STSOL Occupation List – Engineering and ICT Visa Pathways Australia
The STSOL occupation list – Short-Term Skilled Occupation List – is the second tier of Australia’s points-tested skilled migration system. It sits below the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List) and has one critical difference: occupations on the STSOL cannot access theSubclass 189 Skilled Independent permanent visa. If your engineering or ICT occupation is on the STSOL rather than the MLTSSL, your path to permanent residency must go through state nomination, regional nomination, or employer sponsorship rather than the independent points-tested stream.
STSOL Occupation List: What It Is and How It Differs from the MLTSSL
The STSOL occupation list currently contains 215 occupations identified as in demand for Australia’s short-term workforce needs. Unlike the MLTSSL, STSOL occupations are classified as meeting immediate rather than sustained long-term demand – which is why they carry more restricted visa access.
Feature | MLTSSL | STSOL |
Current occupations (2026) | 212 occupations | 215 occupations |
Subclass 189 access | Yes – independent points stream | No – not available |
Subclass 190 access | Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes | |
Subclass 186 (ENS) employer-sponsored | Yes – Direct Entry stream | Limited – CSOL now governs 186 |
Subclass 482 TSS visa | Yes – governed by CSOL from Dec 2024 | Yes – governed by CSOL from Dec 2024 |
Path to permanent residency | 189, 190, 491 to PR | 190, 491 to PR (no 189) |
Review frequency | Annual – usually August | Annual – usually August |
The most important practical consequence of being on the STSOL is the loss of Subclass 189 access. For competitive STSOL occupations where state nomination quotas are limited, this means engineers and ICT professionals must actively pursue 190 or 491 nomination pathways rather than waiting for independent 189 invitations that will never arrive.
December 2024 CSOL Transition: What It Means for STSOL Occupations
The December 2024 introduction of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) changed how occupation lists work for employer-sponsored visas – but did not eliminate the STSOL for points-tested visas. Here is the precise impact:
- Employer-sponsored visas (Subclass 482, 186, 494): The CSOL now governs these pathways. MLTSSL and STSOL no longer determine 482 or 186 eligibility – CSOL does.
- Points-tested visas (Subclass 189, 190, 491): MLTSSL and STSOL still apply. The CSOL does not replace these lists for points-tested visa access.
- Practical result: An occupation can be on the CSOL (eligible for 482/186) but NOT on the MLTSSL or STSOL (no points-tested visa access). Similarly, an STSOL occupation can access 190 and 491 but not 189.
- Seven occupations moved from MLTSSL to STSOL in the August 2026 review: automotive electrician, painting trades worker, wall and floor tiler, and four others. Engineers and ICT professionals in these trades-adjacent roles need to verify current list status.
- Three occupations moved from STSOL to MLTSSL in August 2026: post office manager, mechanical engineering draftsperson, and real estate representative. Mechanical engineering draftspersons now have Subclass 189 access.
The key message: always verify your specificANZSCO code on the current Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list before submitting any skills assessment or EOI. List membership changes at least annually and sometimes mid-year.
Engineering and ICT Occupations on the STSOL 2026
Several engineering-adjacent and ICT occupations appear on the STSOL occupation list rather than the MLTSSL. Engineers and ICT professionals in these roles have 190 and 491 access but cannot apply for the Subclass 189 independent visa:
ANZSCO Code | Occupation | Assessment Authority |
233915 | Environmental Engineer | Engineers Australia |
312999 | Building and Engineering Technicians (nec) | Engineers Australia |
313212 | Telecommunications Field Engineer | Engineers Australia |
313213 | Telecommunications Network Planner | Engineers Australia |
313214 | Telecommunications Technical Officer | Engineers Australia |
263212 | ICT Support Engineer | ACS |
263299 | ICT Support and Test Engineers (nec) | ACS |
263211 | ACS | |
261399 | ICT Business and Systems Analysts (nec) | ACS |
313113 | Web Administrator | ACS |
Note: ICT Support Engineer (263212) was removed from the MLTSSL in the August 2025 review and moved to the STSOL. Engineers previously assessed under this code who were planning a 189 pathway now need to reassess their strategy.
