How Australia's skilled occupation lists work: MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL and CSOL

The two-system landscape, at a glance

Before December 2024, the skilled program ran on three named lists: the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and a Regional Occupation List (ROL) that broadened eligibility specifically for regional-sponsored pathways beyond what the MLTSSL alone allowed. The launch of the Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024 restructured the employer-sponsored side of this.

The position in 2026 is:

- MLTSSL (around 212 occupations) governs the points-tested independent visas: subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional). The MLTSSL was not abolished — it continues to do this job.

- CSOL, the Core Skills Occupation List (456 occupations), replaced both the MLTSSL and the STSOL for employer-sponsored temporary migration. It governs the Skills in Demand 482 visa (Core Skills stream) and the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Direct Entry stream.

- ROL has historically sat alongside the MLTSSL to widen the occupation pool available to regional-sponsored applicants (broadly, the 491 and predecessor regional visas) beyond the MLTSSL alone. We could not re-verify the ROL's current occupation count or exact scope against Home Affairs from this environment (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au is blocked here) — if your occupation isn't on the MLTSSL, check the current ROL and your target state's own list before concluding a regional pathway is closed to you, rather than relying on this article's description of it.

The STSOL is no longer the operative list for any active federal visa stream — the old short-term (2-year) vs medium-term (4-year) split inside the 482 has gone, replaced by a single Core Skills stream. The practical takeaway: if you are applying independently, start with the MLTSSL; if an employer is sponsoring you, start with the CSOL; if neither lists your occupation, the ROL and your target state's own list are the next things to check, not a dead end.

MLTSSL — for the points-tested visas (189, 190, 491)

The MLTSSL is the list to check if you are pursuing a points-tested General Skilled Migration visa without an employer.

- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): your occupation must be on the MLTSSL. There are no exceptions — the 189 draws only from this list.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): MLTSSL occupations are generally eligible, but a state or territory must nominate you, and each runs its own occupation list that is usually narrower than the federal MLTSSL.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): accepts MLTSSL occupations, plus occupations on state and territory regional lists, with nomination by a state or an eligible family member in a regional area.

Because the 190 and 491 are nomination-based, the federal MLTSSL is necessary but not sufficient — you also need to appear on the nominating state's current list, which changes through the year as state allocations fill. Always cross-check the federal list against the specific state program you are targeting.

CSOL — for the employer-sponsored visas (482 and 186)

The Core Skills Occupation List is the list to check if an Australian employer is sponsoring you.

The CSOL was developed by Jobs and Skills Australia following labour-market analysis and consultation, and took effect with the Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024. It carries 456 occupations — more than double the roughly 216 occupations on the previous employer-sponsored Direct Entry list.

It governs:
- The Skills in Demand 482 visa, Core Skills stream — the main employer-sponsored temporary pathway.
- The 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream.

It does NOT govern:
- The 482 Specialist Skills stream, which has no occupation list at all and instead relies on a high salary threshold (for very high earners).
- The 482 Labour Agreement stream, which covers workers under an approved labour agreement (including DAMA).

The Skills in Demand visa also reduced the required work experience from two years to one and extended the period a sponsored worker has to find a new sponsor. The CSOL is reviewed by Jobs and Skills Australia — a consultation ran in late 2025 — so confirm the current occupation count and inclusions on the Home Affairs CSOL instrument before relying on it.

Side by side: which list governs which visa

Use this as a quick reference, then verify your specific occupation on the official Home Affairs occupation list.

The single most useful habit: identify your target visa first, then check the list that governs it. An occupation that is on the CSOL is not automatically on the MLTSSL, and the reverse is also true.

How to find your occupation and its ANZSCO code

Every migration-eligible occupation has a unique six-digit code under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Your code determines not only whether you are on a list, but which authority assesses your skills.

To find yours:

1. Search your job title on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list page. It returns the ANZSCO code, the lists your occupation appears on, and the designated assessing authority.
2. Match the duties, not just the title. Assessing authorities compare your actual responsibilities against the ANZSCO description for the code — a job titled "analyst" might map to several different codes depending on what you actually do.
3. Note the skill level. ANZSCO rates occupations from skill level 1 (most complex) to 5. Skilled migration generally requires levels 1 to 3.

A note on a coming change: the ABS released a new classification, OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia), in December 2024 to eventually replace ANZSCO. As of 2026, Home Affairs has not adopted OSCA for migration — ANZSCO remains the operative system. Treat OSCA as a future change, not a current rule.

What the assessing authority is, and why it matters

Appearing on a list is only the start. For most skilled visas you also need a positive skills assessment from the authority designated for your occupation, and that authority is fixed by your ANZSCO code — you cannot choose a different one.

