Skills Assessment for Australian Skilled Migration: How It Works

Why a skills assessment is required

For most points-tested and many employer-sponsored skilled visas, you must hold a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation before you can be invited or lodge your application. The assessment confirms that your qualifications and experience meet the Australian standard for that occupation.

This is general information, not immigration advice — confirm what your visa needs on the official Australian Government source.

What an assessing authority does

A skills assessment is carried out by a designated assessing authority, not by the Department of Home Affairs. The authority reviews your qualifications, and often your work experience and sometimes registration or licensing, against the requirements for the occupation.

Each authority has its own process, evidence requirements, fees and processing times. These are set by the authority and change, so check the specific authority's official website for your occupation rather than relying on any figure quoted elsewhere.

Your occupation decides who assesses you

Australia assigns each skilled occupation to a particular assessing authority. For example, engineering occupations and trade occupations are typically assessed by different bodies, and many professions have their own designated assessor.

Because the authority is tied to the occupation, the first step is identifying your correct nominated occupation, then finding which authority assesses it. The Department of Home Affairs publishes which authority maps to each occupation.

• Identify your correct nominated occupation
• Find the assessing authority designated for that occupation
• Check that authority's evidence, qualification and experience requirements
• Apply to the authority and obtain the outcome
• Use a positive, valid assessment to support your EOI and visa application

How the result links to occupation lists and visas

Your nominated occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list for the visa you want, and you need a suitable assessment for that occupation. Together, the occupation's list placement and your positive assessment determine which visa subclasses you may be eligible to pursue.

Assessments also have a validity period and specific conditions. Because occupation lists, designated authorities and rules change, verify your occupation, its authority and its list status on the official Home Affairs source before paying for an assessment. A positive assessment is one requirement among several and does not guarantee a visa.