How to Submit a SkillSelect Expression of Interest

Step 1 — Create Your SkillSelect Account

To begin your EOI, set up an account in SkillSelect. You will need to provide:

• Full name

• Date of birth

• Country of passport

• Citizenship

• Country of residence

• Relationship status

• Email address

After setting your password and answering security questions, you will receive your EOI number by email.

​

Step 2 — Gather the Required Information

Before you can submit a complete EOI, you will need to have the following ready:

​

Skills Assessment

• A skills assessment from a relevant Australian assessing authority is required before you can submit your EOI

• You will need the date of assessment, the name of the assessing authority, and the reference/receipt number

​

English Language Test Results

• Most applicants must sit an English language test and achieve at least competent English

• Citizens of Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America may use a valid passport as evidence of competent English

• Additional points are awarded for proficient or superior English

• Your partner and any children aged 18 or older included in your application must have at least functional English by the time a visa decision is made

​

Educational Qualifications

• Name of the qualification, course, and institution

• Campus and country where you studied

• Dates of study

​

Work History (past 10 years)

• Position title

• Name of employer

• Dates of employment

• Whether the work was related to the occupation you are nominating in your EOI

​

Step 3 — Submit Your EOI

Once your EOI is complete, submit it through SkillSelect. You can continue to update your EOI after submission, as long as you have not yet received an invitation to apply for a visa.

​

Step 4 — Receive an Invitation

If you are selected in an invitation round, you will receive an invitation to apply for a skilled visa. You then have 60 days from the date of the invitation to complete and submit your visa application through ImmiAccount.

​

If you do not accept your invitation within 60 days, you will need to wait for a new invitation — and there is no guarantee one will be issued.

​

Step 5 — Submit Your Visa Application

Submit your completed visa application through ImmiAccount, including all supporting documents. You must provide evidence to support every claim you made in your EOI.

​

The SkillSelect Points Test

The subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas are all points-based. To be invited to apply, you must meet or exceed a minimum points threshold of 65 points.

​

Points are awarded for:

• Age

• Work experience (in Australia and overseas)

• Educational qualifications

• English language proficiency (additional points for proficient or superior English)

​

SkillSelect will calculate an indicative points score based on the information you enter into your EOI. Meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation — candidates with higher scores are prioritised.

​

Tip: If you do not meet the minimum points threshold but your partner does, consider whether they should submit an EOI as the primary applicant and include you as a family member.

​

SkillSelect Invitation Rounds

Invitation Rounds Overview

The Department of Home Affairs runs SkillSelect invitation rounds periodically during the program year for the:

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — Family Sponsored

​

Candidates are ranked by points score. Where two EOIs have equal points scores, the date of effect (the date and time at which the EOI reached its points score for that visa subclass) is used as the tiebreaker — earlier is better.

​

The next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) will be held on 4 June 2026. Ensure your EOI is up to date and all information is accurate before this date.

​

Occupation Ceilings

Occupation ceilings may limit how many EOIs from a specific occupation group are invited in a round. This ensures the skilled migration programme remains balanced and meets Australian Government priorities.

​

Occupation ceilings do not apply to:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — State and Territory Nominated

​

Most Recent Invitation Round — 13 November 2025

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

• Total EOIs invited: 10,000

• Tie break date: November 2025

​

Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) — Family Sponsored

• Total EOIs invited: 300

• Tie break date: October 2025

​

Selected minimum scores from the 13 November 2025 round (subclass 189):

• Carpenter: 65

• Electrician (General): 65

• General Practitioner: 75

• Midwife: 75

• Physiotherapist: 75

• Registered Nurse (Medical): 75

• Secondary School Teacher: 75

• Social Worker: 75

• Speech Pathologist: 75

• Occupational Therapist: 75

• Optometrist: 75

• Clinical Psychologist: 80

• Nurse Practitioner: 80

• Intensive Care Specialist: 80

• Solicitor: 85

• Architect: 85

• Chemical Engineer: 85

• Construction Project Manager: 85

• Veterinarian: 85

• Barrister: 90

• Dermatologist: 100

• Osteopath: 100

A full list of occupations and minimum scores is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

​

State and Territory Nominations (2025–26 Program Year)

State and territory governments manage their own nomination programmes for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and subclass 491 State and Territory Nominated pathway, and these are not affected by the departmental invitation rounds.

​

From 1 July 2025 to 30 April 2026, the following nominations were issued:

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190):

• ACT: 604

• NSW: 1,894

• NT: 741

• QLD: 1,254

• SA: 911

• TAS: 988

• VIC: 2,237

• WA: 1,443

​

Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) — State and Territory Nominated:

• ACT: 653

• NSW: 1,049

• NT: 438

• QLD: 630

• SA: 594

• TAS: 367

• VIC: 656

• WA: 1,067

​

Keeping Your EOI Up to Date

Your EOI will remain active in SkillSelect for 2 years. During this time, you should update it whenever your circumstances change, as this may affect your points score.

​

Update your EOI if you have:

• Gained new work experience

• Received a higher educational qualification

• Improved your English language proficiency

• Obtained a new or updated skills assessment

• Had a change in family structure (for example, a new child)

You cannot update your EOI once you have received an invitation to apply for a visa.

