MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL: the three skilled occupation lists explained (2026)

Australia's skilled migration system uses three occupation lists to determine which visas are available to you: the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and the Regional Occupation List (ROL). Which list your occupation sits on directly controls whether you can apply for a permanent visa, a temporary one, or only a regionally-focused pathway. Getting this right before you lodge an Expression of Interest can save months of wasted effort.

What the three lists are

The Department of Home Affairs maintains these lists and updates them periodically in response to labour market conditions. Each list is a curated set of ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) codes — the standardised job categories used across the skilled migration system.

MLTSSL — Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List The MLTSSL contains occupations Australia has identified as in sustained, long-term demand. If your occupation is on this list, it opens the widest range of visa pathways, including permanent residence visas. It is the most valuable list to be on.

STSOL — Short-term Skilled Occupation List The STSOL covers occupations in shorter-term demand. Occupations here have more restricted visa access — they are generally available for temporary employer-sponsored visas but not for independent permanent pathways.

ROL — Regional Occupation List The ROL supports Australia's regional migration policy. Some occupations appear only on the ROL, meaning they are available exclusively for visas that require you to live and work in a designated regional area. Others appear on both the ROL and one of the other lists.

How the lists affect your visa options

The list your occupation sits on acts as a gatekeeper for specific visa subclasses. Here's how the relationship works in practice:

The Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa — the points-tested permanent pathway that requires no employer or state sponsor — is only available to MLTSSL occupations. If your ANZSCO code is on the STSOL or ROL only, the 189 is not an option.

The Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa requires a state or territory nomination. Most states accept both MLTSSL and STSOL occupations, but each state publishes its own occupation list, which is a subset of the national lists. Being on the STSOL nationally doesn't guarantee a state will nominate you — states make their own selections based on local labour needs.

The Skilled Regional (Subclass 491) visa is more flexible: it draws from the MLTSSL, STSOL, and ROL. If your occupation is on any of the three lists, the 491 is potentially available, provided a state, territory, or eligible relative sponsors you and you're prepared to live regionally.

For employer-sponsored pathways, the Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa uses the MLTSSL for its medium-term stream (up to 4 years, with a path to permanent residence) and the STSOL for its short-term stream (limited to 2 years). ROL occupations are not eligible for the 482.

For more on how points interact with occupation eligibility, see The skilled migration points test: every category explained (2026).

You can check where your occupation currently ranks and which invitation rounds have included it at Migrant Hub's occupation rankings dashboard.

Who needs to pay close attention to these lists

Applicants targeting permanent residence directly

If your goal is a permanent visa without an employer sponsor, your occupation must be on the MLTSSL. This is the single most important filter. Many occupations that seem closely related have different ANZSCO codes — one may be on the MLTSSL while another sits only on the STSOL. A software engineer and a software tester, for example, are coded differently and may land on different lists.

Applicants whose occupation has recently moved lists

The Department periodically revises the lists — occupations can be added, removed, or shifted between lists. An occupation that was on the MLTSSL when you began your skills assessment may no longer be there when you lodge your EOI. Check the current published lists on the Home Affairs website before you submit anything, and check again before any major step in your application.

The 2026–27 Federal Budget brought signals that the occupation lists may be reviewed as part of broader changes to the points test — worth tracking if your occupation sits in a contested or policy-sensitive sector.

Applicants using the 491 as a stepping stone

The Skilled Regional (Subclass 491) is provisional (5 years), not permanent. After living and working regionally for the required period, you can apply for the Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) for permanent residence. The 491 accepts a broader range of occupations than the 189, so some applicants use it as a route to PR even when their occupation is on the STSOL or ROL only. This is a legitimate strategy, but it comes with genuine regional living requirements — it is not a shortcut.

Applicants who see their occupation absent from all three lists

If your occupation does not appear on any of the three lists, it is not eligible for the points-tested skilled migration stream at all. This is a hard stop for the 189, 190, and 491. Employer-sponsored pathways (482, 186) may still be possible depending on your specific ANZSCO code and your employer's situation — see the Department of Home Affairs page for the current eligible occupation lists for those visas.

For context on which occupations are actually receiving invitations under the current system, The 10 most invited occupations in Australian skilled migration (2025) gives a data-driven view of where demand is concentrated.

Common questions

What is the MLTSSL and why does it matter for my visa?

The MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) is the list of occupations Australia considers to be in sustained long-term demand. It matters because only MLTSSL occupations are eligible for the Subclass 189 — the independent permanent visa — and for the medium-term stream of the Subclass 482. Being on the MLTSSL gives you the widest range of visa pathways.

Can I apply for a Subclass 189 if my occupation is on the STSOL?

No. The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) is restricted to MLTSSL occupations. If your occupation is only on the STSOL, your points-tested options are the Subclass 190 (if a state nominates you) or the Subclass 491 (if you have a sponsor and are willing to live regionally).

How often do the occupation lists change?

The Department of Home Affairs updates the lists periodically — there is no fixed schedule. Changes can happen at any time, so you should check the current published lists on the Home Affairs website before lodging an EOI and at each major step of your application. Occupations can move between lists or be removed entirely.

My occupation is on both the MLTSSL and the ROL — which applies to me?

If your occupation appears on both lists, you have access to the visa pathways associated with each. In practice, you choose based on your situation: if you want a 189 or 190, the MLTSSL eligibility is what counts; if you're applying for a 491, either classification supports eligibility. The broader access is the benefit here.

Does being on the MLTSSL guarantee an invitation?

No. Being on the MLTSSL makes you eligible to submit an Expression of Interest, but invitations are issued based on your points score and the date your EOI was lodged. Some MLTSSL occupations have high competition and long wait times; others receive invitations regularly. For a current view of invitation activity by occupation, see How SkillSelect EOI ranking actually works in 2026.

Where to go next

Check how your occupation has been performing in recent invitation rounds — including which visa subclasses it has been invited under — at Migrant Hub's occupation rankings dashboard.

If your situation involves occupations that sit at the edges of list eligibility or you're deciding between visa pathways, consider speaking to a MARA-registered migration agent for your specific circumstances.