Expression of Interest for Australia Skilled Visa: Everything You Need to Know
To be invited for a skilled visa in Australia, submitting an expression of interest for Australia is mandatory. It is a system operated by the Australian Government that assesses your background for a skilled visa. But how exactly does an Expression of Interest (EOI) work, and how do you submit one?
In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about the expression of interest in Australia—from preparation to submission—so you can acquire your skilled visa without stress.
What is an expression of interest?
An expression of interest (EOI) in Australia is a formal submission to the Australian Government that outlines your skills, qualifications, and experience. It expresses your intent or interest to work and live in Australia on a skilled visa.
The Australian Government commonly uses an expression of interest in Australia to assess the suitability of potential candidates for a role, which is required to ensure that the candidates meet the skills needs in Australia.
So, submitting an EOI is a mandatory step in the skilled visa application process. Through the SkillSelect EOI submission, you can be invited for one of the following skilled visas:
- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189): Allows you to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia without sponsorship.
- Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190): Allows you to live, work, and study in an Australian state or territory indefinitely with a state or territory government nomination.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491): Allows you to temporarily live, work, and study in a regional area of Australia for 5 years.
How important is this expression of interest for me?
Expression of Interest (EOI) in Australia is important as it’s a mandatory step in getting an Australian skilled visa. It is your first step toward your dream Down Under, as the Australian Government will assess your background and eligibility for the skilled visa. It is your door to get an invitation to apply for a skilled visa. Considering the importance of Expression of Interest for your future, let’s see what you should prepare for it below.
Read more: Visa 189 and Visa 190: Instant Australian Permanent Resident
What do I need to prepare for the expression of interest?
Before submitting an expression of interest application, you must prepare the following:
Personal information
Provide accurate personal details, such as your full name, date of birth, nationality, and relationship status, as required for the expression of interest submission.
Nominated Occupation
You must ensure that your nominated occupation is listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List. Specifically for 190 Visa and 491 Visa, you must ensure that your nominated occupation is listed on the state or territory’s Skilled Occupation List.
English language proficiency
You must prepare evidence of your English language competency. The minimum English requirement is Competent English. However, you will get additional points in your expression of interest if you can reach Proficient English or Superior English.
Skills Assessment
Get a positive Skills Assessment for your nominated occupation. You must acquire the Skills Assessment from the relevant Skills Assessing Authority in Australia. In your expression of interest application, you must provide the reference/receipt number, the date of the skills assessment, and the name of the assessing authority.
Educational Qualification
Provide information and evidence of your educational qualifications, including those you obtained in your home country and Australia.
Proof of Work Experience
Provide information and evidence of your work experience, especially those relevant to your nominated occupation. You can include work experience that you’ve obtained in your home country and Australia.
Read more: Skillselect Requirements for Skilled Migrants
How do I submit an expression of interest for a skilled visa?
You can submit your expression of interest application through Skillselect. Skillselect is an online system the Australian government uses to manage applications for skilled visas.
However, before submitting an EOI in Skillselect, review your chosen visa’s eligibility criteria and requirements. If you can’t meet them, you may need to select another type of visa. Click here for the detailed information.
Once you meet the requirements, follow these steps to submit your Expression of Interest application:
Step 1: Sign up for a Skillselect account
You must create a user account and enter your personal and contact information, such as your given name and family name, date of birth, country of birth, gender, passport and citizenship details, place of residency, and relationship status.
Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest
Submit your Expression of Interest application, and include information on your skills, qualifications, and work experience. Wait for the invitation after you’ve completed all of your submissions.
Step 3: Receive an invitation
Once your Expression of Interest is selected, you can apply for a skilled visa. You must respond to your invitation within a specified time frame to avoid delays in your visa application.
Step 4: Lodge your skilled visa application
You can apply for a skilled visa online through ImmiAccount. Submit your application, provide supporting documents, and pay a visa application fee to acquire your visa.
Learn more: How to Obtain an Australian Work Permit
The good news is that DHA always updates the number of invitations issued yearly, commonly updated around 2-3 months. So, you can monitor the minimum points required for a specific nominated occupation and how many invitation places are left. Below we have provided the latest invitation round for each visa subclass as of 15 October 2024.
Number of Invitations for Independent and Family-Sponsored Skilled Visa
Visa Subclass | Number of Invitations |
---|---|
Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) | 7,973 |
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored | 0 |
Visa Subclass | Number of Invitations |
---|---|
Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) | 7,973 |
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored | 0 |
Number of Invitations for State or Territory Nominated Skilled Visa
Visa Subclass | ACT | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) | 136 | 26 | 63 | <5 | 530 | 377 | 464 | 145 |
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – State and Territory Nominated | 92 | 23 | 67 | 8 | 90 | 111 | 234 | 116 |
Visa Subclass | ACT | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) | 136 | 26 | 63 | <5 | 530 | 377 | 464 | 145 |
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – State and Territory Nominated | 92 | 23 | 67 | 8 | 90 | 111 | 234 | 116 |
Find more info here: Invitation rounds
Additional points from state or territory nomination and sponsorship from relatives
If you’re interested in getting a 190 Visa or 491 Visa, you will get additional points if you’re being nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by your eligible relatives. Those additional points are as follows:
- 5 additional points if nominated by the Australian state or territory government.
- 15 additional points if sponsored by an eligible relative (for 491 visa only).
In addition, depending on each state or territory, you may:
- be asked to submit an application for nomination if you fulfil their requirements and possess the necessary skills or
- be asked to submit a registration of interest after submitting your EOI to express your interest in being nominated.
Specifically for the 491 Visa, if you’d like to be sponsored by an eligible relative, ensure that your relative is:
- an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen,
- 18 years of age or older,
- living in a designated regional area of Australia,
- related to you as your biological family (parent, a child or a brother and a sister); or
- your guardian (the aunt, uncle, grandparent, nephew, niece, or first cousin); or
- related to you as if you are part of their lawfully legal family as an adoptive siblings, step siblings or step-child.
Read more: 491 Family Sponsored visa: Complete Guidance 2024
What happens after EOI submission?
After submitting your EOI, SkillSelect will calculate your score based on the information you provided. Your EOI application will be visible to the Australian Government agency, including the state and territory governments. If they find you’ve met the requirements, they will send you an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.
You will have 60 days to submit a valid skilled visa application through ImmiAccount from the invitation date. If you fail to submit a valid skilled visa application within the timeframe, your invitation will be relapsed, and there is no guarantee that you will be given a second invitation.
Note that if you meet the minimum score, it does not guarantee you will receive an invitation to apply for a skilled visa. Thus, we strongly recommend getting the highest score, as it will increase your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.
Discover: How to score above 65 points
Submitting an EOI can be challenging, especially when meeting all the requirements. For first-timers, it can feel even more overwhelming as you navigate the process. But don’t worry—we’re here to assist you. Our experienced migration agents are ready to guide you through each step and ensure a smooth visa journey. Click here to connect with one of our migration specialists.
Looking for professional assistance with your Expression of Interest?
We at ONEderland Consulting will help you save time and answer all your concerns about submitting an Expression of Interest for Australia. Our team of highly qualified and experienced migration specialists is dedicated to putting in a lot of effort and planning ahead of time on your behalf. We pay close attention to every detail and apply our extensive knowledge to handle even the most complex cases.
We are committed to being open and honest with you, keeping you updated and involved at every stage. We will work tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for your future in Australia, and you can rely on us to be your dependable partner and advocate.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.
Take the first step and contact us. Our team members are professional and honest and speak various languages, such as Mandarin/Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.