Obtaining a skills assessment is mandatory for many visa subclasses. The skills assessment’s purpose is for the relevant skills assessing authorities to confirm that your qualification and work experience are aligned with the Australian industry standard.
When do you need a skills assessment?
For many visas, a skills assessment is mandatory. These include:
- Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189
- Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Skilled Work Regional (provisional) Visa – Subclass 491
- Employed Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry) – Subclass 186
- Temporary Graduate Visa – Graduate Work Stream – Subclass 485
- Temporary Skills Shortage Visa – Subclass 482 – Some applicants are required to apply for a skills assessment. It is mainly for trades person.
The validity of the skills assessment
Usually, a skills assessment is valid for three years. So, if your skills assessment letter does not include a date, it is safe to assume that the assessment is valid for three years from the date of issue. However, if the skills assessment lists a date that is less than three years, the skill assessment validity follows the date of the letter. On the other hand, if the skills assessment letter has a validity date longer than three years, the Department would disregard the date. The maximum validity period is three years.
Examples
| Date of issue | Validity date on the letter | Valid Period | Expiry Date |
| 01/01/2021 | No Date | 3 years | 01/01/2024 |
| 01/01/2021 | 01/01/2022 | 1 years | 01/01/2022 |
| 01/01/2021 | 01/01/2025 | 3 years | 01/01/2024 |
Types of skills assessments
Skills assessing authorities conduct different type of skills assessments. It is important that you apply for the right skills assessment for your visa type. In most cases, skills assessment for a Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485 is less stringent than the skills assessment for a permanent visa. As such, you are not able to use the skills assessment for a Temporary Graduate Visa for a permanent visa.
How to get a skills assessment?
- Check the skilled occupation list. Every occupation has a nominated skill assessing authority.
- Make sure that you select the relevant skills assessment.
- Understand the procedures and requirements of the skills assessment.
- Check the timeframe for the skills assessment. Do not leave skills assessment too late as the processing time for some skills assessment can be very long.
- Consider if you require to fast-track the skills assessment. Some skills assessing authorities have a fast-track program. They can complete the skills assessment in a shorter time frame for an extra cost. However, it is crucial to check the criteria involved in the fast-track program.
- Prepare the application.
- Pay the skills assessment fees.
- Wait for the result.
- Once you have the result, you may be able to apply for the visa.
Related:
- How to apply for a skills assessment with ACS?
- TSS 482 Visa Skills Assessment
- Do Engineers need skills assessment for a 457 visa?
- Engineers Australia Migration Skills Assessment
- Occupations requiring skills assessment for 187 visa
- VETASSESS Skills Assessment (Trade Occupations)
- VETASSESS Skills Assessment (Professional Occupations)
- Job Ready Skills Assessment for Trade Occupations
- Accountant Migration Skills Assessment
- Outcome Based Assessment (OBA) for Internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNM) and PR Pathway
- Changes to Skills Assessment for Nurses and Midwives
- Skills Assessment Services
- Skills assessment and assessing authorities
