The Core Skills Occupation List, state nomination lists, skills assessment bodies and which occupations a Bangladeshi graduate can realistically reach.
Australia does not have one single 'Green List' like New Zealand. Instead there is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) used for the national skilled visas, and separate state and territory nomination lists that each state government updates on its own schedule for subclass 190 (state-nominated permanent) and subclass 491 (state/regional provisional) visas.
Rules, occupation lists and points thresholds change frequently. Treat everything below as a planning map, not a legal guarantee, and always confirm the current CSOL, state lists and points settings on the Department of Home Affairs website before enrolling in a course or lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Most Bangladeshi graduates who stay for permanent residence go through one of these three visa subclasses, all fed by the same SkillSelect Expression of Interest system.
| Subclass | Name | Nomination needed | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Skilled Independent | None — points-tested only | Occupation must be on the CSOL; no sponsor required |
| 190 | Skilled Nominated | State/territory government | Permanent visa immediately; +5 points from nomination |
| 491 | Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | State/territory or family in a regional area | +15 points; 5-year provisional visa, pathway to subclass 191 PR after 3 years of regional work |
You need a minimum of 65 points to lodge a competitive EOI, though invited scores are usually higher in practice. Points come from a fixed set of factors.
| Factor | Points range | Notes for Bangladeshi applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 0–30 | Peaks at 25–32 years (30 pts); drops sharply after 40 |
| English ability | 0–20 | Superior (IELTS 8 each band or PTE 79+) scores the full 20 |
| Skilled employment (overseas) | 0–15 | Counted only in your nominated occupation, capped years apply |
| Skilled employment (Australia) | 0–20 | Australian experience is weighted higher than overseas |
| Qualification | 0–20 | Doctorate 20, bachelor's/master's 15, diploma 10 |
| Australian study requirement | 5 | 2 academic years of study in Australia, in English, on-campus |
| Regional study | 5 | Studying at a campus in a Designated Regional Area (e.g. Adelaide, Perth) |
| Specialist education (STEM master's/PhD) | 10 | Australian STEM master's or doctorate with research component |
| State/territory nomination (190) | 5 | Added automatically on nomination |
| Regional nomination/sponsorship (491) | 15 | Largest single boost available to a graduate |
| Partner skills | 0–10 | Skilled partner with positive assessment (10) or competent English only (5) |
| NAATI accreditation (CCL) | 5 | Community Language credential, including Bengali-English |
| Professional Year in Australia | 5 | 12-month structured programme in accounting, ICT or engineering |
Worked example: a 27-year-old Bangladeshi ICT graduate with a positive skills assessment, IELTS 7 each band (Proficient English, 10 pts), an Australian master's from a regional campus (15 pts study + 5 regional), 1 year of Australian skilled work (5 pts) and a subclass 491 regional nomination (15 pts) reaches: age 30 + English 10 + qualification 15 + Australian study 5 + regional study 5 + employment 5 + regional nomination 15 = 85 points — comfortably inside a competitive range for most rounds.
Before you can claim points in an occupation, an approved assessing authority must confirm your qualification and experience match that occupation. This step, not the points test, is where most applications stall.
| Field | Assessing body | What Bangladeshi graduates should know |
|---|---|---|
| ICT (software eng., analyst, cybersecurity) | ACS (Australian Computer Society) | An Australian ICT degree of 2+ years is assessed favourably; overseas-only degrees need matched employment years |
| Engineering (all streams) | Engineers Australia | Competency Demonstration Report required for overseas-only degrees; Australian accredited engineering degrees are assessed on qualification alone |
| Accounting, auditing | CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA | Requires a CPA/CA-accredited degree plus often a Professional Year; occupation is on many lists but heavily oversubscribed — check current state caps |
| Nursing & midwifery | AHPRA | Requires NMBA-approved qualification and registration exam; strongest genuine shortage occupation on this list |
| Trades (electrician, chef, mechanic, etc.) | TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) | Practical skills assessment, often requires an on-the-ground skills test in Australia |
| Most other professions (teaching, social work, etc.) | VETASSESS | General skills assessment authority for occupations without a dedicated body |
Realistic means the occupation is genuinely open on current lists, the skills assessment is achievable from a Bangladeshi academic background, and Bangladeshi graduates are already succeeding in it.
Currently the most dependable pathway on this list for genuine long-term demand.
Reachable and popular — differentiate with real projects and local work experience, not just the degree.
A strong, realistic route, particularly in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane's infrastructure pipelines.
Doable but should not be your only plan — pair it with a second, less crowded occupation if possible.
An overlooked, realistic route worth serious consideration.
A realistic, less-crowded route for students willing to do hands-on training rather than a university degree.
Points-test planning fails when students choose the course first and check the occupation list afterwards. Reverse the order.
Confirm it currently sits on the CSOL or your target state's nomination list before you commit to any programme.
Email ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS or the relevant body with your Bangladeshi transcripts and ask what gaps they see.
Studying and later working in Adelaide, Perth or another regional area adds up to 20 points across study and nomination categories.
Skilled employment in Australia is worth more points than overseas experience and strengthens your skills assessment file.
Each state sets its own occupation ceilings, English and salary requirements for subclass 190/491 — check the specific state page, not just the CSOL.
Keep your SkillSelect profile updated; invitation cut-off scores change every round based on demand.
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