An Expression of Interest (EOI) is your first step toward Australian skilled migration. Before you can apply for a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 visa, you need to submit an EOI through SkillSelect. This tells the Australian Government you have the skills they're looking for and puts you in the pool for invitation rounds.

Many skilled workers make critical mistakes during this stage that cost them months or even their chance at permanent residency. Understanding the EOI process, calculating your points accurately, and avoiding common errors can make the difference between receiving an invitation and waiting indefinitely.

What Is an Expression of Interest

An EOI is an online form you submit through the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system. It's not a visa application. Think of it as raising your hand to say you're interested in migrating to Australia based on your skills.

The EOI collects information about your age, work experience, qualifications, English language ability, and other factors that contribute to your points score. This information helps the Department and state governments assess whether you meet the requirements for skilled migration.

Once submitted, your EOI sits in the SkillSelect pool. The Department and states review EOIs regularly during invitation rounds. If your points score and occupation match what Australia needs, you'll receive an invitation to apply for a visa.

Actually, submitting an EOI is completely free. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't charge any fee for creating or submitting an EOI. You only pay visa application fees after receiving an invitation.

Which Visas Require an EOI

You must submit an EOI before applying for these skilled migration visas:

Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) - A permanent visa that doesn't require sponsorship or nomination. You can live anywhere in Australia. This is the most competitive pathway, with most successful applicants having 85+ points.

Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) - A permanent visa requiring state or territory nomination. You commit to living in the nominating state for two years. State nomination requirements vary significantly.

Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) - A provisional visa requiring regional state nomination or family sponsorship. You must live in regional Australia for three years before becoming eligible for permanent residency through Subclass 191.

You can submit multiple EOIs for different visa subclasses. Many applicants submit EOIs for 189, 190, and 491 simultaneously to maximize their chances. You can also submit separate EOIs for different occupations if you have valid skills assessments for multiple occupations.

Step-by-Step EOI Submission Process

Step 1: Check Your Occupation Is Listed

Your occupation must appear on a relevant skilled occupation list. The 189 visa requires your occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The 190 and 491 visas can include occupations from the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or state-specific lists.

Check the current skilled occupation list before proceeding. Your occupation determines which visas you can apply for and which states might nominate you.

Step 2: Get Your Skills Assessment

You need a valid skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation before submitting your EOI. This assessment confirms your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards.

Different occupations have different assessing authorities. Engineers go through Engineers Australia, accountants through CPA Australia or CAANZ, and trades workers through TRA. Skills assessments typically cost between $500-$1,500 and take 6-12 weeks to process.

Step 3: Take Your English Test

You need competent English as a minimum, but higher scores give you more points. The Department accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and other approved tests.

Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band) gives you zero points. Proficient English (IELTS 7 in each band) adds 10 points. Superior English (IELTS 8 in each band) adds 20 points. The difference between proficient and superior English represents 10 points, which can make or break your invitation chances.

For current PTE requirements, scores have recently changed. Always check official requirements before booking your test.

Step 4: Calculate Your Points

Use the official points calculator to work out your score. The minimum is 65 points, but this is rarely enough to receive an invitation.

In recent invitation rounds conducted in August 2025, most occupations required 85-110 points for Subclass 189 invitations. Some trade occupations received invitations at 65 points, but these were exceptions. Understanding why 65 points isn't enough anymore helps set realistic expectations.

Step 5: Create Your SkillSelect Account

Visit the SkillSelect website and create an account. You'll receive an email with your EOI ID and login details.

Save your progress frequently. The system times out after periods of inactivity, and you don't want to lose information you've already entered.

Step 6: Complete Your EOI

Enter all required information accurately. Include your skills assessment details, English test results, employment history, and qualifications. The system calculates your indicative points score as you enter information.

Be conservative with your claims. Only claim points for things you can prove with documentation. Many applicants lose invitations because they claimed points they couldn't substantiate later.

Step 7: Review and Submit

Double-check every detail before submitting. Look for spelling errors, wrong dates, incorrect occupation codes, and miscalculated points. Once you submit, your EOI enters the pool and remains active for two years.

Common EOI Mistakes That Cause Refusals

Wrong occupation code selection represents one of the most damaging errors. Your EOI occupation must exactly match your skills assessment occupation. Using a similar but different occupation code results in automatic refusal.

