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If you want to live and work in Australia on certain visas, getting your skills assessed is an essential first step. A skills assessment determines if your qualifications, work experience, and English language abilities match a nominated skilled occupation.
Overview of Skills Assessments for Visas in Australia
Skills assessments for visas are carried out by authorised occupational assessing authorities. There are over 40 of these professional bodies in Australia, each specialising in certain fields.
For example, accountants get assessed by CPA Australia or CAANZ, engineers by Engineers Australia, nurses by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and so on.
Key criteria they assess include:
- Your educational qualifications – do your degrees closely match your occupation?
- Work experience – have you completed sufficient skilled work experience in a closely related field?
- English language skills – do you meet the minimum English test scores like IELTS or OET?
- Professional registrations – are you registered with the relevant professional body?
- Other requirements – like age, health examinations and character clearances.
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, you’ll receive a positive skills assessment. This provides solid proof to Australian immigration authorities that an independent expert body has verified your skills and qualifications to work in your occupation in Australia.
Work Visas That May Require Getting a Skills Assessment
Some Australian work visas require applicants to get a skills assessment for their nominated occupation from an authorised assessing authority. This evaluates if the person’s qualifications, skills and experience meet the occupation requirements. The type of visa determines if it’s mandatory and which authority can do the assessment.
Understanding the requirements is important for applicants to complete the relevant skills assessment process for their work visa.
General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas
Applicants for the following points tested GSM visas must have a suitable skills assessment for their nominated occupation:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Regional visa (subclass 489) – Invited Pathway
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
Before being invited to apply, applicants must receive a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority. Skills assessments are generally valid for 3 years.
Certain occupations like doctors and lawyers have additional requirements like registration with relevant Australian boards/bodies that must also be met.
Employer Sponsored Visas
A skills assessment is not required for the 186 visa Temporary Residence Transition or Labour Agreement streams, however it can be requested by a decision maker. For the Direct Entry stream, a valid skills assessment is mandatory and must be from the relevant assessing authority.
Skills assessments are valid for 3 years from the date of issue or the expiry date specified. The applicant must show their skills were assessed as suitable before visa application and have 3 years full-time work at the required skill level.
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (TSS)
Certain primary applicants for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa are required to undertake a mandatory skills assessment as part of the visa application process. The skills assessment must be started or completed within 3 years prior to submitting the TSS visa application.
When applying, the applicant should check if they need the mandatory assessment or are eligible for an exemption. It is important to include the skills assessment reference number in the visa application to avoid potential processing delays.
If eligible for exemption, evidence of this must be provided. It should be noted that even if not mandatory, the immigration department may request a skills assessment for a TSS visa application as part of the process. They will make this request in writing if this requirement applies.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
To be eligible for the graduate work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), applicants must be nominated for an occupation that is listed on the Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Each occupation on this list has relevant skills assessing authority that must conduct the assessment. It is the responsibility of the visa applicant to contact the appropriate authority for their nominated occupation and obtain a skills assessment, following all required procedures and paying necessary fees.
If the skills assessment is based on an Australian qualification, this qualification must have been earned while the applicant held a student visa and completed a course registered on the CRICOS system.
When applying for the 485 visa, applicants must provide evidence that they have at least initiated the process of obtaining a skills assessment. Some assessments have a defined validity period, while others are valid for 3 years if unspecified.
This skills assessment requirement only applies to the graduate work stream of the 485 visa, not the post study work stream.
How to Get a Skills Assessment for Work Visa
To get a skills assessment, determine the authorised assessing authority for your occupation, check their requirements, submit documents and pay fees. The assessment evaluates your qualifications, skills and experience against standards for your intended occupation.
Contact Your Relevant Assessing Authority
- Research the appropriate assessment authority for your nominated occupation and confirm your eligibility.
- Review document requirements and gather everything needed like qualifications, resume, & references.
- Contact the authority to confirm application steps and fees. Ask any questions.
- Follow all instructions precisely. Omitting details can delay the process.
- Pay required fees and submit a complete application online or by post.
Get the Skills Assessment Result
- Wait 8-12 weeks for the assessment outcome – either positive or negative.
- If positive, it verifies your qualifications and skills for the occupation.
- If negative, review why you didn’t meet criteria. You can reapply after addressing gaps.
Need Help With Your Skilled Visa Application?
The migration experts at Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers have assisted thousands of applicants to successfully achieve their goals of living and working in Australia.
They provide end-to-end visa services including:
- Guidance on optimal visa options for your circumstances
- Support with your skills assessment application
- Help finding an employer sponsor if required
- Assistance compiling all required documents
- Visa application completion and lodgement
- Managing communication with authorities
- Responding to requests for additional information
- Facilitating visa grant
With a long history of legal service, Parish Patience has a strong track record – even with difficult, complex cases. Our expert registered migration agents will support you each step of the way. Book your consultation now.
