Which Occupation List Am I On? CSOL, MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL Compared (2026)

The quick guide

Australia does not have one occupation list. It has four, and each one opens different visas.

• CSOL (456 occupations): employer sponsored. Subclass 482 Skills in Demand, Core Skills stream, and subclass 186 Direct Entry.
• MLTSSL (212 occupations): the only list that opens the subclass 189. Also works for 190 and 491.
• STSOL (215 occupations): state or regional nomination only. Subclass 190 and 491.
• ROL (77 occupations): regional only. Subclass 491.

Not on one list? You are not out of options. Plenty of occupations sit on two or three. If you want the deep dive, keep reading.

Why does Australia have four occupation lists?

Australia uses four occupation lists because different visas were built at different times for different problems. There has never been a single master list, even though almost everyone searching for one assumes there is. This trips people up constantly. Someone reads that their occupation “isn’t on the list”, gives up, and never finds out they were looking at the wrong list entirely. It got harder to follow on 7 December 2024. That is the day the subclass 482 stopped being the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa and became the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, with a brand new list attached to it. A lot of guides online still have not caught up, so if you read anywhere that the 482 uses the MLTSSL or the STSOL, that page is out of date.

What is the CSOL and who does it apply to?

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) contains 456 occupations and applies to employer sponsored visas: the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa (Core Skills stream) and the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry stream). It launched on 7 December 2024 and is the newest of the four lists. Being on the CSOL is the starting point, not the finish line. You still need an employer willing to sponsor you, a position that genuinely exists, and a salary that clears the threshold. From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold sits at $79,499. The upside is reach. The CSOL is considerably broader than the old lists it replaced, so a lot of people who were never going to qualify for independent skilled migration now have a realistic employer sponsored route to permanent residence. View the full CSOL

What is the MLTSSL and why does it matter most?

The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) contains 212 occupations and is the only list that opens the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa. It also works for the subclass 190 and 491. This is the one people want to be on. The 189 is the only skilled visa that needs nobody else. No employer. No state government. Just you, your points score and an invitation. Every other pathway involves someone else agreeing to back you, which means waiting on their timelines and their priorities. The MLTSSL is also the most restrictive list of the four. That is the trade-off. View the full MLTSSL

What is the STSOL and what can you do with it?

The Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) contains 215 occupations and opens the subclass 190 and 491 visas. It does not open the subclass 189. In practice, that means you need a state or territory to nominate you. Here is the part people miss: each state publishes its own priority list on top of the national one, and those lists are much shorter. Your occupation being on the STSOL tells you a state is allowed to nominate you. It does not tell you any state currently wants to. Always check the individual state lists before you build a plan around this. View the full STSOL

What is the ROL and is regional worth it?

The Regional Occupation List (ROL) contains 77 occupations needed outside Australia’s major cities. It opens the subclass 491 only. If the ROL is the only list you appear on, regional Australia is your pathway. That is not a consolation prize. The 491 leads to permanent residence through the subclass 191 after three years of living and working in a designated regional area, and competition for regional nominations is usually lighter than for the metro equivalents. View the full ROL

Occupation lists compared

How do I find out which list I am on?

Work backwards from where you want to end up, not forwards from the lists.

• You have an employer ready to sponsor you: check the CSOL first.
• You want to apply alone, no employer, no state: the MLTSSL is your only option.
• You are open to state nomination: check the MLTSSL and STSOL, then check the state lists.
• You are open to living regionally: check all four. The 491 draws from the widest pool.

Then check your ANZSCO code, because that is what actually decides everything.

Why your ANZSCO code matters more than your job title

Every occupation on every list carries a six digit ANZSCO code, and the Department assesses your real duties against that code. Your job title is close to irrelevant. Two people can hold identical business cards and fall under different codes because of what they actually do all day. A Marketing Manager who mostly runs campaigns is not the same code as one who mostly runs a team. Getting this wrong is one of the more common reasons an application comes unstuck, and it usually happens right at the start. Our ANZSCO Code Search Tool is a good place to begin.

Do these lists change?

Yes. All four lists are reviewed and updated, and the CSOL in particular was designed to move faster than the lists it replaced. A review has been underway following the 2025 occupation shortage findings. So treat your result as a snapshot. On a list today is not a guarantee for next year. Off a list today is not permanent either. If you are early in your planning, check again before you commit money or time to a pathway.

Not sure where you stand?

Finding your list is the easy part. Working out which pathway actually suits your circumstances, your timing and your appetite for waiting is where it gets complicated, and it is where most of the costly mistakes happen. Our Registered Migration Agents do this every day. Book a consultation and we will look at your occupation, your realistic options and what to do next.

Bill Mitroulas

Head of Migration at Questra Immigration. Managing and overseeing the growth and performance of Questra’s team of migration agents, while maintaining a client-centric and quality-driven approach. A registered migration agent since 2015 and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in international education and 11 years in Australian Migration law.