Understanding ANZSCO Codes: How to Find the Right One for Your Visa

Every skilled visa application in Australia revolves around your ANZSCO code. Getting the right one is critical. The wrong code can mean a rejected skills assessment, wasted fees, and months of delay.

What is ANZSCO?

ANZSCO stands for Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. It is a system that classifies every occupation into a six-digit code. The Department of Home Affairs uses these codes to determine which occupations are eligible for skilled migration.

How to find your code

1. Go to the ANZSCO search tool on the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) website
2. Search for your job title
3. Read the description carefully. It lists the tasks, duties, and qualifications associated with each code
4. Match your actual duties (not your job title) to the code description

Why the description matters more than the title

Job titles vary between countries and companies. A "project manager" in one company might be doing the work of a "management consultant" (224711) in ANZSCO terms, or they might be closer to a "construction project manager" (133111). The two codes are on different occupation lists and have different assessing authorities.

Read the task list for each code and honestly assess which one matches what you actually do day-to-day.

Skill levels

ANZSCO divides occupations into five skill levels:

| Level | Education equivalent | Examples | |-------|---------------------|----------| | 1 | Bachelor's degree or higher | Engineers, doctors, accountants | | 2 | Associate degree or diploma | Chefs, paramedics, graphic designers | | 3 | Certificate III/IV or trade qualification | Electricians, plumbers, carpenters | | 4 | Certificate II or III | Dental assistants, library technicians | | 5 | Certificate I or secondary school | Labourers, cleaners, farm hands |

Skill levels 1 to 3 are eligible for most skilled visa pathways. Levels 4 and 5 are generally not eligible for independent skilled migration but may qualify for employer-sponsored or working holiday visas.

Common mistakes

Choosing a code based on the title, not the duties. A "software developer" who mostly does project management should not nominate as a developer.

Picking a code just because it is on a list. If your duties do not match the ANZSCO description, your skills assessment will fail. Assessing authorities are thorough.

Not checking which list the code is on. The MLTSSL, STSOL, and ROL have different codes. Check that your code appears on the list relevant to the visa you want.

Ignoring specialisations. "Accountant (General)" (221111) and "Taxation Accountant" (221113) are different codes. Pick the one that matches your specialisation.