STSOL vs MLTSSL: Can I Apply for the 190 Visa on the Short-Term List?

You’ve spent weeks preparing your Expression of Interest for Australian permanent residency. Your qualifications check out, your English scores exceed requirements, and you’ve calculated your points three times over. Then you check the skilled occupation lists, and your heart sinks. Your occupation sits on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or on Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Does this mean your Australian dream just got significantly harder?

Australia operates one of the world’s most structured skilled migration systems, using occupation lists to match international talent with national workforce needs. The government maintains these lists to address skill shortages across different industries and time frames. Every year, thousands of skilled workers navigate this complex system, hoping to secure permanent residency through various visa pathways.

This guide cuts through the confusion surrounding Australia’s skilled occupation lists. You’ll discover about STSOL vs MLTSSL and, most importantly, how you can successfully pursue the 190 visa even with an STSOL occupation. We’ll walk you through state nomination requirements and strategic tips to maximise your chances.

Understanding the Australian Skilled Occupation Lists

What Are the Australian Skilled Occupation Lists?

Australia has a national “Occupation list” for professions. If local industries can’t find enough software developers, mechanics, or aged care workers, those jobs are added to the list. This is fantastic news for you. Seeing your profession on a list means the government has officially recognised a shortage of your skills, actively signalling that people with your expertise are in demand.

This direct link to the economy also means the lists are constantly evolving. As industries grow and technology changes, so do Australia’s needs. A job that is in high demand today might be removed in a few years if the local workforce catches up, while entirely new roles can be added. It’s a dynamic system designed to keep the country’s economy balanced and growing.

But not all positions on this “Occupation list” are treated the same. Some are considered vital for the country’s long-term future, while others are needed to fill more temporary gaps. This distinction creates different types of lists, each offering a different kind of visa and opportunity.

Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. Think of this as the list for Australia’s most critical and ongoing needs. Occupations here, like Registered Nurse, Civil Engineer, or Electrician, are considered vital to the country’s future. If your job is on this long-term list, it generally opens a clearer pathway to applying for permanent residency, allowing you to live and work in Australia indefinitely.

Want to dive deeper into which specific jobs are on the long-term list and how they connect to permanent visa options? Read our complete guide to the MLTSSL list.”

Types of occupations typically included:

• Healthcare professionals
• Engineering disciplines
• ICT professionals
• Teachers

Visa Options for MLTSSL:

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) – NO sponsorship needed
• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)
• Subclass 491 (Regional)
• Subclass 482 (TSS) – medium-term stream
• Direct pathway to ENS 186

Benefits:

• Most flexible migration pathway
• Direct PR options
• Unlimited visa renewals
• No mandatory sponsorship

Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) Explained

The Short-term Skilled Occupation List targets more immediate, temporary gaps in the workforce. Professions on this list, which might include roles like a Cook or a Marketing Specialist, are still in demand, but the shortage isn’t seen as a long-term problem. As a result, being on this list typically leads to a temporary visa, allowing you to live and work in Australia for a set period, often two to four years.

You can use the STSOL to apply for the:

• Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa, which requires a state or territory to nominate you for permanent residency.
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa, a five-year visa requiring you to live and work in a regional area.

Key Limitations:

• Cannot access an independent 189 visa
• Requires sponsorship or nomination
• More restrictive permanent residency pathways
• Shorter visa validity periods initially

STSOL vs MLTSSL – The Critical Differences

Understanding the distinction between STSOL vs MLTSSL shapes your entire migration strategy. These two lists don’t just categorise occupations. They determine your pathway to permanent residency. They influence your visa options. They affect your long-term settlement prospects in Australia.

Permanent Residency Access

This represents the most significant difference between the two lists.

MLTSSL Occupations:

• Access the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa directly
• Require no sponsorship whatsoever
• Need no state nomination
• Demand no regional commitment
• You submit your Expression of Interest
• You receive an invitation based on points
• You apply directly for permanent residency

STSOL Occupations:

• Cannot access the 189 pathway at all
• Must pursue state nomination through the 190 visa
• Must commit to regional areas via the 491 visa
• Cannot achieve permanent residency independently
• Require external support from state government or regional employer

Visa Subclass Options

MLTSSL occupations enjoy significantly more pathways.

MLTSSL Opens Five Major Pathways:

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)
• Subclass 482 (TSS) – Medium-term stream
• Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) – Direct access

STSOL Restricts to Three or Four Pathways:

• Subclass 190 – Only with state backing
• Subclass 491 – Only with regional commitment
• Subclass 482 – Only through employer sponsorship (short-term stream)
• Subclass 186 – Limited pathways after meeting requirements
• Every pathway requires sponsorship or nomination
• The 189 remains completely unavailable

Processing Priority

MLTSSL Applications:

• Receive higher priority from Home Affairs
• Address critical, ongoing workforce shortages
• Move through the system faster
• Receive more attention during assessment
• Benefit from streamlined processing protocols

STSOL Applications:

• Receive standard processing treatment
• Get no priority handling
• Don’t necessarily face delays
• Won’t benefit from expedited attention
• Follow regular assessment timelines

Long-term Career Stability

The STSOL vs MLTSSL placement reveals government expectations for your occupation.

