Australia's Skilled Occupation Lists (MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL) Explained

What the occupation lists are for

Australia publishes skilled occupation lists that set out which occupations are eligible for skilled-migration visas. To pursue a skilled visa, your nominated occupation generally must appear on the list that applies to that visa.

The lists are maintained by the Australian Government and are revised from time to time, so an occupation can be added, removed or moved. This guide is general information, not immigration advice — always confirm the current lists on the official source.

How the lists are structured

Skilled occupations have traditionally been grouped into lists such as the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Regional Occupation List (ROL). Each list covers a different set of occupations and links to different visa pathways.

The Department of Home Affairs has been revising how skilled occupations and lists are organised. A newer Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) was introduced for the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa, while the points-tested skilled stream has continued to reference the established lists such as the MLTSSL. Names, structure and contents change over time, so treat any list you see elsewhere as a snapshot and verify the current position — and which list applies to your visa — on the official Home Affairs source.

How list placement affects your visa options

Which list your occupation sits on affects which visa subclasses you may apply for and whether permanent or shorter-term pathways are available. Some lists support independent or longer-term routes, while others are tied to nomination or regional pathways.

This is why two people in different occupations can have very different options even with similar points. The mapping of lists to visas is set officially and can change.

• Find your correct nominated occupation (and its code)
• Identify which skilled occupation list it currently sits on
• Check which visa subclasses that list supports
• Confirm the required assessing authority for the occupation
• Re-check before applying — lists are revised periodically

How to check whether your occupation is listed

Use the Department of Home Affairs' official skilled occupation list pages to search for your occupation by title or code and to see its current status and the visas it relates to. The same pages indicate the assessing authority assigned to each occupation.

Do not rely on older lists or third-party copies, which may be out of date. Verify your occupation's current placement, and the list that applies to your chosen visa, on the official Home Affairs website before committing to a pathway.