Skills Assessment Australia

Check the occupation, assessing authority and evidence before applying

A skills assessment compares a person's qualifications and employment with the requirements set by the assessing authority for a nominated occupation. It is separate from the visa decision.

The correct assessment depends on the occupation, visa pathway and assessing authority. A positive outcome does not grant a visa, guarantee an invitation or replace an Australian licence or registration where one is required.

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What is a Skills Assessment?

A skills assessment is an independent assessment conducted by the authority responsible for a particular occupation. The authority applies its own criteria to qualifications, employment and other evidence. Home Affairs publishes the relevant assessing authority against occupations used for skilled migration. Some occupations have different assessment programs for different visa pathways, so the occupation name alone is not enough to select the correct application.

When is a Skills Assessment required?

Points-tested skilled visas

Applicants for points-tested skilled visas such as subclasses 189, 190 and 491 generally need a suitable skills assessment for their nominated occupation. The assessment requirements and relevant date rules must be met for the Expression of Interest and visa pathway concerned.

Employer-sponsored pathways

A skills assessment is not required for every employer-sponsored applicant. It may be mandatory for a particular visa, stream, occupation, passport country or labour agreement, or Home Affairs may request one. For subclass 186 Direct Entry, a skills assessment is generally required unless an exemption applies. Subclass 482 and DAMA-related requirements depend on the applicable occupation, stream, assessment program and agreement. They should not be described as requiring an assessment in every case.

Temporary Graduate visa - Post-Vocational Education Work

The subclass 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream has separate skills-assessment requirements for the nominated occupation. An assessment obtained for this stream is not automatically suitable for another visa. For example, Home Affairs states that a subclass 485 assessment is not valid for a subclass 186 application.

Other pathways

Some licensing, registration, employment or recognition processes are separate from migration skills assessments. A migration assessment should not be presented as permission to work in a regulated occupation.

Choosing the Occupation and Assessing Authority

The nominated occupation should be based on the actual work performed and the criteria for the intended visa pathway. A similar job title does not establish that the duties match a particular occupation. Common assessing authorities include:

VETASSESS

Many professional occupations and specified trade occupations.

Engineers Australia

Specified engineering occupations.

Australian Computer Society

Specified ICT occupations.

Trades Recognition Australia

Specified trade and technical occupations.

ANMAC

Specified nursing and midwifery occupations.

Home Affairs maintains the current assessing-authority list. The authority and assessment program should be confirmed before fees are paid or documents are prepared.

Evidence Commonly Requested

Requirements vary, but an authority may ask for:

Identity documents

Qualification certificates and academic transcripts

Course or subject information

Employment references describing duties, dates and hours

Payslips, tax records, bank records or other payment evidence

English translations that meet the authority's requirements

Registration or licensing evidence where relevant

English-language evidence where the assessment program requires it

An employment reference alone may not be sufficient. Evidence should be consistent across dates, duties, hours, remuneration and the organisation's records.

What Assessing Authorities consider?

Each authority sets its own test. Depending on the occupation and program, it may consider the level and relevance of qualifications, the content of study, the period and level of employment, professional registration, competency evidence or a technical assessment. ANZSCO can assist with occupational classification, but an authority's current criteria and program guidance control the assessment. Applicants should not copy an ANZSCO task list into an employment reference or alter evidence to resemble an occupation.

How the Assessment Process Works?

Step 1: Confirm the visa pathway

Identify why the assessment is needed and the date by which it must be suitable.

Step 2: Identify the proposed occupation

Compare the applicant's genuine duties and qualifications with the relevant occupation.

Step 3: Confirm the authority and program

Check the current Home Affairs list and the authority's pathway-specific instructions.

Step 4: Review the evidence rules

Identify required formats, supporting records, translations and any program-specific steps.

Step 5: Prepare and lodge

Submit accurate evidence and pay the fee required by the authority.

Step 6: Respond to requests

Provide further information within the period stated by the authority.

Step 7: Review the outcome

Check the occupation, dates, employment findings, validity information and any review rights.

Common Problems that can affect an Assessment

Choosing an occupation from a job title without checking the actual duties

Applying through the wrong authority or assessment program

Submitting generic employment statements without supporting payment evidence

Inconsistencies between references, payslips, tax documents and claimed dates

Missing or unacceptable translations

Assuming one assessment can be reused for every visa pathway

Relying on an expired outcome or superseded criteria

Overlooking registration, licensing or English requirements

Missing a deadline for additional information or review

An adverse outcome is not proof that an applicant has no skills. It means the authority was not satisfied that its criteria were met for that occupation and program on the evidence assessed.

Fees, Processing Times and Priority Services

Fees and processing times differ substantially between authorities and programs. Trade programs can involve documentary, technical or practical stages and may cost more than a professional assessment. Processing estimates also vary with the program, application volume, verification and completeness. VETASSESS has announced increased professional-assessment fees from 9 September 2026. The change does not apply to its trade assessments. Other authorities maintain separate fee schedules. A priority service, where available, changes handling time only. It does not change the assessment criteria or improve the likelihood of a positive outcome. Confirm the live fee, eligibility for priority processing and current estimate on the authority's website before applying.

Understanding the Outcome

A suitable outcome can be used only in accordance with its terms and the requirements of the intended visa pathway. Check the nominated occupation, assessment date, employment findings, expiry information and any limitations stated in the letter. If the outcome is not suitable, review or reassessment options depend on the authority and its deadlines. Before challenging an outcome, identify whether the issue is the occupation selection, missing evidence, the assessment criteria or a factual error.

How Kritin Global Can Help

Our migration agent can help identify the relevant occupation and assessment pathway, prepare an evidence plan, review document consistency and coordinate the skills assessment with the intended visa pathway.

Book a Consultation FREE • 10-Minutes Pre Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

It is an assessment by the authority responsible for a nominated occupation. The authority considers whether the applicant meets its requirements for qualifications, employment or professional competency under the relevant assessment program.

The authority depends on the nominated occupation and intended visa pathway. Check the current Home Affairs occupation and assessing-authority information, then confirm the correct program on the authority's website before applying.

No. Points-tested skilled visas generally require one, while employer-sponsored requirements vary by visa, stream, occupation, passport country, labour agreement and any applicable exemption. The requirement should be checked for the individual pathway.

Not automatically. The occupation may be the same, but the required assessment program, criteria, validity and date rules can differ. Home Affairs specifically states that an assessment obtained for the subclass 485 visa is not valid for a subclass 186 application.

Validity depends on the authority, assessment type, outcome letter and visa rules. Some outcomes state an expiry date, while a visa pathway may impose its own timing requirements. Check both the outcome letter and the current visa criteria.

There is no single fee. Each authority and program sets its own charges, and additional fees may apply for priority processing, technical stages, reviews or reassessments. Use the authority's current fee page before budgeting or paying.

There is no universal processing time. Published estimates vary by authority and program and can change with application volumes, verification and requests for further evidence. An estimate is not a guarantee.

Read the outcome reasons and the authority's review or reassessment rules promptly. Depending on the issue, the appropriate response may be a review, a new application with further evidence or reconsideration of the nominated occupation. A positive result cannot be assumed on review.

No. A migration skills assessment is used for a migration purpose. Licensing, registration or permission to practise in Australia may involve a separate regulator and additional requirements.

Disclaimer

Fees and eligibility criteria are reviewed periodically. Always verify current figures and process requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging. This page is general information - contact us for advice specific to your situation.

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