This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from viewers, and the accurate answer is not a simple “yes or no” — it is tied to the architecture of Australia’s skilled occupation lists. In this article, Dr Sirous Ahmadi, Australian migration lawyer and MARA registered migration agent (MARN 0854826), explains where the occupation of Hairdresser sits in law, which visa pathways are genuinely available, and how invitations are actually issued in practice. My aim is that by the end of this piece you will know which pathway your case can be built around, and exactly which documents you should begin preparing today.
The short answer
Hairdresser (ANZSCO 391111) appears on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) in legislative instrument LIN 19/051, with TRA as the assessing authority, and it is also listed on the Department of Home Affairs’ Core Skills Occupation List. It is not, however, on the MLTSSL. The legal consequence is clear: an invitation for the subclass 189 visa, or for the subclass 491 visa with family sponsorship (that is, without state nomination), is not possible for this occupation. The only points-tested pathway is state or territory nomination for the subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa — once nomination is approved, the Department issues the invitation through SkillSelect. The employer-sponsored pathways (subclass 482 and subclass 186 Direct Entry) also remain open, independently of points.
What the law says
Australia’s skilled occupation lists are not defined in the head legislation, the Migration Regulations 1994; rather, the Department of Home Affairs specifies them through a Legislative Instrument. The governing instrument for points-tested skilled migration is Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019.
The first key point is that Hairdresser is not an “off-list” occupation. In the Short-term Skilled Occupation List table in section 9 of that instrument, item 177 is allocated to “hairdresser”, ANZSCO 391111, with TRA as the assessing authority. The same item appears in the compiled version of the instrument (compilation dated 14 December 2024) under the same code, 391111. Hairdresser is therefore a lawfully recognised “skilled occupation”, and skills assessment for it falls within the remit of Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).
The second point is how the lists apply differently depending on the visa subclass. LIN 19/051 operates as follows:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) and subclass 491 with family sponsorship / without state nomination: only MLTSSL occupations are eligible. Because Hairdresser is not on the MLTSSL, an invitation through either of these pathways is legally impossible — regardless of how many points the applicant holds.
- Subclass 190 with state/territory nomination: the combined MLTSSL and STSOL apply, so Hairdresser is eligible.
- Subclass 491 with state/territory nomination: the combined MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL apply, so Hairdresser is eligible here as well.
The third point is the employer-sponsored pathway, which operates entirely outside the points test. In the official Core Skills Occupation List published by the Department of Home Affairs, item 396 is allocated to 391111 Hairdresser. That list commenced on 7 December 2024, replacing the former application of the STSOL in this area, and it now determines the occupation requirement for the Core Skills stream of the subclass 482 visa and the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 visa.
The fourth point — and the one that in practice derails more cases than any other — is the distinction between “nomination” and “invitation”. States and territories grant nomination; the Invitation to Apply is issued by the Department through SkillSelect. In practice, the applicant first lodges an EOI in SkillSelect, and once the state or territory government finalises the nomination, the invitation is usually issued by SkillSelect almost immediately. In addition, once nomination is approved, the nomination points are added to the EOI — 5 points for the 190 and 15 points for the 491 — and the visa invitation then follows.
Requirements, pathways and program status at a glance
| Visa subclass | Status of Hairdresser (391111) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 189 (Skilled Independent) | No invitation possible (occupation not on MLTSSL) | List structure under LIN 19/051 |
| 491 with family sponsorship / without nomination | No invitation possible | List structure under LIN 19/051 |
| 190 with state/territory nomination | Eligible — occupation is listed on the STSOL | Item 177, STSOL table, section 9 |
| 491 with state/territory nomination | Eligible | List structure under LIN 19/051 |
| 482 Core Skills stream and 186 Direct Entry | Eligible — occupation is listed on the CSOL | Item 396, CSOL, Department of Home Affairs |
Core requirements common to the points-tested pathway:
- A valid skills assessment in the nominated occupation. The assessing authority for Hairdresser is TRA, and the State of Victoria likewise makes clear that you must hold a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible occupation list for that visa.
- ANZSCO skill level 3. In Australia, the indicative skill level is an AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or an AQF Certificate IV, and at least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification.
- An active EOI in SkillSelect. Lodging an EOI is free and it remains valid for two years.
- The deadline after an invitation. You have 60 days from the date of invitation to complete and lodge your visa application in ImmiAccount.
A real example of state policy — Victoria: no state operates a “dedicated hairdresser stream”; the criteria are general and then priority-driven. Victoria states that every occupation on the Department of Home Affairs’ skilled occupation list is eligible for Victorian nomination, but priority is given to occupations in sectors such as health, social services, education, construction, renewable energy and — for the subclass 491 only — the digital economy, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality and tourism. For the 2025–26 program year, Victoria’s final allocation was 3,400 places: 2,700 for the 190 and 700 for the 491, and new ROI submissions closed at 4:00 pm AEST on 28 April 2026. At present the official Victorian Government page states that Victoria’s 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program is closed and all places have been filled, with information about the 2026–27 program to be published when it becomes available.
What this means for you
As Dr Sirous Ahmadi puts it, the practical answer to this question has two layers, and separating them is what makes all the difference to how your case is designed. The first layer is legal and settled: Hairdresser is an officially listed skilled occupation; the 189 and family-sponsored 491 pathways are closed to it; and the 190 and 491 state-nominated pathways, along with the employer-sponsored 482 and 186 Direct Entry pathways, are open to it. This layer does not change with the turn of a program year, and you can make decisions on that basis today.
