189 Visa Occupation List: Which MLTSSL Jobs Qualify in 2026?

The 189 visa occupation list is the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, usually shortened to MLTSSL. If your job is not on it, you can’t be invited to apply for a 189.

That makes it the first thing to check before you spend money on a skills assessment or an English test. It is also where many people get stuck, because the lists, codes and acronyms look alike.

This guide shows what is on the 189 occupation list as at 30 October 2026, with common jobs, their ANZSCO codes and who assesses them. It also shows how to check your own job.

You will also see how the MLTSSL differs from the STSOL and the newer Core Skills Occupation List.

For the visa itself, including fees and who can apply, see The Migration’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) page.

Not sure which code fits your work? Book a consultation and a MARA-registered agent will check it with you.

Which occupations are on the 189 visa occupation list?

As at 30 October 2026, the 189 visa occupation list has 212 occupations. They are set out in section 8 of the legislative instrument LIN 19/051, in force from 28 March 2026.

The list covers health, engineering, ICT, teaching, accounting, law, science and skilled trades. The table below shows common occupations only. Always confirm your exact occupation on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.

Things to know about the table

• Registered nurses have 13 separate codes, from 254412 to 254499. Code 254411 is Nurse Practitioner, not a general registered nurse.
• Some trade occupations, such as Cook, sit on the STSOL, not the 189 list. Chef does qualify.
• Pharmacist and dentist roles are not on the 189 list, so check the exact title before you plan around it.
• Being on this list makes you eligible to be invited. It does not mean your occupation will be invited in a round.

How do you check if your occupation is on the MLTSSL?

You check it on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list, which is the only source that settles the question. Forums and agency lists go out of date. The check takes three steps.

1. Search by job title. Open the Home Affairs list and type your job title into the search box. Try the formal title, such as “Accountant (General)” rather than “accountant”.
2. Read the ANZSCO code and the list. Each result shows the ANZSCO code, which list it is on (MLTSSL, STSOL, CSOL or ROL) and the visas it can be used for.
3. Look for the 189. Your occupation is on the 189 visa occupation list only if “189 Skilled Independent (Points-Tested)” appears in its eligible visas.

Then compare the ANZSCO description with what you do each day. The code must match your real duties, not just your job title, because your skills assessment will be judged on those duties.

Which visas can you apply for if your job is on the MLTSSL?

An MLTSSL occupation can be used for the 189, the 190 and the 491, and for the 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream. The 189 is the only one of these that needs no sponsor or nomination.

What the MLTSSL opens up

• Subclass 189: permanent residency based on your points alone. The MLTSSL is the only list that applies to it.
• Subclass 190: permanent, with a state or territory nomination. It accepts MLTSSL and STSOL occupations. See the 190 visa page.
• Subclass 491: a 5-year regional visa with state or family sponsorship. It accepts MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL occupations. See the 491 visa page.
• Subclass 485 Post-Vocational: a temporary graduate visa for trade graduates whose occupation is on the MLTSSL.

Because the 189 is independent, you don’t need a job offer, an employer or a state to back you. The trade-off is that you compete on points with everyone else in your occupation.

What are the next steps after finding your occupation on the list?

The next steps are a skills assessment and the points test. Both must be in place before you can be invited to apply for a 189.

Skills assessment

• Apply to the assessing authority for your occupation, shown in the table above and on the Home Affairs list.
• The assessment must be obtained within 3 years before your invitation, or within the shorter period stated on it.
• Choose your ANZSCO code carefully. A code that does not match your duties is a common reason for a negative outcome.

Points test and basic criteria

• You need at least 65 points. Points come from age, English, work experience, qualifications and partner skills.
• You must be under 45 when you are invited and have at least competent English.
• Use the points calculator to get a first estimate.

Once both are ready, you lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. The EOI guide explains how many EOIs you can lodge. For the full document list and application steps, see the 189 visa application guide.

Want your occupation and code checked before you pay for a skills assessment? Book an occupation check with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738).

How is the MLTSSL different from the STSOL and the CSOL?

The MLTSSL is the only list for the 189. The STSOL and the Regional Occupation List add jobs for nominated visas, and the Core Skills Occupation List is for employer-sponsored visas.

• MLTSSL: 189, 190, 491 and the 485 Post-Vocational stream.
• STSOL: 190 and state-nominated 491, but not the 189.
• ROL: state-nominated 491 only, for regional roles.
• CSOL: introduced in December 2024 for the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream. Being on the CSOL alone does not make a job eligible for the 189.

The lists also use different versions of ANZSCO. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO 2022 for the 482 and 186, and ANZSCO 2013 for the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL. For more on the two older lists, read STSOL vs MLTSSL.

Does being on the 189 occupation list mean you will be invited?

No. The list only makes you eligible. Home Affairs then invites the highest-ranked EOIs in each occupation, and some listed occupations get no invitations at all in a program year.

What the 2025–26 rounds showed

• Home Affairs held 189 rounds on 21 August 2025, 13 November 2025 and 4 June 2026. Rounds are periodic, not monthly.
• Software engineer, ICT business analyst, accountant, civil engineer and chef were all on the MLTSSL but were not invited in any 2025–26 round.
• Points cut-offs differ by occupation and by round. The 189 invitation rounds guide has the latest published results.

So check two things: that your job is on the list, and how it has fared in recent rounds. If your points look tight, the is it hard to get a 189 visa guide shows how scores compare. If they are below recent cut-offs, see your options with not enough points.

How The Migration Helps

The Migration has helped skilled workers with points-tested visas for 7+ years. Its MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2518738) start with the occupation, because every later step depends on it. You can confirm registration on the MARA register.

• Matches your duties to the right ANZSCO code and list.
• Names the assessing authority and what it will want to see.
• Checks your points claim and how your occupation has fared in recent rounds.
• Plans a 190 or 491 option alongside the 189 where it fits.

A common case is an IT worker who picks Software Engineer when their duties fit Developer Programmer better. Both are on the list, but the assessment is judged on duties, so the right choice matters. No agent can guarantee a visa outcome.

Conclusion

The 189 visa occupation list is the MLTSSL, and as at 30 October 2026 it holds 212 occupations. If your job is on it, you can move on to a skills assessment and the points test. If it isn’t, the 190 and 491 lists may still include it.

Check your occupation on the Home Affairs list, confirm the code fits your duties, then look at recent round results before you commit to the 189 alone.

Ready to check your occupation? Book a skilled visa consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) to confirm your list, code and best visa.

Frequently asked questions