To apply for a visa to Australia, you may be required to undergo a skills assessment to demonstrate that you have the necessary qualifications and work experience for a specific visa. These assessments are issued by competent authorities, known as skills assessing authorities, that verify whether your skills meet the requirements for employment for a particular occupation. Some visa subclasses (and streams) require a suitable skills assessment; for others, an assessment may be requested.
The skilled occupations are organised into four occupational lists, and almost each has its independent method of determining authority. Therefore, the specific skills assessment process you will need to follow will depend on the visa you are applying for and your occupation.
Each assessing authority has its procedures, timetables, and fees. In general, you will need to provide evidence of your qualifications, work experience, and English language skills. You may also be required to undergo a formal assessment by a relevant assessing authority.
It is important to note that the skills assessment process can be complex and may take some time to complete. Thus, it is better to seek the assistance of a registered migration consultant, such as the registered MARA agents at Deriva, to help you navigate the process.
Are you trying to understand which assessment is used for your point-based skilled migration visa? Keep reading below and book a consultation to be informed better about the assessment procedure.
Applicants for the particular GSM visas with points must have a suitable skills assessment for their nominated occupation. These visas include:
01. Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-based
02. Visa for Skilled Nominees (subclass 190)
03. Regional Skilled (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) – Invited Pathway
04. Regional Skilled Worker (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
When you apply for a visa, you must provide evidence that you have a valid and suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
The following formula is used to calculate the validity period of your assessment:
01. If no validity period is specified on a skills assessment, it is valid for three years from the date of issue.
02. If the validity period shown on a skills assessment is less than three years, the assessment is valid for the stated period.
03. If a skills assessment’s validity period exceeds three years, the assessment is valid for three years from the assessment date.
You should schedule your skills assessment before submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, as attaining a skills evaluation after the invitation for application is unreliable.
Authorities in charge of assessing skills may issue more than one type of assessment, but you will require a skills assessment that meets the requirements for permanent migration. The criteria used for the skills assessments are determined by the assessment authorities and aligned with their relevant professional standards.
For recent graduates of Australian educational institutions applying for a subclass 485 visa, some assessing authorities issue a provisional skills assessment. A provisional skills assessment issued for a subclass 485 visa application is insufficient for a points-based visa application.
For certain professions, these are the particulars that need to be kept in mind:
01. Doctors: A suitable skills assessment for doctors is evidence of complete registration. Acceptable proof of such complete registration is one of the following certificates issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA):
a. Full/unconditional/general medical registration
b. Conditional specialist registration that allows you to practise only in your particular speciality, with no further training or supervision requirements.
02. Solicitors: A suitable skills assessment for solicitors is evidence of admission to practise as a lawyer in the relevant State/Territory.
Are you puzzled by whether a skills assessment is needed if you apply for a nominated visa? Here’s the most relevant information on the subject!
Employer Nomination Program (subclass 186): A skills assessment is optional at the time of application if you apply under the Temporary Residence Transition or Labour Agreement streams. A decision maker may still request a skills assessment if they believe it is necessary before deciding on your application.
A skills assessment is required if you apply through the Direct Entry stream. The combined list of eligible skilled occupations shows the relevant skills the assessing authority needs concerning your occupation. Before applying for a visa, the skills assessment must clearly show that you are suitable according to the relevant authority. You can submit the skills assessments after the visa application, but the results must be obtained before the visa application deadline.
If a skills assessment is provided after expiration, it is no longer valid. Skills assessments with no expiry date are valid for three years from the date of the assessment. You must also have worked full-time in the occupation for at least three years at the required skill level.
Pro Tip: It is essential to note that a skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not valid for a Subclass 186 visa.
Regionally Sponsored Migration Program (subclass 187): Like subclass 186, a skills assessment is not required at the time of application if you apply under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. A decision maker may still request a skills assessment if they believe it is necessary before deciding on your application.
However, certain occupations require a skills assessment if you apply through the Direct Entry stream. If your occupation is listed on IMMI 12/096 Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities, you must have a positive skills assessment. Other conditions for this skills assessment are the same as the ones for subclass 186.
Pro Tip: A skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not valid for a Subclass 187 visa.
Certain primary TSS visa applicants must complete a mandatory skills assessment as part of the visa application process. The following particulars must be followed when submitting your visa application:
01. Check whether you need a mandatory skills assessment or if you are eligible for an exemption
02. Start or complete your skills assessment before applying and within three years
03. Avoid processing delays by including your skills assessment reference number
04. If you are eligible, provide proof of your exemption
Pro Tip: Plan while keeping in mind that a skills assessment can be requested in writing as part of the application process, even if it is not required.
Lost in the technicalities? Book a consultation and we will solve the puzzle for you!
Are you wondering if you need a skills assessment for a Temporary Graduate Visa?
If you have nominated an occupation on the graduate work stream, i.e., Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), you are eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). Here, it is essential to note that all occupations on the MLTSSL are assessed for relevant skills and only a skills assessment issued by the appropriate assessing authority is accepted.
You are responsible for contacting the appropriate assessing authority for your occupation and requesting a skills evaluation. This process can be made easier by getting in touch with expert visa agents, as each assessing authority has its own set of procedures, timetables, and fees.
Pro Tip: If your skills are evaluated based on a qualification obtained in Australia while on a student visa, the qualification must be obtained while enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course.
You will have to provide evidence of your application for a skills assessment for your visa process to begin.
Some assessing authorities only provide assessments for a limited time, and the applicant has to ensure that this time limit does not expire by the time the visa decision is made. If there is no time limit, the assessment should have been received by you within the last three years.
Pro Tip: Only Graduate Work stream applicants need a skills assessment. Post Study Work applicants do not need to obtain a skills assessment to support their application.