The major authorities include the Australian Computer Society (ICT roles), Engineers Australia (engineering), VETASSESS (the catch-all for several hundred professional and general occupations), ANMAC (nurses and midwives), AHPRA via the relevant National Board (regulated health professions), Trades Recognition Australia (trades), AITSL (teachers), and CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA (accounting).

A positive assessment is a prerequisite for lodging an expression of interest for the points-tested visas, and confirms your qualifications and experience are comparable to the Australian standard. It is not a visa grant on its own.

What to do if your occupation is not on either federal list

If your occupation appears on neither the MLTSSL nor the CSOL, several pathways remain:

- The Regional Occupation List (ROL): historically broader than the MLTSSL for regional-sponsored pathways — check the current ROL before assuming a regional route is closed to you.
- Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs): agreements between the federal government and a state or region that open up occupations not on the standard lists, often with concessions on age and English. DAMAs operate through the 482, 494 and 186 programs. Active arrangements exist in regions of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and elsewhere.
- Labour agreements: industry or company-specific agreements covering occupations outside the standard lists.
- State and territory lists: for the 190 and 491, states publish their own lists that can include occupations not on the federal MLTSSL — this is a genuinely separate layer, not a subset of it.
- The 482 Specialist Skills stream: no occupation list, available to very high earners regardless of occupation.
- A different ANZSCO code: if your duties genuinely map to a listed occupation, the right code may already cover you.

These pathways are more complex than a straightforward listed-occupation application, and the eligibility detail matters. If your occupation sits in a grey area, a MARA-registered agent can confirm which list and pathway actually fit your case before you commit to a skills assessment.

Where to actually check your occupation

Everything above describes how the system is built. To check a specific occupation against the current lists, visa reach and assessing authority, Migratio's own occupation database at /occupations covers all 691 skilled occupations, sourced from the official lists and kept current as they're revised.

If you already know your target visa and want every occupation that feeds it, the reverse index does that job directly: /occupations/visa/189 (Skilled Independent), /occupations/visa/190 (Skilled Nominated), /occupations/visa/491 (Skilled Work Regional), /occupations/visa/482 (Skills in Demand), /occupations/visa/186 (Employer Nomination Scheme), /occupations/visa/494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional), /occupations/visa/485 (Temporary Graduate) and /occupations/visa/407 (Training visa) each list the occupations currently eligible for that specific subclass.

That's the more useful next step than re-reading a general explainer once you know which visa you're actually chasing.

Is there one Australian skilled occupation list?

No. Since 7 December 2024 there are two federal systems. The MLTSSL (around 212 occupations) governs the points-tested independent visas — subclasses 189, 190 and 491. The CSOL (456 occupations) governs the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand 482 visa and the 186 ENS Direct Entry stream. A separate Regional Occupation List and each state's own list sit on top of both for regional and nominated streams.

What is the difference between the MLTSSL and the CSOL?

The MLTSSL is used for independent, points-tested skilled visas (189/190/491). The CSOL, introduced with the Skills in Demand visa in December 2024, is used for employer-sponsored visas (the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream) and replaced the older MLTSSL/STSOL system for that purpose. The CSOL is larger — 456 occupations versus around 212 on the MLTSSL.

What is the Regional Occupation List (ROL)?

The ROL has historically broadened the pool of eligible occupations for regional-sponsored pathways beyond the MLTSSL alone. Check the current ROL directly on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list page for your occupation — the exact scope can change between updates, and this article can't stand in for the live list.

Did the STSOL get abolished?

The STSOL is no longer the operative list for any active federal visa stream. When the Skills in Demand visa replaced the old TSS 482 in December 2024, the two-tier short-term (STSOL) and medium-term (MLTSSL) split inside the 482 was removed and replaced by a single Core Skills stream that uses the CSOL. The MLTSSL still functions for the points-tested visas.

My occupation is on the CSOL but not the MLTSSL — can I get a 189?

No. The subclass 189 draws only from the MLTSSL. If your occupation is on the CSOL but not the MLTSSL, the independent 189 is not available to you, but employer-sponsored options (the 482 or 186) that use the CSOL may be. This is exactly why you should identify your target visa first, then check the list that governs it.

How do I find which list my occupation is on?

The fastest check is Migratio's /occupations database, or the reverse index by visa at /occupations/visa/189 through /occupations/visa/407. For the authoritative live version, search your job title or ANZSCO code on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list page, which also shows the assessing authority designated for it.

What if my occupation is on none of the lists?

Options include the Regional Occupation List, Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) and labour agreements that open up unlisted occupations, state and territory lists for the 190 and 491, the 482 Specialist Skills stream (no occupation list, for very high earners), or confirming whether your duties map to a different, listed ANZSCO code. A MARA-registered agent can confirm which pathway fits before you pay for a skills assessment.