MLTSSL Recognition Signals:

• Persistent, long-term skill shortages exist
• Domestic training cannot quickly resolve gaps
• Engineers, healthcare professionals, IT specialists typically stay listed for years
• Australia needs these skills consistently
• Government invests in attracting and retaining these professionals permanently

STSOL Placement Suggests:

• Temporary shortage exists currently
• Australia expects to fill gaps through local training
• Your occupation may be removed as workforce develops
• Chefs, hospitality managers, certain trades move between lists frequently
• Local workforce capacity increases over time

Employer Sponsorship Requirements

MLTSSL Professionals:

• Enjoy optional employer relationships
• Can pursue PR with or without job offers
• Maintain complete independence in migration journey
• Control their own timeline
• Choose their preferred state
• Make decisions based purely on preferences and points

STSOL Professionals:

• Often find employer sponsorship necessary
• Cannot access independent 189 visa
• Need state nomination (many states require employment)
• Require direct employer sponsorship through 482 or 186
• Depend on finding willing Australian employer
• Experience reduced independence and flexibility

Read Related Article

• General Skilled Migration Australia 2025-26: The Roadmap to Your Australian Dream
• Subclass 190 State Nomination Visa 2026: Rules, Lists & ROI Guide

Can You Apply for 190 Visa with STSOL Occupation?

The simple answer is yes, you absolutely can get a permanent 190 visa even if your occupation is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). However, it all comes down to the specific, real-time needs of an individual state or territory. 

This is the crucial detail that trips up many applicants. Your eligibility isn’t decided by the federal list alone; it’s unlocked by a state that specifically wants your skills and is willing to nominate you for them.

To see how this works, consider the case of a Cook, an occupation frequently found on the STSOL. On a national level, it may not be seen as a long-term priority. But a state like Tasmania, with its booming tourism and hospitality sector, might be facing a critical shortage of experienced cooks. Solve this, Tasmania can open its 190 nomination program to Cooks on the STSOL, creating a direct pathway to permanent residency that simply doesn’t exist otherwise.

Now, there’s often one extra detail to watch for when states do this. They frequently add special conditions, sometimes called “caveats,” for STSOL occupations. For our Cook in Tasmania, the state might require that you already have a job offer from a local restaurant or that you have been living and working in Tasmania for at least six months. These extra criteria are the state’s way of ensuring you’re genuinely committed to filling their specific skill gap.

Ultimately, seeing your job on the STSOL isn’t a red flag; it’s a sign to change your search strategy. Your task is no longer about the federal lists but about investigating each state’s individual “most wanted” list. Finding the state that needs you and understanding their specific conditions is the key to unlocking your permanent residency pathway.

The Application Process Step-by-Step

Step 1: Submit your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect

Step 2: Apply for state nomination separately through your chosen state

Step 3: Wait for state invitation (if your profile matches their needs)

Step 4: Receive a 190 visa invitation from Home Affairs

Step 5: Lodge your visa application within 60 days

Stop Guessing, Start Checking: Your Clear Path Forward

That wall of confusing acronyms, STSOL, MLTSSL, no longer stands in your way. You now understand the single most important rule for the 190 visa: the name of the federal list is less important than what an individual Australian state or territory actually needs. This knowledge transforms your search from a frustrating dead end into a targeted investigation.

Your task is no longer to worry about federal lists, but to become a detective for your own skilled migration pathway. Your first and most powerful step is to investigate the official skilled nomination list for each state and territory, one by one, to see if they are inviting people with your specific skills.

Your quest for Australian permanent residency isn’t a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ based on a list name; it’s about finding the right fit. You now have the clarity to check your STSOL 190 visa eligibility with confidence. Start exploring where you are needed most.

Conclusion

STSOL occupations can apply for the 190 visa, but state nomination is mandatory, unlike MLTSSL occupations, which have optional pathways. This STSOL vs MLTSSL difference shapes your entire migration strategy. While the STSOL route is more challenging due to limited state demand and stricter criteria, it’s far from impossible.

Success requires strategic planning: targeting the right states, maximising your points, and timing your application perfectly. Many STSOL applicants successfully secure 190 visas each year by understanding the Australian skilled occupation lists and working smarter. Check current state nomination lists, assess your eligibility honestly, and consider professional migration advice to navigate this competitive pathway confidently. Book your consultation with our MARA expert agents and start your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a 189 visa with an STSOL occupation?

No. The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is only available for MLTSSL occupations. STSOL occupations cannot access this pathway and must pursue visas that require nomination or sponsorship, such as the 190 or 491.

Is STSOL better than MLTSSL?

No, MLTSSL offers significantly better migration pathways. MLTSSL occupations can access the independent 189 visa and have more flexible options for permanent residency without requiring state nomination. When comparing STSOL vs MLTSSL, MLTSSL is always the more advantageous list for skilled migrants.

Can STSOL occupations get permanent residency?

Yes, but the pathway is more limited. STSOL occupations can achieve permanent residency through state-nominated visas (190), regional visas (491 transitioning to 191), or employer-sponsored pathways after meeting specific requirements.

Do all states accept STSOL occupations for 190 nomination?

Not necessarily. While STSOL occupations are eligible for the 190 visa federally, each state maintains its own occupation list. An occupation on the STSOL may not appear on every state’s nomination list. Check individual state government websites for their current skilled occupation lists.

Can I switch from STSOL occupation to MLTSSL occupation for my visa?

You cannot simply “switch” occupations. You must genuinely qualify for any occupation you nominate, with appropriate qualifications, work experience, and a valid skills assessment. You cannot claim an occupation just because it’s on a better list if you don’t meet the occupation’s requirements.