Migration Skills Assessment

What you should know:

Overview:

• Skills assessment is mandatory for most skilled and employer-sponsored visa applications
• API supports assessments for all major authorities, including VETASSESS, TRA, Engineers Australia, ACS, CPA, ANMAC, and more
• We help determine the best occupation code based on your visa goals and background
• Guidance available for both full visa packages and standalone skills assessments
• Different visas like 189, 190, 491, 186, 494, and 485 may require a skills assessment
• Our registered agents stay updated with immigration changes to improve your success
• Every occupation has its own assessing authority with specific document requirements
• Thousands of clients have successfully cleared assessments with our expert help

A skills assessment for Australian migration is a crucial step in the process of applying for certain visas to Australia, particularly for skilled migration programs. The Australian government requires skilled migrants to demonstrate that they possess the necessary qualifications, work experience, and skills to work in their nominated occupation, making Migration Skills Assessment Australia an integral part of your visa journey.

The Migration Skills Assessment Australia process is designed to ensure that migrants have the appropriate expertise in their chosen occupation, which contributes to the overall economy and workforce of Australia. It helps the Australian government assess whether the applicant meets the standards expected for their nominated occupation in the country.

Our track record speaks for itself, as we have successfully helped numerous candidates achieve positive skills assessment outcomes from a wide range of assessing authorities, including VETASSESS, TRA, Engineers Australia, ACS, CPA, ACECQA, and more, through our Migration Skills Assessment Australia services. You have the option to avail this service as part of your complete visa application package or as a separate, standalone service.

It's essential to remember that the migration skills assessment Australia process can vary depending on the type of visa and nominated occupation. Moreover, Australian immigration rules and policies may change over time, so it's crucial to consult with a registered migration agent prior to commencing your skills assessment process to make sure you have nominated the best occupation code based on your migration plan. Trusting experts who are well-versed in Migration Skills Assessment Australia can greatly enhance your chances of a successful migration to Australia.

Visas:

In Australia, you generally need to undergo a migration skills assessment for the following types of visas:

General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas: This category includes visas such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Applicants under these visas must have their skills assessed to demonstrate their suitability for nominated occupations on the relevant skilled occupation lists.

Employer-Sponsored Visas: Some employer-sponsored visas, such as the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa, and some of the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visas, may require a migration skills assessment Australia depending on the occupation and specific circumstances.

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): Graduates who wish to stay and work in Australia temporarily after completing their studies may need to undergo a migration skills assessment, depending on the occupation they nominate and their visa stream. An evidence of a provisional skills assessment application is enough to submit the graduate visa, and a positive outcome can be provided before the visa decision.

Certain State or Territory-Nominated Visas: Some state or territory-specific visas, like the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa – DAMA agreements, may require a migration skills assessment Australia in addition to the nomination by the relevant state or territory government.

Assessing Authorities:

Assessing authorities are responsible for conducting migration skills assessments Australia for various occupations in Australia. These authorities assess the qualifications, work experience, and skills of visa applicants to determine their suitability for specific skilled migration or employer-sponsored visas. Some of the common assessing authorities include:

VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services): This authority assesses qualifications and skills for a wide range of occupations, including trades, technical, and professional occupations. Both formal qualification and work experience are required for a professional skills assessment with VETASSESS, but some trades occupations can be assessed without a formal qualification with at least five years of relevant work experience.
TRA (Trades Recognition Australia): TRA primarily assesses trade occupations to determine if the applicant's skills meet the Australian standards in the relevant trade. There are several pathways for skills assessment with TRA, and you can find the suitable path based on your nominated occupation, country of passport, qualification, and intended visa application.
Engineers Australia: This authority assesses engineering occupations to ensure that applicants' qualifications and experience meet the required standards for practicing engineering in Australia. Having work experience is not required for most of the occupations assessed by Engineers Australia.
ACS (Australian Computer Society): ACS assesses qualifications and work experience for IT and computer-related occupations. The number of required work experiences to receive a positive outcome from ACS will be determined based on your nominated occupation and qualification.
CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountants Australia): CPA assesses accounting and finance occupations for migration purposes. Accountants can also get the migration skills assessment Australia from other assessing authorities, including CAANZ and IPA.
ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority): ACECQA is an independent national authority in Australia that is responsible for overseeing the quality of early childhood education and care services across the country. ACECQA is the approved Assessing Authority for the following occupations:
Child Care Centre ManagerChild
Child Care Worker (Group Leaders only).
ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council): ANMAC assesses qualifications and experience for nursing and midwifery occupations.

It's important to note that the assessing authorities and their processes can change over time. Therefore, we recommend checking the official website of the designated assessing authorities and their requirements for specific occupations. It's advisable to seek guidance from your registered migration agent who can assist with the skilled migration assessment Australia and application process.

Migration Skills Assessment – What You Need to Know

If you're applying for a skilled visa to Australia, a Migration Skills Assessment is often your first required step. This process confirms that your qualifications and work experience meet the standards for your nominated occupation. Whether you're pursuing a GSM visa, graduate visa (subclass 485), or employer-sponsored stream, we guide you every step—from choosing the right occupation code to submitting accurate documents to authorities like VETASSESS, ACS, or Engineers Australia.

FAQs

Why do I need a Migration Skills Assessment?

You need it to prove that your education and work experience meet the standards for your chosen occupation in Australia. It’s often a visa requirement.

Who will assess my skills?

Your assessing authority depends on your job. For example, ACS handles IT roles, TRA assesses trades, and Engineers Australia looks after engineering occupations.

Can I apply without formal qualifications?

Yes, if you have extensive relevant work experience—usually 5 years or more—you may qualify without formal education for certain trade roles.

Do I need this for a 485 Graduate Visa?

Yes, if you're applying under the Graduate Work stream, you must submit at least a provisional skills assessment.

How long does the assessment process take?

It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks, depending on your occupation and how complete your documents are.