Last updated: 30 March 2026

MLTSSL: Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List Explained

The Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List — commonly referred to as the MLTSSL — is one of the most important documents in Australia’s skilled migration system. It determines which occupations qualify for the primary independent PR pathway and shapes access to state nomination programs. If your occupation is on this list, you have access to the widest range of skilled visa options. If it is not, your pathways narrow considerably.

This page explains what the MLTSSL is, how it is used across different visa types, how to look up your occupation, and how it relates to the other occupation lists you will encounter during your planning.

What Is the MLTSSL?

The MLTSSL is a list of occupations published by the Department of Home Affairs that identifies roles Australia considers to be in medium to long-term national shortage. It is built using labour market evidence, workforce modelling, and input from industry bodies, assessing authorities, and state and territory governments.

The list is not static. It is reviewed and updated periodically — most commonly when the annual migration program is set, but also when significant changes occur in the labour market. Occupations are added when persistent workforce shortages are demonstrated, and they can be removed when demand eases or when structural changes reduce the need for offshore recruitment.

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) — the government body responsible for workforce research — conducts analysis that informs recommendations to the Department of Home Affairs, which maintains the operative lists for migration purposes.

Which Visas Use the MLTSSL?

The MLTSSL is the controlling occupation list for several key visa subclasses. Each visa has specific rules about which occupations qualify and through which streams.

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa requires your nominated occupation to be on the MLTSSL. There are no exceptions for this visa. Because the 189 is the only major PR pathway that does not require employer sponsorship or state nomination, the MLTSSL acts as the primary eligibility gate. Access to it depends entirely on your occupation being listed.

To receive an invitation for a 189, you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and accumulate points under the points test. Confirming your MLTSSL eligibility is the essential first step before investing effort in your points calculation.

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a state or territory nominated pathway to permanent residency. Each state and territory maintains its own occupation list for 190 nominations. Many state lists draw heavily from the MLTSSL — MLTSSL-listed occupations are generally eligible across all states’ programs, though some states restrict nominations to their published list. The 190 adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score in exchange for a commitment to live and work in the nominating state for at least two years after grant.

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas. Like the 190, it accepts occupations from the MLTSSL and from each jurisdiction’s regional occupation list. The 491 is a temporary visa, but after three years of regional living and work — and meeting an income threshold — you can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Regional) visa.

Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (TRT Stream)

The Temporary Residence Transition stream of the 186 requires your nominated occupation to be on either the MLTSSL or STSOL. This makes the MLTSSL relevant for workers already in Australia on employer-sponsored temporary visas who are seeking to transition to permanent residence through their employer.

Subclass 485 — Temporary Graduate Visa

Some streams of the Subclass 485 post-study work visa reference the MLTSSL. International graduates holding recent Australian qualifications may use the graduate work stream if their occupation appears on the list.

How to Check Whether Your Occupation Is on the MLTSSL

Checking your occupation’s MLTSSL status is a two-step process.

Step 1: Find your ANZSCO code. Every occupation in Australia’s immigration system is identified by a numerical code from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Before you can check any occupation list, you need to identify the correct code for your role. For a full walkthrough, see our guide on how to find your ANZSCO code.

Step 2: Check the current MLTSSL. Navigate to the “Skilled Occupations Lists” section on the Department of Home Affairs website. The list is published as a downloadable document and in an online searchable format. Search by occupation title or ANZSCO code and confirm whether the occupation appears in the MLTSSL column, along with any annotations or visa-specific restrictions.

One important caution: occupation lists are updated without advance public notice. Always check the live version on the Home Affairs website. A third-party copy or a saved version from 12 months ago may not be current.

Common Eligible Occupations and ANZSCO Codes

The table below shows a selection of occupations that have historically appeared on the MLTSSL. This is illustrative — verify the current list before making any planning decisions.

Note that ANZSCO classifications are also the basis for skills assessments. Your assessing authority uses your ANZSCO code to determine whether your qualifications and work experience meet the requirements for that occupation. A mismatch between how you describe your role and the correct ANZSCO code can cause complications at both the assessment and visa application stages.

MLTSSL vs STSOL: The Key Difference

The Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) covers occupations Australia needs in the shorter term. Critically, STSOL occupations are not eligible for the Subclass 189 independent visa. The 189 remains exclusively MLTSSL territory.

If your occupation is on the STSOL but not the MLTSSL, your clearest PR pathway runs through employer sponsorship — a Subclass 482 followed by a Subclass 186 nomination after the required period of Australian work experience.

MLTSSL vs ROL: Regional Occupation List

The Regional Occupation List (ROL) covers occupations in shortage specifically in regional Australia. ROL occupations may qualify for the Subclass 491 regional visa even where they do not appear on the MLTSSL or STSOL nationally. States and territories administering regional programs can include ROL occupations in their 491 nomination lists.

If your occupation is on the ROL but not the MLTSSL, a regional pathway — 491 followed by 191 — may be accessible, while the independent 189 pathway remains closed.

A practical way to think about the three lists:

• MLTSSL — opens the independent PR pathway (189), state-nominated PR (190), and regional pathways (491).
• STSOL — opens state-nominated PR (190) and employer-sponsored temporary routes (482), but not the 189.
• ROL — opens regional pathways (491 via state nomination) primarily.

How the MLTSSL Is Updated

The MLTSSL is a living document reviewed through a formal government process. Updates are triggered by changes in skills demand data, industry evidence, and the annual migration program settings. When updates occur, their effects can be significant.

If an occupation is added to the MLTSSL, applicants previously ineligible for the 189 may become eligible. If you have an active SkillSelect EOI, you can update it to reflect the new eligibility status.

If an occupation is removed from the MLTSSL, applicants who have already lodged a visa application are generally assessed against the list current at lodgement time. Applicants at the EOI stage — who have not yet received an invitation and lodged — are affected by the change and would need to explore alternative pathways.

For current status, check the recent occupation list updates page and verify directly on the Home Affairs website.

What to Do If Your Occupation Is Not on the MLTSSL

If your occupation does not appear on the MLTSSL, you still have several pathways worth evaluating.

Check alternate ANZSCO classifications. Some roles can be legitimately assessed under more than one ANZSCO code depending on the scope and duties involved. Discuss with a MARA-registered migration agent or your assessing body whether an alternative code is appropriate and supportable.

Check state occupation lists. Your occupation may not qualify for the 189 but could appear on a specific state’s 190 or 491 list. State lists are frequently broader than the MLTSSL and reflect local labour market needs rather than national averages alone.

Consider employer-sponsored pathways. The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme do not require MLTSSL occupations in all streams. If an Australian employer is willing to sponsor you, this route may be accessible regardless of MLTSSL status.

Explore DAMA and regional agreements. Designated Area Migration Agreements in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, and other regions include occupations that are not on the standard national lists. If your work is geographically flexible, these agreements can open pathways otherwise unavailable.

Monitor future review cycles. If your occupation is a genuine shortage area that is not yet reflected on the MLTSSL, it may be added in a future review. This is a longer-term planning consideration rather than an immediate solution.

The most reliable first step is a thorough eligibility assessment with a MARA-registered migration agent who can map your occupation, qualifications, and work history against all current pathways — not just the MLTSSL.