Incentive 2 - Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants (SAOM) Pilot FAQs

To assist with Australia’s economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and to fill skills shortages, the Australian Government is introducing three incentives to maximise the contribution of Australia’s onshore migrant workforce where there is a shortage of skilled labour. The SAOM Pilot is one of these. You can find further information at Skills Assessment Pilots.

The SAOM Pilot is offered to migrants who are residing in Australia and are on a permanent family, partner, refugee or humanitarian visa. The Pilot offers a free, fast-tracked skills assessment for migrants with unrecognised skills in priority occupations. Applicants who receive a suitable outcome in their assessment can use this to improve their employment options in their nominated occupation, through improved employer confidence that the applicant has the skills necessary for working in an Australian workplace.

You may be eligible if you:

• can apply for a skills assessment in a priority occupation on or after 28 February 2022,
• have not previously undergone a migrant skills assessment for the nominated occupation,
• are residing in Australia at the time you submit your skills assessment application, and
• are in Australia on a permanent family, partner, humanitarian or refugee visa that was granted on or after 1 January 2016.

Refer to the Pilot 2 - Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Applicant Guidelines (SAOM Pilot Application Guidelines) for further information.

         You are not eligible for the SAOM if you:

• are currently residing in a country other than Australia
• have previously undergone a migrant skills assessment, including an unsuccessful outcome
• you are the primary holder of a skilled migration visa
• applying for a 485 visa - please refer to the Job Ready Program on the TRA website

A successful Skills Assessment outcome letter issued through the SAOM Pilot can be shown to employers to improve their confidence that the applicant has the skills necessary for working in an Australian workplace.

Note employers may undertake their own verification and further documentation requests.

No. A successful SAOM Outcome can be used for employment purposes only. It is not suitable for migration purposes.

TRA generally aims to finalise your SAOM assessment in 15 business days. Your application can only be fast tracked if all the available documents are submitted as decision ready. If TRA needs to contact you for additional evidence to complete your assessment and if verifications are required, this will lead to delays with your assessment outcome.

To determine your eligibility for a free skills assessment you must first read through the eligibility requirements found in (SAOM Pilot Application Guidelines) on the TRA website.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be required to complete the SAOM Pilot application form, employer templates/self-employment templates (where applicable) and submit them along with your supporting evidence via email to SAOM Pilot Inbox There is no provision to lodge a SAOM Pilot application through TRA’s online portal.

Once your documents have been received by email and registered, TRA will issue you with an email acknowledgement.

No. An English language test is not required for the SAOM Pilot.

No. You will not be able to apply for the SAOM Pilot if you have already had a migrant skills assessment for your nominated occupation, even if your assessment was unsuccessful.

No. A successful skills assessment under the SAOM Pilot is not intended for specific qualification recognition purposes, however it can be used for employment purposes.

Yes. If you wish to apply for a review of your unsuccessful SAOM Pilot outcome you will be required to pay a fee.

The SAOM Pilot is a subsidised service with no fee charged to applicants for the skills assessment. TRA does charge fees for a skills assessment review or Technical and Practical reassessment components.

Information on SAOM Fees can be found in Section 1.5 of the SAOM Applicant Guidelines. 

Information on how to apply for a review will be included in your unsuccessful outcome letter.

More information regarding the review process and fee requirements are outlined in the SAOM Pilot Applicant Guidelines. 

Please contact TRA at SAOM Pilot Inbox if you wish to apply for a reassessment.

More information regarding the eligibility and assessment requirements can be found in the SAOM Pilot Applicant Guidelines on the TRA website.