Software Engineer 261313: Skills Assessment & Visa Pathways

Software Engineer (ANZSCO code 261313) is the most crowded occupation in Australia's skilled migration program. Nominate it in SkillSelect and you join a queue of roughly 59,800 Expressions of Interest (As of June, 2026). That number is not a reason to give up. It is a reason to plan properly. This guide covers who assesses the occupation, which visas it can lead to, and what the Department of Home Affairs data shows about where invitations are actually going. Everything here comes from the current legislative instruments and SkillSelect data, and nowhere else.

What counts as a Software Engineer under ANZSCO 261313?

ANZSCO 261313 sits in unit group 2613, Software and Applications Programmers. It covers people who design, build, test and maintain software systems. Common job titles include software engineer, software developer, and backend or frontend engineer. Your job title matters less than your duties. Both the assessing authority and the Department compare your employment references against the ANZSCO description, so those references need to describe what you actually did, in terms that match the code.

Who assesses Software Engineers?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS). That isn't a matter of practice or habit; it's specified in the legislative instruments that govern each visa:

The ACS looks at whether your qualifications and work experience sit at the required professional level for 261313. The criteria differ depending on whether you hold an ICT degree, a degree in another field, or no degree at all (that last group goes through Recognition of Prior Learning).

Which visas can a Software Engineer apply for?

Because 261313 appears on all three lists above, the main pathways are the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) through a state, territory or eligible relative. On the employer side there is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) with an approved sponsor, and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) for permanent residence. For 482 nominations made on or after 1 July 2026, the salary must meet the temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) of $79,423.

How competitive is 261313 right now?

Honestly: very. The SkillSelect data tells the story in two numbers. As at April 2026 there were around 58,600 submitted EOIs waiting for this occupation. As at 30 June 2026, the invited EOIs on hand looked like this:

*Counts are approximate. Home Affairs suppresses small cells, which appear as "\<20" in the source data.*

Look closer and the picture sharpens. The biggest group in the waiting queue holds 80 points (around 9,600 EOIs as at April 2026), and thousands more sit between 85 and 100. Yet in the 4 June 2026 subclass 189 round, which issued 10,000 invitations, Software Engineer was not among the occupations invited at all. The invited EOIs on hand in June trace back to earlier selections, held by candidates with between 70 and 110 points. And most of them came through the states: the June data shows nominations spread across ACT, NT, SA, VIC, WA, QLD and TAS, with subclass 190 the largest stream.

The conclusion is uncomfortable but useful. A high points score alone is not producing 189 invitations for this occupation. State nomination and employer sponsorship are carrying most 261313 applicants.

So what should you do?

Build points early: English scores, partner points, a professional year where it applies. Keep your EOI honest, because every claim in it must be evidenced at the visa stage. Then run pathways in parallel rather than waiting for a 189 invitation that may not come. Watch the state programs that are actually nominating this occupation, and if your points position is weak, take the employer route seriously. In many cases the 482 followed by 186 is the more probable path to permanent residence, not the backup plan.

FAQ

Who assesses Software Engineer 261313 for migration purposes?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS), as specified in LIN 19/051 and the related occupation instruments.

Is Software Engineer on the occupation list for the 482 visa?

Yes. 261313 appears on the Core Skills Occupation List in LIN 24/089 for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.

What points score do I need for a 189 invitation as a Software Engineer?

There is no fixed score. In the 4 June 2026 round, Software Engineer received no 189 invitations, and most waiting EOIs hold 80 to 100 points. Prospects depend on how each round targets occupations.

How many EOIs are waiting for Software Engineer?

Around 58,600 submitted EOIs as at April 2026. As at 30 June 2026, only around 150 to 200 invited EOIs were on hand across the 189, 190 and 491 streams combined.

Can I use the same skills assessment for 190 and 482?

The ACS assesses the occupation for both, but validity periods and visa-specific requirements differ. Check the assessment's validity before you lodge.

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