The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is an assessment that determines whether you can work in Australia at the required skill level for your Nominated Occupation. We work with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to carry out this assessment.
The Program is a skills assessment for people applying for a skilled migration visa to Australia who:
• Work in a nominated occupation from the Offshore Skills Assessment Occupation List.
• Hold a current and valid passport from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR) from the Offshore Skills Assessment Country List.
• Have relevant work experience in their Nominated Occupation.
If your Nominated Occupation is in the Offshore Skills Assessment Occupation list, but you are not from a country in the Offshore Skills Assessment Country list, you may still choose to be assessed through this program.
The Program has 2 Pathways:
• Pathway 1 is for applicants who do not have a relevant Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
• Pathway 2 is for applicants who have a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current identified Australian occupation licence (without restrictions).
This program is compulsory if you are applying for permanent migration in the following licensed occupations:
• Electrician (General)
• Electrician (Special Class)
• Plumber (General)
• Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Your RTO will email you the outcome of your application approximately 15 weeks after submitting your complete documentary evidence. You must complete each step before you can move on to the next.
Processing times may vary – they are a guide only and are subject to change. Some applications may take longer to be finalised.
To apply for this program, you will need to:
• Be employed or recently employed in your Nominated Occupation and have proof of employment.
• Be from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR).
• Have a current passport.
• Be able to travel to an approved assessment venue if required.
Process
The Offshore Skills Assessment is done by a TRA-approved RTO who will recommend an assessment outcome. This outcome will then need to be approved by TRA.
You will need to use the RTO Finder to search for your Nominated Occupation, then choose a corresponding RTO.
Once you have chosen your RTO, you will need to contact them directly. They will check your eligibility, your overall requirements and tell you what evidence you need to provide.
They will also provide you with a unique RTO Assessment Payment Identifier Code. You will need to obtain a Payment Identifier Code for each step of the assessment process.
The total cost to complete this program is up to $5,320 for Pathway 1 and $2,020 for Pathway 2.
Pathway 1
| Assessment Service | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Documentary Evidence | $1,120 |
| Technical Interview | $2,000 |
| Practical Assessment (if required) | $2,200 |
| Total | $5,320 |
Pathway 2
| Assessment Service | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Documentary Evidence | $1,120 |
| Technical Interview | $900 |
| Total | $2,020 |
Once you have a Payment Identifier Code from your chosen RTO, you can make payment through our
Online Portal
.
For more information about the payment process, visit the
Applicant Payment User Guide
.
All costs are in Australian dollars (AUD). More information about fees, including any additional assessment fees (if required), reviews and refunds is in the Migration Skills Assessment Program Guidelines.
Before you apply, there are a few things you should do:
• Check with Home Affairs that your visa pathway needs a skills assessment.
• Use the Pathfinder tool to check if this Program is right for you.
• Read the Offshore Skills Assessment Program Guidelines carefully.
The Offshore Skills Assessment is done by one of our approved RTOs who will recommend an assessment outcome. This outcome will then need to be approved by us.
You will need to use the RTO Finder to search for your Nominated Occupation, then choose a corresponding RTO.
Once you have chosen your RTO, you will need to contact them directly. They will check your eligibility, your overall requirements and tell you what evidence you need to provide.
They will also provide you with a unique RTO Assessment Payment Identifier Code. You will need to obtain a Payment Identifier Code for each step of the assessment process using our Online Portal.
Your chosen RTO will guide you through the documents you need to submit at each stage of your application.
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program Guidelines will help you understand how the program works, who can apply, and what it costs. It also provides information about authorising a person or migration agent to act on your behalf.
Please read the Program Guidelines before you apply so you know what to expect.
If you still need help, you can look at our Frequently Asked Questions or you can call our Enquiry Line:
Phone (in Australia): 1300 360 992
Phone (outside Australia): +61 2 6240 8778
Our Enquiry Line is available Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.