September 27 2023:
Is a Skills Assessment Necessary for my Australian Visa Application?

Here are some common FAQs.

Question 1: What exactly is a skills assessment? A skills assessment is a crucial step that prospective migrants may be required to complete as part of the Australian immigration process, especially when it’s mandated by Australian migration laws. These assessments are conducted by specific skills assessing authorities designated for each occupation. Their primary role is to evaluate whether an applicant’s experience and skills are equivalent to Australian standards.

Question 2: Are skills assessments difficult? The criteria set by skills assessing bodies, in some cases, be more stringent than those required for the visa itself.

Question 3: Are skills assessments the same as occupational licensing? Generally speaking, NO, skills assessments are distinct from occupational licensing, registration, or professional membership. If your chosen occupation necessitates you to hold occupational licensing, registration, or professional membership in Australia, you’ll need to secure these in addition to your skills assessment. This requirement, however, does not apply to a very limited number of occupations, such as medical practitioners and solicitors (as at Sep 2023).

Question 4: Do I need a skills assessment for my visa application? While not every visa application demands a skills assessment, many permanent residence applications and some temporary work visas do require it. It is imperative to verify whether your specific visa application necessitates a skills assessment, as some are obligatory as per legal requirements. Getting this step right is crucial, and seeking professional assistance is advisable. Failure to provide a skills assessment, or failing to produce it when required, can result in visa refusal.

Question 5: Should I seek professional assistance for my skills assessment? You have the option to either obtain your skills assessment independently or engage the services of a migration professional (migration agent or migration lawyer) to guide you through the process. The latter choice could potentially save you time, money, and the need for an appeal process.

Question 6: If I am migrating with my spouse, does my spouse need a skills assessment? Usually, it is only the primary (main) visa applicant that requires a skills assessment. A spouse included in the application, may elect to obtain a skills assessment for some visa categories, such as the Subclass 189 / 190, for the purposes of attracting more points (so long as other criteria are met). Higher points improve the prospects of progressing the visa application. You should however obtain professional advice, to determine whether your spouse is advised to obtain a skills assessment.

Question 7: Where can I find more information about skills assessments? Each skills assessing body maintains a dedicated webpage for migration skills assessments. For links to these assessing bodies, visit: Department of Home Affairs

If you require assistance with your migration process, visa application or skills assessment, please feel free to Contact us.