491 Visa Occupation List 2026: ROL, MLTSSL and STSOL Jobs Explained

Your job may not appear on the list you checked first. That doesn’t always rule out a skilled visa in Australia.

The 491 visa occupation list is wider than most people expect.

As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs lists 504 occupations for the state-nominated 491. They come from three lists: the MLTSSL, the STSOL and the Regional Occupation List (ROL).

The ROL is the one many applicants miss. It holds 77 jobs that are open to the 491 and to no other points-tested visa. They range from farmers and dentists to clinical coders.

For migration, “regional” means everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and the Gold Coast all count.

This guide shows which lists apply to each 491 stream and gives the full ROL table with ANZSCO codes. It also shows how to check your job and where to find each state’s list.

Found your occupation and want to know your chances? Book a consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738).

What is the 491 visa, and how does it lead to PR?

The 491 visa is the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. It lets you live, work and study in a designated regional area for 5 years, and it acts as a stepping stone to permanent residency.

The 491 is part of general skilled migration. After holding it for at least 3 years, you can apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

For the 191, you must have met your 491 conditions and provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years. The 491 to 191 pathway guide covers that step.

Which occupation lists apply to the 491 visa in 2026?

Three lists apply to the 491 in 2026: the MLTSSL, the STSOL and the ROL. Which ones you can use depends on your stream. The state-nominated stream accepts all three. The family-sponsored stream accepts the MLTSSL only.

Counts are from the Home Affairs skilled occupation list, as at 2 November 2026.

What about the CSOL?

• The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is for employer-sponsored visas: the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream.
• It does not replace the MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL for the 491, 190 or 189.
• Some ROL occupations also sit on the CSOL. That gives them a second, employer-sponsored route, but it doesn’t change the 491 rules.

Regional Occupation List (ROL): the 77 jobs open to the 491 visa

The Regional Occupation List is a Home Affairs list of occupations needed in regional Australia. The full ROL has 243 entries, but most of them only apply to the employer-sponsored 494 or older visas. For the 491, 77 occupations are on the ROL and on no other points-tested list.

If your occupation isn’t on the MLTSSL or STSOL, it may still qualify through the ROL. These 77 jobs can only be used with state or territory nomination, not family sponsorship.

ROL-only 491 occupations by group

• Farming (17): crop, livestock, dairy, aquaculture and mixed farmers, plus a horse breeder.
• Managers (14): including project builder, procurement manager, medical administrator and fitness centre manager.
• Professionals (20): including dentist, anaesthetist, exercise physiologist, aeroplane pilot, wine maker and translator.
• Technicians and trades (15): including construction estimator, safety inspector, vehicle painter and electrical linesworker.
• Service, clerical and sales (11): including dental hygienist, driving instructor, clinical coder and property manager.

Full list of ROL-only 491 occupations

Source: Home Affairs skilled occupation list, 2 November 2026. Operating Theatre Technician uses the ANZSCO 2022 code. Check the assessing authority for your occupation before you pay for an assessment.

The ROL is a starting point for seeing if your skills match what regional Australia needs. The next step is understanding how it differs from the two national lists.

Related article: 491 visa requirements and how to apply

ROL vs STSOL vs MLTSSL: how do the lists differ?

The MLTSSL covers long-term national shortages, the STSOL covers shorter-term national needs, and the ROL covers jobs needed outside the big cities. Each list opens a different set of visas.

The two national lists are the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). The MLTSSL holds jobs Australia needs for the long term, like nurses and engineers. The STSOL fills more immediate gaps.

• MLTSSL: long-term skills needed nationwide. Open to the 189, 190 and both 491 streams.
• STSOL: shorter-term skills needed nationwide. Open to the 190 and the state-nominated 491, not the 189.
• ROL: skills needed in regional areas. Among points-tested visas, only the state-nominated 491 uses it.

Even if your job isn’t on the MLTSSL or STSOL, it may be on the ROL. To compare the two national lists in more depth, read STSOL vs MLTSSL.

How do you check the 491 visa occupation list for your job?

Search the Home Affairs skilled occupation list and filter by the 491 visa. The result tells you which list your job is on, which 491 stream it can use and which body assesses it.

To find your occupation on the 491 list, follow three steps.

Step 1: Open the official list

• Go to the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.
• Use this page, not a third-party copy. Home Affairs updates it without notice.

Step 2: Search your occupation

• Type your job title or ANZSCO code, for example “Clinical Coder” or 599915.
• Check the title matches your real duties, not just your job name at work.

Step 3: Read the visa details

• Check that “491 State or Territory nominated” or “491 Family sponsored” appears for your occupation.
• Note the list (MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL) and the assessing authority shown.

Found your job on the ROL? What do you need to do next?

Being on the ROL is the starting line, not the finish line. You still need a positive skills assessment and nomination from a state or territory before you can be invited to apply.

First, you need a suitable skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation. It checks that your qualifications and work experience meet the standard for the job. Every points-tested visa needs one, obtained in the 3 years before your invitation.

Then you need state or territory nomination. ROL occupations can’t use the family stream, so a state must want your skills. Each state has its own list and its own rules, and being on the Home Affairs list doesn’t mean a state will nominate you.

State and territory occupation lists for the 491

NSW has closed its 491 program for the current year, and its Regional Skills List for the 491 is due to be updated. The NSW 491 pathways guide tracks the latest status.

Your occupation is on the ROL, but you’re not sure which state will nominate it? Book a 491 consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) to match your job to a state list.

Your ROL action plan: what should you do first?

Start with the official list, then the states, then the assessment. That order saves you paying for a skills assessment for a job no state is nominating.

Your action plan

• Confirm your occupation. Check the Home Affairs list and note the list and assessing authority.
• Research your regions. Check which state lists include your job, and confirm the area is regional on the designated regional areas list.
• Prepare for assessment. Read your assessing authority’s rules on qualifications and work experience.
• Check your points. State nomination adds 15 points. Use The Migration’s points calculator to see your total.

How The Migration Helps

The Migration has helped skilled migrants with regional and state-nominated visas for 7+ years. Its MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2518738) check your occupation against the federal and state lists before you spend money on an assessment. You can confirm registration on the MARA register.

• Confirms which list your occupation sits on, and which 491 stream it can use.
• Compares the state lists that include your job, and their current status.
• Reviews your skills assessment plan and your points claims.
• Prepares your EOI, state nomination application and 491 visa application.

A common question at the Harris Park office is whether a ROL job can use family sponsorship. It can’t, so the team plans these files around state nomination from the start. No agent can guarantee a nomination or a visa outcome.

Conclusion

The 491 visa occupation list is really three lists. The state-nominated stream covers 504 occupations across the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL. The family stream covers the 212 MLTSSL occupations only. The ROL adds 77 jobs that no other points-tested visa accepts.

If your job is on the ROL, treat it as a real pathway, not a backup. It brings 15 nomination points, 5 years in regional Australia and a route to PR through the subclass 191.

Ready to check your occupation and state options? Book a consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2518738) to plan your 491 application.

Frequently asked questions