If Your Occupation Is on the STSOL: Your PR Strategy Options
An occupation on the STSOL occupation list is not a migration dead-end. It is a pathway restriction – specifically the restriction of Subclass 189 access. You still have three viable pathways to permanent residency:
Subclass 190 - State Nominated Visa
The190 adds 5 nomination points and grants immediate permanent residency from visa grant. For STSOL occupations, 190 is the primary PR pathway. Every state and territory has its own occupation priority list – your STSOL occupation may appear on specific state lists with strong nomination availability even when the national list places you on STSOL. Check each state’s skilled occupation list individually, not just the national STSOL.
Subclass 491 - Skilled Work Regional Visa
The 491 adds 15 nomination points – the highest single-step improvement available in the migration system. For STSOL professionals with base scores of 65 to 80 points, the 491 regional pathway is often more achievable than waiting for a 190 invitation. After three years in a designated regional area, you can apply for Subclass 191 permanent residency. All STSOL occupations on the national list are eligible for 491 state nomination.
Employer Sponsorship - Subclass 482 to 186
For occupations on the CSOL (which replaced MLTSSL/STSOL for employer-sponsored visas), the 482 to 186 TRT pathway provides another route to PR independent of the points test. If your occupation is on the CSOL and you have a willing employer, the employer-sponsored pathway bypasses the STSOL limitation entirely. After two years with the same employer on a 482 visa, you can apply for the 186 TRT permanent visa.
Skills Assessment for STSOL Occupations
Regardless of whether your occupation appears on the MLTSSL or the STSOL occupation list, the skills assessment requirement is identical. All skilled migration visa applications require a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority. For engineers on the STSOL, that is Engineers Australia. For ICT professionals on the STSOL, that is ACS.
The CDR or RPL assessment process for STSOL occupations follows exactly the same format as MLTSSL occupations:
- Engineers:Full CDR – three career episodes, summary statement, CPD list – submitted to Engineers Australia for Migration Skills Assessment
- ICT professionals (without ICT degree): ACS RPL – two project reports plus KAoK statements – submitted to ACS
- ICT professionals (with recognised ICT degree): ACS General Skills pathway – qualification and employment evidence submitted to ACS
The skills assessment for an STSOL occupation does not take longer, cost more, or have different document requirements compared to anMLTSSL assessment. The assessment confirms your occupation and qualification equivalence – the list placement determines your visa access, not the assessment itself.
Why Choose CDR Australia Writer for STSOL Skills Assessment Support?
Engineers and ICT professionals on the STSOL occupation list face a specific strategic challenge: their primary PR pathway is state nomination or regional nomination, not the independent 189 stream. Getting the skills assessment right is critical – because a failed or delayed assessment also delays state nomination applications that have time-limited quota windows.
- CDR writing for STSOL engineers: Full career episodes, summary statement, and CPD list – 100% original, plagiarism-tested, matched to your specific ANZSCO code
- ACS RPL for STSOL ICT professionals: Complete RPL project reports and KAoK statements – written from your specific project experience for your nominated ACS occupation code
- ANZSCO code confirmation: We confirm your code’s current list status – MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL – before writing begins, so your assessment targets an occupation that gives you your intended visa access
- List transition monitoring: We track MLTSSL/STSOL movement after annual reviews and notify clients whose occupations have changed list status
- 190/491 strategy: After your skills assessment is confirmed, we advise on which states currently nominate your STSOL occupation and what the realistic invitation timeline looks like
For professionals whose occupation appears on the STSOL occupation list, the path to PR is through state or regional nomination – and those nomination pathways are available to well-prepared applicants with strong skills assessments. TheSTSOL limitation removes one visa option but leaves two strong permanent residency pathways fully open.
Get our free consultation
Do you have a question?
Get our free consultation with specialist and experienced counsellors. Explore our CDR writing packages immediately and receive 100% plagiarism free CDR report
Contact us right now! and Get your CDR report ready for approval.
Do you have a question?
We have mentioned common questions asked by our clients regarding CDR report, ACS RPL report, KA02 report, and skill assessment process.
No. Subclass 189 is exclusively for MLTSSL occupations. STSOL professionals must use the 190 or 491 pathway unless their occupation moves to the MLTSSL in an annual review.
Use the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list search tool. Search by ANZSCO code; the result confirms list placement, visa access, and assessing authority.
No. The CSOL governs employer-sponsored visas (482, 186, 494) only. The MLTSSL and STSOL still apply for points-tested visas (189, 190, 491).
No. Your existing positive outcome remains valid. Update yourEOI in SkillSelect, Subclass 189 access becomes available immediately.