​

What Happens If You Don't Receive an Invitation?

Not receiving an invitation after submitting a SkillSelect EOI does not mean your application has been refused — it means you were not selected in that round. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the lowest points score invited for the subclass 189 and subclass 491 (family sponsored) visas after each round, which can help you gauge your position.

​

The Department cannot notify individual applicants of the progress of their EOI.

If you receive two invitations but choose not to apply for a visa, your EOI will be removed from SkillSelect.

​

Getting Help With Your SkillSelect EOI

Only certain people are legally permitted to provide immigration assistance in Australia. These are:

• Registered migration agents

• Legal practitioners

• Exempt persons as defined under migration law

​

Migration agents cannot fast-track your visa application or guarantee a visa outcome. Always verify that your agent is registered before engaging their services.

​

Speak with one of our registered migration agents to review your points score, assess your occupation on the skilled occupation lists, and ensure your EOI is as strong as possible before the next invitation round.

​

Frequently Asked Questions About SkillSelect

What is SkillSelect?

SkillSelect is the Australian Government's online system for skilled workers to submit an Expression of Interest in applying for a skilled visa to live and work in Australia. It is operated by the Department of Home Affairs and is used to manage the invitation process for the subclass 189, 190, and 491 skilled visa pathways.

​

Who needs to use SkillSelect?

Anyone wishing to apply for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) must first submit an EOI through SkillSelect. Employer-sponsored visas such as the subclass 186, 482, and 494 do not require a SkillSelect EOI.

​

How long does a SkillSelect EOI last?

An EOI remains active in SkillSelect for 2 years from the date of submission. After 2 years, incomplete and submitted EOIs are archived. You can update your EOI at any time during those 2 years, as long as you have not received an invitation.

​

What is the minimum points score needed for a skilled visa?

The minimum points threshold for the subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas is 65 points. However, meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation — candidates with higher points scores are invited first, and the actual cutoff in each round varies based on demand and available places.

​

How are candidates selected in a SkillSelect invitation round?

Candidates are selected in order of points score, from highest to lowest. Where two EOIs have equal scores, the tiebreaker is the date of effect — the date and time at which the EOI first reached that points score. EOIs that reached the score earlier are invited first.

​

How often are SkillSelect invitation rounds held?

Invitation rounds are held periodically during the program year. The number of rounds and the number of invitations issued in each round varies depending on the needs of the Australian economy and the volume of applications already being processed. Results for each round are published on the Department of Home Affairs website.

​

Can I update my EOI after submitting it?

Yes. You can update your EOI at any time before you receive an invitation to apply for a visa. It is important to keep your EOI current, as changes to your circumstances — such as new work experience or improved English — may increase your points score.

​

What happens after I receive a SkillSelect invitation?

You have 60 days from the date of your invitation to submit a complete visa application through ImmiAccount. You must provide documentary evidence to support all claims made in your EOI. If you do not submit within 60 days, you will lose the invitation and will need to wait to be invited again.

​

Does submitting a SkillSelect EOI entitle me to a bridging visa?

No. Submitting an EOI does not entitle you to a bridging visa. A bridging visa is only available after you have submitted a valid visa application. If you are currently in Australia and your visa will expire before you submit a valid application, you should explore other visa options or seek advice from a registered migration agent immediately.

​

What is a SkillSelect occupation ceiling?

An occupation ceiling is an upper limit on the number of EOIs from a specific occupation that can be invited in a given round. Occupation ceilings apply to the subclass 189 and subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) pathways. They do not apply to the subclass 190 or subclass 491 State and Territory Nominated pathways.

​

Can a migration agent guarantee my visa or speed up my application?

No. Migration agents cannot fast-track the processing of your visa application or guarantee a visa outcome. Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners, or exempt persons are legally permitted to provide immigration assistance in Australia.

​

Related Migration Pathways

Depending on your occupation, skills, and personal circumstances, you may also be eligible for one of the following Australian visa pathways:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — Permanent visa requiring nomination by an Australian state or territory government; does not go through departmental invitation rounds

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — Provisional visa for skilled workers in regional Australia; available via state/territory nomination or family sponsorship

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — Permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer; no EOI required

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) — Temporary employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers filling positions that cannot be filled locally; no EOI required

• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) — Provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by a regional employer; no EOI required

• Global Talent visa — For highly talented individuals with an internationally recognised record of outstanding achievement; no EOI required

Each pathway has different eligibility criteria, occupation lists, and points requirements. A registered migration agent can help you identify which pathway is most suitable for your situation.

​

Sources

All factual information on this page is sourced from the Australian Department of Home Affairs. For the most current and complete information, refer to the official government sources below:

• SkillSelect Overview — Department of Home Affairs

• Expression of Interest — Department of Home Affairs

• Submitting Your Expression of Interest — Department of Home Affairs

• After You Submit Your Expression of Interest — Department of Home Affairs

• Invitation Rounds — Department of Home Affairs

• Previous Rounds — Department of Home Affairs

• SkillSelect Login Portal