What is SkillSelect in Australia, and How Does it Work?

In nations where many people come in for a job or study, immigration programs are widespread. So, what exactly is SkillSelect? It is an Australian government-run immigration program that matches talented overseas employees with companies. The system is free, simple to use, and functions similarly to an online job board, matching employees and employers based on their talents and needs.

SkillSelect is a program for Australian immigration that matches talented foreign employees with companies in Australia. The system works similarly to an online job board, connecting people with employers based on their abilities, skills, and requirements. Employers can analyze overseas employees’ profiles and propose applying for a visa after completing a series of questions about their history and talents. Alternatively, the Australian government might encourage them to apply for a visa.

Migrant employees must supply basic background information, such as their skills, English language proficiency, and educational background. They might use this information to evaluate the applicant’s application for a GSM visa.

This approach is also employed to address regional skill shortages. In most rural areas of Australia, skilled personnel is needed to fill local shortages. SkillSelect connects such people with businesses if they satisfy the firms’ criteria (if the applicant specifies that they want to be considered for rural jobs). The strategy aids in ensuring that Australia’s skilled migration program meets the country’s economic growth needs.

Engineers Australia members who desire to be Chartered or register on the National Engineering Register must complete stage 2 competency requirements. EA’s stage 2 Competency Assessment requires the ECC, or Engineering Competency Claim, as one of the papers. It exhibits the credentials, talents, and capabilities of a professional engineer.

SkillSelect and EOI

The EOI responds to a series of questions concerning the applicant applicant’s qualifications and experience. Based on this EOI, a company or the Australian government may propose you for a visa application. Potential employers can check the SkillSelect profiles and then nominate the applicant for a visa. A competency evaluation exam is also conducted for some of the programs that are added to the EOI. It is critical to passing this test to be considered for a visa nomination.

If you are a skilled workforce or a business person in Australia, you must submit an Expression of Interest or EOI using the SkillSelect portal. The SkillSelect database keeps an EOI for two years. You may also store an unfinished EOI on the platform and amend it later if necessary. An incomplete EOI will be kept in the database for two years but will not be considered for nomination or invitation.

The applicant must keep an EOI up to date, and you must do it as the circumstances dictate. After getting a nomination for a visa application, you cannot make modifications to your current EOI.

EOI Update

EOI are usually updated in the following cases:

1. If you have secured higher education
2. If any of your family members have changed, such as having a child, or if you need to include your parents.
3. If your command of the English language has improved,
4. If you want to change careers, this is the place to be.
5. If you have earned fresh job experience, it may be beneficial to your CV.
6. If you’ve learned an entirely new skill set that will allow you to diversify within the same sector or into various industries

These changes are critical and can influence your chances of being nominated. In the EOI, applicants must avoid giving misleading facts and inaccurate data. IF THE DATA IS FAKED, the EOI will be refused, and you may be blacklisted from the nation.

After two years or if the following requirements are met, your EOI is immediately withdrawn from SkillSelect:

1. If you were nominated for a visa application and then applied for and received the visa.
2. If you received two nominations or invitations to apply for a visa but did not apply.

What happens If you are not nominated?

Not everyone who submits an EOI will be considered for a visa application. In addition, the SkillSelect portal does not offer updates on the status of your EOI or if it has been nominated for a visa application. After each invitation round, the DHA publishes the competence test cut-offs necessary to get your EOI accepted, which might give you a good picture of what to anticipate next time.

Bridging Visas

Bridging Visas are short-term visas provided by the Australian government to allow immigrants to remain in the country while their visa application is processed. A bridging visa typically lasts 28 days from the date of the main application’s conclusion.

An Expression of Interest is not the same as a visa application, and submitting one will not result in you receiving a Bridging visa. It will analyze your eligibility for a Bridging visa once you have filed a valid visa application.

How does SkillSelect work?

1. Following the update of relevant details, you have to give a test to evaluate your talents, English proficiency, and education.
2. If you are nominated for a visa, you must apply within 60 days after receiving the nomination. After 60 days, it will ignore your application, and you will have to wait for another nomination to resubmit. It will withdraw your EOI from the SkillSelect database if you fail to submit your visa application twice. The visa application system will use the information automatically.
3. From your prior EOI, so you won’t have to fill it out again.
4. Employers or state and territory governments in Australia might look at your profile and invite or nominate you for a visa application.
5. After that, you must choose a visa category that best suits your needs. It is followed by the EOI (Expression of Interest).
6. You will be granted a visa to live and work in Australia if your visa application is approved.
7. The first step is to go to the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website and register for the SkillSelect platform. If relevant, you must include your educational history, personal background, job experience, intended career, and business experience.

Different visa categories of SkillSelect

SkillSelect offers eight different types of skilled worker visas. The applicant’s skill set determines the kind. The eight types of visas are briefly detailed below:

Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa

This visa does not need sponsorship or nomination, and it is entirely dependent on the points achieved in the skill exam. It’s a visa for permanent residence that may need an invitation to apply as well as the following requirements:

• It would help if you were nominated in an occupation present on the list of skilled occupations.
• The occupation’s skill assessment yields positive results.
• Based on the points exam, you received the score specified in your letter of invitation.
• You must be under the age of fifty.
• You must have a good command of the English language.

Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa

It is a visa for skilled workers who have completed an assessment exam and wish to remain in the country permanently. It does, however, necessitate a nomination by a state or territory government as well as the completion of the following requirements:

• You must communicate in English at a basic level and should be nominated by a “state or territory government agency in Australia.”
• You should be nominated for a skilled occupation on the list of skilled occupations.
• Based on the factors in the points exam, you obtained the score specified in your letter of invitation.
• For that employment, you must have received a valid skills evaluation.
• You must also be younger than 50 years old.

Subclass 457 – (For skilled workers only) Temporary Work Visa

This four-year temporary visa requires the following documents:

• You must be nominated in one of the skilled occupations listed in the appropriate occupation list.
• A specific sponsorship, either from an Australian employer or a state or territory government, is required for this visa.

Subclass 489 – (Provisional) Skilled Regional Visa

It is a different type of temporary visa with a four-year validity period. It only permits you to live and work in certain parts of Australia. This visa requirement varies depending on whether you applied through the invited or extended stay pathways.

Extended Stay Pathway

To qualify for an extended stay, you must have a provisional visa in subclasses 496, 495, 487, or 475. The following are the requirements:

• There are several health standards that you must satisfy.
• Some personality characteristics must be satisfied.
• There should be no outstanding debts with the Australian government for you.
• You should sign the Australian Values Statement if you want to work in Australia.

Invited Pathway

Following are the requirements for the invited pathway:

• A state or territory government agency must nominate you to apply, or an eligible relative must sponsor you.
• You must work in a job that is on a list of related skilled occupations.
• For the occupation, you’ll require a suitable skills assessment.
• You must pass the points exam.

Subsequent entry pathway

You must be a family member of a visa holder with subclasses 475, 487, 489, 495, or 496.

Subclass 132 – (Permanent) Business Talent Visa

An entrepreneur visa allows you to establish a new business or develop an existing one in Australia. To acquire this visa, you must receive a nomination from a state or territorial government agency and be invited.

• Let us say you wish to apply for a visa based on your Significant Business History. In such a situation, you must have a net asset of at least AUD 1.5 million (both business and personal), as well as a business turnover of at least AUD 3 million.
• Let’s say you’re interested in applying for a visa in the Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream. To launch and grow a high-value business idea in Australia, you’ll need a minimum of AUD 1 million in venture capital investment.

Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme

It is a PR visa for skilled professionals that requires the following qualifications:

• A company in Australia should nominate you. This company must be approved as well.
• You must be under 50 years.
• You should be able to communicate well in English and have the relevant qualifications and abilities. There may potentially be certain exceptions.
• You must submit your application within the nomination period.

Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa

It is a visa that allows skilled migrant workers to stay in the country permanently. The following are the requirements:

• A recommendation from an authorized Australian employer is required for this visa, which guarantees employment in a specified region of Australia.
• You should be under 50 years.
• You should be fluent in English and possess the necessary certifications and skills.
• You must apply the stream for which you were nominated.

Subclass 188 – (Provisional) Business Innovation and Investment Visa

It is an entrepreneur visa for people who desire to create, run, or invest in Australia. One of the main prerequisites is a nomination by a state or territory government or an Australian agency and an invitation to apply from the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

To sum up, SkillSelect is a useful tool for monitoring the intake of employees into Australia. The visa is entirely depending on your abilities and personality. As a businessperson or a skilled worker, you will be able to operate freely in Australia. Keep your categorization and needs in mind. It’s not simple to acquire a nomination and an invitation, and if you lose your chance, you could have to wait a long time to get another. So, don’t waste your nomination.

When can I expect an invitation to apply for a visa?

Your ‘Expression of Interest (EOI) request has been maintained in the SkillSelect system for two years. If you meet the qualifications and your ability is in demand, you may anticipate an invitation at any point during the two years. But don’t worry; Visa Crew will keep you updated every step of the process and make recommendations to help you improve your score.

How many points do you need to be accepted?

• For skilled work visas, a minimum of 60 points is required.
• For Business Innovation visas, a minimum of 65 points is required.

What if I only have 60 points? What are my chances?

You should earn the required number of points to be admitted into the SkillSelect Program. However, your application will stay valid until the two-year limit has passed, and you can make changes to it to increase your scores. For example, if you retake the IELTS and get a better result, you may add that to your SkillSelect profile and get more points.

Migration Rules

Please contact us for the latest information on visa laws and regulations; we’ll gladly advise you on the best choice for your SkillSelect Expression of Interest. If you have any queries, please contact one of our Registered Migration Agents; we’d love to hear from you.

We offer email support seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to help you complete your application as fast and accurately as possible. CDRAustraliaHelp can provide a CDR report to engineers who wish to relocate to Australia. CDR Reports, ACS RPL Reports, Summary Statements, KA02 Reports, and a variety of additional services may be written by our expert personnel.