Assessment process

If you are looking to get your trade skills assessed for migration purposes, it's important that you understand the process, depending on the visa type you are applying for with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

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Key terms

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
Allows Australian employers to sponsor employees who are foreign nationals for a permanent visa to work in Australia.

(please go to www.immi.gov.au for visa information)
The General Skilled Migration Program (GSM)
Is for professionals and other skilled migrants who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.

(please go to www.immi.gov.au for visa information)
Temporary Business (long stay) – standard business sponsorship (subclass 457) visa
This is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis.

Employers can be either:
    • Australian businesses
    • overseas businesses.

(please go to www.immi.gov.au for visa information)
Pathway 1
Refers to applicants who do not hold an Australian qualification in the nominated occupation
Pathway 2
Refers to applicants who already hold an Australian qualification in the nominated occupation
Training & employment check
An assessment of your documentary evidence to determine whether you meet Australian trade standards and if you are to proceed to the next stage of your Skills Assessment.
Technical Interview
An opportunity to communicate/discuss your skills and knowledge with a qualified assessor from your trade. This may be conducted via web-conferencing or a face-to-face interview. A technical interview is an option for non-licensed occupations and pathway 2 applicants.
Practical Demonstration
An opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge via practical tasks in conjunction with a face-to-face interview. A practical demonstration is mandatory for licensed occupations.
Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR)
Entitles the holder to an entry level provisional licence in that trade (subject to meeting any non-skill requirements). It will also detail the gap training the successful applicant will need to undertake when they get to Australia.