Applying for a skilled visa

​​Get your skilled visa application right the first time. Avoid common mistakes that can delay your application or lead to a refusal.

If your visa application has all the information and documents we need, you will get a faster outcome. It is important you check it twice before submitting.

Tips for a decision-read​​​​y application

Health examinations

Go to the Home Affairs visa subclass webpage and follow the step-by-step guide.

Complete your health examination at the right time. You may be eligible for an early health examination.

If the visa you want to apply for does not appear in the ‘My Health Declarations’ form, you will need to apply for the visa before you complete your health examinations.

If you complete it early, include your Health Assessment Program identification number (HAP ID) in your application. Health examination results are generally valid for 12 months.

Police​​ certificates

You must give us police certificates for you and your family members aged over 16 years old. Include certificates for every country where you’ve lived for 12 months in the past 10 years since turning 16. Learn more about meeting our character requirements.

If the police certificate is not in English, you must also give us a certified copy of the translation.

English lang​​uage documents

Include evidence of your English language proficiency. Read more information about English language requirements.

Residential hist​​ory and travel history

Declare your full residential and travel history for the past 10 years.

Identity docum​​​ents

Give us identity documents for all family members and proof of their relationship with you. Visit your visa subclass web page and click on the step-by-step tab for help.

Employer sponso​​red skilled visas

Check that you and your employer have provided all of the required information. Remember:

• your employer must make a nomination application before you apply for your visa. We will provide a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) once your employer makes the nomination. Ask your employer for the TRN and enter it correctly in your visa application.
• you can, but don’t need to submit your visa application at the same time your employer makes their nomination. We often process nominations and visa applications made together at the same time. This shortens overall wait time. You should collect all required documents and apply for your visa as soon as possible. You don’t need to wait for an outcome from the nomination before you apply. If you make a complete application, this will help you get a timely outcome. If you make an incomplete application, this may delay an outcome.
• we may ask you to provide a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation. You must provide evidence of this assessment with your visa application. See skills assessments.

Employmen​​t history

Give us detailed proof of your employment history with your application. This may include:

• 3 months of bank statements
• payslips
• tax statements.

A work reference alone is not enough to prove your work history.

Name ac​​curacy

Check the spelling of your name and that it matches the passport you are using for your application. Make sure there are no errors, and that you include all previous names you’ve used.

If you have changed your name you must provide evidence of your name change. This can include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
• documents that show other names you have been known by.

Document tra​​​nslation

Translate all non-English documents into English.

If translated in Australia, include the translator’s National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) practitioner number

If translated outside Australia, include the translator’s full name, address, phone number and qualifications.

Valid passp​​ort

Your visa can only be granted if your passport is valid. Your application may be delayed if your passport is expired or near expiry. Provide up to date passport details in your visa application or in your ImmiAccount.

Polio vacci​nation

Give us evidence of a current polio vaccination certificate if you are travelling from, or have spent time in, a country considered at risk. For more information, see our Threats to public health page.

Missi​​ng documents

If you can’t provide requested documents, explain why in your application.

ImmiAcc​​ount – your gateway to an Australian visa

To apply for a skilled visa you will need an ImmiAccount.

When creating your account:

• choose to receive messages from us, including application updates
• check your ImmiAccount regularly for updates and requests for more information.

Use your ImmiAccount to:

• track your application progress
• add documents or information to your application
• update your contact details.

Help with​​ your visa application

If you need help with your visa application use a registered migration agent, a practising lawyer or someone authorised to provide immigration help. Learn more about who can help with your visa application.