiatrists

• 253411 - Psychiatrist

Unit Group 2535 - Surgeons

• 253511 - Surgeon (General)

• 253512 - Cardiothoracic Surgeon

• 253513 - Neurosurgeon

• 253514 - Orthopaedic Surgeon

• 253515 - Otorhinolaryngologist

• 253516 - Paediatric Surgeon

• 253517 - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

• 253518 - Urologist

• 253521 - Vascular Surgeon

Unit Group 2539 - Other Medical Practitioners

• 253911 - Dermatologist

• 253912 - Emergency Medicine Specialist

• 253913 - Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

• 253914 - Ophthalmologist

• 253915 - Pathologist

• 253917 - Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist

• 253918 - Radiation Oncologist

• 253999 - Medical Practitioners nec

Unit Group 2541 - Midwives

• 254111 - Midwife

Unit Group 2542 - Nurse Educators and Researchers

• 254211 - Nurse Educator

• 254212 - Nurse Researcher

Unit Group 2543 - Nurse Managers

• 254311 - Nurse Manager

Unit Group 2544 - Registered Nurses

• 254411 - Nurse Practitioner

• 254412 - Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

• 254413 - Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)

• 254414 - Registered Nurse (Community Health)

• 254415 - Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

• 254416 - Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

• 254417 - Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

• 254418 - Registered Nurse (Medical)

• 254421 - Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)

• 254422 - Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

• 254423 - Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

• 254424 - Registered Nurse (Surgical)

• 254425 - Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)

• 254499 - Registered Nurses nec

Minor Group 411 - Health and Welfare Support Workers (18 occupations)

Unit Group 4111 - Ambulance Officers and Paramedics

• 411111 - Ambulance Officer

• 411112 - Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic (Aus) or Ambulance Paramedic (NZ)

Unit Group 4112 - Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists

• 411211 - Dental Hygienist

• 411212 - Dental Prosthetist

• 411213 - Dental Technician

• 411214 - Dental Therapist

Unit Group 4113 - Diversional Therapists

• 411311 - Diversional Therapist

  
  

Unit Group 4114 - Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses

• 411411 - Enrolled Nurse

• 411412 - Mothercraft Nurse

Unit Group 4115 - Indigenous Health Workers

• 411511 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

• 411512 - Kaiāwhina (Hauora) (Māori Health Assistant)

Unit Group 4116 - Massage Therapists

• 411611 - Massage Therapist

Unit Group 4117 - Welfare Support Workers

• 411711 - Community Worker

• 411712 - Disabilities Services Officer

• 411713 - Family Support Worker

• 411714 - Parole or Probation Officer

• 411715 - Residential Care Officer

• 411716 - Youth Worker

Unit Group 2346 - Medical Scientists (2 occupations)

• 234611 - Medical Laboratory Scientist

• 234612 - Respiratory Scientist

  
  

Unit Group 2721 - Counsellors (6 occupations)

• 272111 - Careers Counsellor

• 272112 - Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

• 272113 - Family and Marriage Counsellor

• 272114 - Rehabilitation Counsellor

• 272115 - Student Counsellor

• 272199 - Counsellors nec

  
  

Unit Group 2723 - Psychologists (5 occupations)

• 272311 - Clinical Psychologist

• 272312 - Educational Psychologist

• 272313 - Organisational Psychologist

• 272314 - Psychotherapist

• 272399 - Psychologists nec

  
  

Unit Group 2725 - Social Workers (1 occupation)

• 272511 - Social Worker

  
  

Unit Group 3112 - Medical Technicians (8 occupations)

• 311211 - Anaesthetic Technician

• 311212 - Cardiac Technician

• 311213 - Medical Laboratory Technician

• 311214 - Operating Theatre Technician

• 311215 - Pharmacy Technician

• 311216 - Pathology Collector or Phlebotomist

• 311217 - Respiratory Technician

• 311299 - Medical Technicians nec

Individual occupations named in the Direction

• 423111 - Aged or Disabled Carer

• 423312 - Nursing Support Worker

• 423313 - Personal Care Assistant

TEACHING

Direction wording: an occupation in any of the following groups, where each occupation is of equal priority.

