The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) is a list of occupations maintained by the Australian Government, identifying roles where there is a medium to long-term shortage in the Australian labour market. The MLTSSL is used to determine eligibility for the higher-value, longer-duration migration pathways — including the 4-year medium-term stream of the Subclass 482 TSS visa and the Direct Entry stream of the Subclass 186 ENS permanent visa.

Occupations on the MLTSSL are also eligible for the Subclass 189, Subclass 190, and Subclass 491 points-tested skilled visa programs.

The MLTSSL is specified by the Minister in a legislative instrument made under the Migration Regulations 1994. It is updated periodically to reflect labour market assessments. The list is published on the Department of Home Affairs website and on the Federal Register of Legislation. Each occupation is identified by its ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) unit group code.

The MLTSSL determines which visa pathways are available for each occupation:

• Subclass 482 medium-term stream: only MLTSSL occupations are eligible; the visa is granted for up to 4 years and is renewable; eligible for TRT pathway to Subclass 186
• Subclass 482 short-term stream: STSOL and MLTSSL occupations; granted for up to 2 years (up to 4 years in limited cases); renewable only once; not eligible for TRT pathway to permanent residence
• Subclass 186 Direct Entry: only MLTSSL occupations are eligible
• Points-tested visas (189, 190, 491): any occupation that receives a positive skills assessment is eligible, but the MLTSSL/STSOL categorisation affects which streams are available

The MLTSSL and STSOL were consolidated from the previous four-list system (STSOL, MLTSSL, RSMS, CSOL) in 2018. The RSMS Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) was closed to new applications in 2019, and the CSOL is now relevant only to remaining legacy 187 applications. The March 2023 instrument update added a number of healthcare and technology occupations to the MLTSSL in response to post-COVID labour market conditions.

Occupation additions to and removals from the list are based on advice from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) — the independent labour market authority established in 2023 to advise government on skills shortages.