Skilled Occupation List Australia 2026: Complete Guide

Australia maintains three occupation lists for migration purposes:

1. Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) Occupations on this list are eligible for ALL skilled visa pathways including permanent residency visas (189, 190) and temporary skilled visas (482 medium-term stream). This is the most valuable list to be on.

2. Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) Occupations eligible for the Subclass 482 short-term stream (2-year visa, limited renewal) and some state nomination programs. Not eligible for the Subclass 189.

3. Regional Occupation List (ROL) Additional occupations eligible for regional visas (Subclass 491 and 494) and some state nomination programs. These occupations may not appear on the MLTSSL or STSOL.

Each list is reviewed periodically and updated based on labour market data, skills shortages, and government policy priorities.

The following occupations consistently appear on the MLTSSL and have strong invitation prospects:

Healthcare: - Registered Nurse (254111) - Pharmacist (251511) - Physiotherapist (252511) - Psychologist (272311-272399) - Doctor — Various specialisations

Engineering: - Civil Engineer (233211) - Mechanical Engineer (233512) - Electrical Engineer (233311) - All engineering specialisations

IT: - Software Engineer (261313) - Developer Programmer (261312) - ICT Business Analyst (261111) - All IT roles

Trades: - Electrician (341111) - Chef (351311) - Motor Mechanic (321211) - Carpenter (331212)

Other: - Accountant (221111) - Secondary School Teacher (241411) - Architect (232111) - Veterinarian (234711)

1. Find your ANZSCO code — The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) assigns a code to every occupation. Search for your job title on the Department of Home Affairs website or the ABS ANZSCO search tool
2. Check which list it appears on — Search the occupation lists on the Home Affairs website using your ANZSCO code
3. Identify your assessing authority — Each listed occupation has a designated skills assessing body
4. Check state nomination lists — Even if your occupation is not on the MLTSSL, individual states may nominate it for their programs

If your occupation is not on any list, you may still have options through employer sponsorship labour agreements, the Global Talent visa, or by considering a related occupation that is listed.

Recent updates to the occupation lists reflect Australia's evolving workforce needs:

• - Healthcare occupations remain the highest priority, with fast-tracked processing for nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals
• - Technology roles have been expanded, particularly in cybersecurity, data science, and AI-related occupations
• - Trades continue to be in strong demand, with construction trades seeing increased invitation numbers
• - Some business and management occupations have moved from MLTSSL to STSOL, reducing their permanent residency pathways
• - Regional occupation lists have been expanded to address specific regional workforce gaps

The government has signalled further reforms to simplify the occupation list system, potentially consolidating the three lists into a more streamlined framework.

Here is how the lists map to visa types:

• - MLTSSL occupations can apply for: 189, 190, 491, 482 (medium-term), 186, 494
• - STSOL occupations can apply for: 190 (some states), 491, 482 (short-term), 494
• - ROL occupations can apply for: 491, 494, and some state nomination programs

State nomination adds flexibility — states can nominate occupations on any list for their 190 and 491 programs, depending on their specific needs. This means an occupation on the STSOL might still be eligible for permanent residency through state nomination.