The second layer is policy-based and annual: how many places each state receives in a given program year, and which economic sectors it prioritises, is reviewed every year — and until that year’s settings are officially published, no responsible prediction about a “guaranteed invitation” is possible. For Victoria, the 2026–27 settings have not yet been released. The right strategy, therefore, is not to wait and see what happens; it is to be fully prepared, so that the moment any window opens, yours is among the most ready applications in the queue.
In practice, that preparation rests on three pillars: obtaining a positive TRA skills assessment under code 391111; locking in your highest possible English score and the maximum claimable points in your EOI; and running the employer-sponsored pathway in parallel. In Dr Ahmadi’s casework experience, the hairdressers who have progressed state nomination and conversations with an eligible employer at the same time have lost the least time — because the employer-sponsored pathway is not dependent on state points-based allocations. This is precisely the kind of multi-pathway assessment that a MARA registered migration agent is obliged to carry out for you before any step is taken.
The reassuring message is this: your occupation is recognised within Australia’s migration system, and it has pathways. What determines the outcome is choosing the right pathway and timing your documents precisely — not luck.
Sources
- Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 — Short-term Skilled Occupation List table, section 9 (item 177: hairdresser 391111 — TRA): text of the legislative instrument
- LIN 19/051 — compiled version F2025C00064 (dated 14 December 2024): compiled text
- Core Skills Occupation List — Department of Home Affairs (item 396: 391111 Hairdresser; in effect from 7 December 2024): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — Live in Melbourne, Victorian Government (status of the 2025–26 and 2026–27 programs): liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au
- ANZSCO — Unit Group 3911 Hairdressers / Occupation 391111 (skill level and indicative requirements) — Australian Bureau of Statistics: abs.gov.au
- Victoria Skilled Visa Nomination 2025–26: Allocation Update (3,400-place allocation and ROI closure): australianmigrationlawyers.com.au
- Victoria Skilled Migration Program 2025–26 — sector priorities and acceptance of all occupations on the federal list: idp.com
- Status of the Victorian program as reviewed on 22 July 2026 (ROI closure on 28 April 2026): vemvisa.com
- SkillSelect Expression of Interest — how nomination and invitation work: visaenvoy.com
- SkillSelect EOI — EOI validity period and nomination points for 190/491: australianvisaonline.com
- SkillSelect Australia — the 60-day deadline after an invitation: racc.net.au
- How to Get PR as a Hairdresser in Australia — CSOL status and the 482/186 pathways: racc.net.au
Let’s map out your hairdressing case together
If you hold a Certificate III, have years of salon experience, or have an Australian employer willing to sponsor you, your next step is not a single simple decision — it is a choice between several lawful pathways: state nomination for the 190 and 491, or the employer-sponsored 482 and 186 Direct Entry routes. In a dedicated assessment consultation, Dr Sirous Ahmadi, Australian migration lawyer and MARA registered migration agent (MARN 0854826), will review your work history, documents and points score, identify the pathway with the highest probability of success, and give you a precise list of the documents to start preparing this week — so that when the next nomination window opens, you are ready and at the front of the queue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the occupation of Hairdresser (391111) on Australia’s skilled occupation lists?
Yes. It appears in the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) table in section 9 of legislative instrument LIN 19/051, at item 177, with TRA as the assessing authority, and it is also listed on the Department of Home Affairs’ Core Skills Occupation List (item 396). What it does not have is a place on the MLTSSL.
Why can’t I obtain a subclass 189 visa as a hairdresser?
Because the subclass 189 visa (Skilled Independent) is limited to MLTSSL occupations, and Hairdresser is not on that list. For the same reason, the subclass 491 visa with family sponsorship (without state nomination) is not available for this occupation either. The points-tested pathway for hairdressers is exclusively the 190 or 491 with state or territory nomination.
Does the state issue the invitation, or the Department?
The state or territory grants the nomination; the invitation to apply for the visa is issued by the Department through SkillSelect. In practice, you first lodge an EOI and, once the nomination is finalised, the invitation is usually issued by SkillSelect without delay, with the nomination points (5 points for the 190 and 15 points for the 491) added to your case.
Does Victoria have a dedicated stream for hairdressers?
No. Victoria does not maintain a separate occupation list or a dedicated hairdresser stream; the state advises that all occupations on the Department of Home Affairs’ skilled occupation list may submit an ROI, but selection is discretionary and priority-driven, with sectors such as health, social services, education, construction and renewable energy receiving priority.
What is the current status of Victoria’s nomination program?
The official Live in Melbourne page states that Victoria’s 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program is closed and all places have been filled; new ROI submissions ceased on 28 April 2026. Information about the 2026–27 program will be published when it becomes available.
What do I need for a hairdressing skills assessment?
Under LIN 19/051, the assessing authority for code 391111 is TRA, and the states require a valid skills assessment in the very occupation being nominated. According to ANZSCO, the indicative skill level for this occupation is a Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or a Certificate IV, and at least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification.
If the points-tested pathway is difficult, what other option do I have?
The employer-sponsored pathway. Because Hairdresser is on the Core Skills Occupation List, the Core Skills stream of the subclass 482 visa (Skills in Demand) and the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 visa are available. These pathways do not depend on state points-based allocations and can be pursued in parallel with state nomination.
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on October 8, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Dr. Sirous Ahmadi Registered Migration Agent 0854826
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.