Minor Group 241 - School Teachers (11 occupations)Unit Group 2411 - Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers

Unit Group 2411 - Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers

• 241111 - Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher

• 241112 - Kaiako Kohanga Reo (Māori Language Nest Teacher

Unit Group 2412 - Primary School Teachers

• 241211 - Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher)

• 241212 - Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher)

• 241213 - Primary School Teacher

  
  

Unit Group 2413 - Middle School Teachers or Intermediate School Teachers

• 241311 - Middle School Teacher or Intermediate School Teacher

  
  

Unit Group 2414 - Secondary School Teachers

• 241411 - Secondary School Teacher

  
  

Unit Group 2415 - Special Education Teachers

• 241511 - Special Needs Teacher

• 241512 - Teacher of the Hearing Impaired

• 241513 - Teacher of the Sight Impaired

• 241599 - Special Education Teachers nec

  
  

Unit Group 1341 - Child Care Centre Managers (1 occupation)

• 134111 - Child Care Centre Manager

Individual occupations named in the Direction

• 134311 - School Principal

• 134411 - Faculty Head

• 242111 - University Lecturer

• 242211 - Vocational Education Teacher or Polytechnic Teacher

• 421111 - Child Care Worker

RESOURCES

Condition: The Direction covers an occupation where the nominated position directly supports the exploration, extraction and production of minerals, oil and gas, or coal resources, including mine closure, decommissioning and rehabilitation activities. An occupation on the list below only counts if the position meets this test.

Unit Group 2336 - Mining Engineers (2 occupations)

• 233611 - Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)

• 233612 - Petroleum Engineer

  
  

Unit Group 2344 - Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists (3 occupations)

• 234411 - Geologist

• 234412 - Geophysicist

• 234413 - Hydrogeologist

  
  

Unit Group 7122 - Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers (3 occupations)

• 712211 - Driller

• 712212 - Miner

• 712213 - Shot Firer

  
  

Individual occupations named in the Direction

• 133513 - Production Manager (Mining)

• 232212 - Surveyor

• 232214 - Other Spatial Scientist

• 234912 - Metallurgist

• 323211 - Fitter (General)

• 323212 - Fitter and Turner

• 323213 - Fitter-Welder

• 323214 - Metal Machinist (First Class)

• 323299 - Metal Fitters and Machinists nec

  
  

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Condition: ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 (Police) counts only where the applicant is nominated or sponsored by one of the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police Force, Queensland Police Service, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Victoria Police or Western Australia Police Force.

Unit Group 4413 - Police (2 occupations)

• 441311 - Detective

• 441312 - Police Officer

AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE AND FISHING

This sector is not defined by ANZSCO codes. It covers an occupation where the nominated position is directly involved in primary produce production or supporting productivity, including:

• cultivating, producing or harvesting crops

• capturing (fishing), breeding, raising, managing or producing livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products

• agricultural production support activities, including animal health, irrigation, quality assurance, inspection or farm supervision

• slaughtering, dressing, boning, slicing, processing, preparing or inspecting livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products for sale, distribution or consumption

Because the test is about the duties of the nominated position, the same ANZSCO occupation can qualify in one job and not in another. Position descriptions matter here.

DEFENCE

Defence is also not defined by ANZSCO codes. An occupation is related to Australia's defence interests if it is in relation to, or supports the delivery of, AUKUS Pillar I (conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines) or Pillar II (advanced capability development), or if the applicant is nominated or sponsored by the Australian Defence Force or the Department of Defence, or the applicant has a letter of support from the ADF or the Department of Defence and either will ordinarily work at a defence facility or the occupation supports the production or supply of defence-related materiel or technology.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

If your nominated occupation appears in the lists above, and the position meets any sector condition, your application is in the first processing tier under Direction 121 or 122 regardless of whether you applied onshore or offshore. If it does not, your place in the queue depends on the other tiers.

Whether an occupation is on the list is only the first question. We can check your nominated occupation against the Directions, confirm that the position meets the sector condition, and review where your application sits. Get in touch with our team for a consultation.

Disclaimer : This article is general information only, based on Direction 121 and Direction 122 (given under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958, commenced 19 September 2026) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics ANZSCO 2022 classification. Group codes have been expanded to individual occupations for convenience; check the Directions and ANZSCO before relying on any single entry. It is not personal migration advice. Please consult a registered migration agent about your specific circumstances.