Incorrect points calculation happens frequently. Applicants claim points for work experience that doesn't meet the skilled employment criteria or for qualifications the Department won't recognize. When invited and unable to prove claimed points, the visa gets refused.

Inconsistent information between your EOI and supporting documents creates problems. If your EOI says you worked somewhere from 2018-2023 but your employment reference says 2019-2023, the Department questions everything you've claimed.

Gaps in employment history without explanation raise red flags. Account for every period in your work history, even unemployment or gaps between jobs.

Not updating your EOI when circumstances change costs people invitations. If you turn 33 (dropping from 30 to 25 age points) but forget to update your EOI, you get invited based on incorrect points. When you lodge the visa application, the Department uses your age at invitation, discovers the discrepancy, and refuses your visa.

Claiming partner points incorrectly happens often. Your partner must have competent English, a valid skills assessment, and an occupation on the same skilled occupation list you're using. Missing any requirement means you can't claim those points.

What Happens After You Submit

Your EOI sits in the SkillSelect pool along with thousands of others. The Department conducts invitation rounds regularly, usually every two weeks for Subclass 189 visas.

During each round, the Department ranks all EOIs by points score. Higher scores get invited first. If multiple people have the same points, the Department uses the "date of effect" as a tiebreaker. This means the EOI that reached that points score earliest gets invited first.

You won't receive updates unless you're invited. Log in periodically to check your status and update information if needed. You can see your EOI status, points score, and whether it's suspended or active.

States also review EOIs when selecting candidates for nomination. Each state has different selection criteria and processes. Some send invitations directly, others require you to submit a separate Registration of Interest through their system.

If you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application. This deadline is strict. Missing it means you lose the invitation and must wait for another one.

During this 60-day period, you need to gather all supporting documents, complete health examinations, obtain police clearances, and submit a complete application. Many people underestimate how much work this involves.

EOI Validity and Updates

Your EOI remains valid for two years from the date you create it. After two years, it automatically suspends. You need to create a new EOI if you still want to be considered for skilled migration.

You can update your EOI anytime before receiving an invitation. In fact, you should update it whenever your circumstances change. Got a higher English score? Update immediately. Completed another year of work experience? Add it. These updates can increase your points and improve your invitation chances.

Some updates reset your date of effect. If your points increase, the date of effect changes to when you made that update. This matters because the date of effect determines your ranking among applicants with the same points score.

If your points decrease, your EOI stays in the pool but your invitation chances drop. Common reasons for point decreases include birthdays that move you to a lower age bracket or English test results expiring.

State Nomination and EOIs

State nomination adds 5 points to your score for Subclass 190 and 15 points for Subclass 491. These extra points make invitation much more likely.

States select candidates based on their own priorities and criteria. Victoria might prioritize healthcare workers currently living in Melbourne. South Australia might focus on offshore applicants in engineering. State nomination requirements change regularly based on labor market needs.

Some states require you to submit a separate Registration of Interest (ROI) in addition to your SkillSelect EOI. Others review SkillSelect EOIs directly and send invitations to apply for nomination.

Research which states nominate your occupation. Not every state nominates every occupation, even if it's on their list. Check state websites for current occupation lists, priority areas, and application processes.

How Long Does It Take

The wait time depends on your points score, occupation, and whether you're pursuing state nomination.

For Subclass 189, high-demand occupations like registered nurses with 95+ points might receive invitations within weeks. Accountants with 85 points might wait 12-18 months or never receive an invitation.

Trade occupations in August 2025 invitation rounds received invitations at 65 points minimum. This included carpenters, gasfitters, joiners, and plumbers, reflecting critical skills shortages in construction.

State nomination timelines vary dramatically. Some states respond within 4-6 weeks. Others take 3-6 months. Visa processing times provide context, but nomination wait times are separate.

Getting Professional Help

The EOI might seem simple, but small mistakes have big consequences. A registered migration agent can review your situation, calculate your points accurately, identify the best pathway for your circumstances, and help you avoid errors that lead to refusals.

At Desire Immigration, Mrs. Manisha Bhutani (MARN 2217756) specializes in skilled migration. We've helped thousands of applicants successfully navigate the EOI process, secure state nominations, and achieve permanent residency.

We can assess your eligibility, review your EOI before submission, develop a strategy to maximize your points, and guide you through the entire skilled migration journey from EOI to visa grant.

Contact us at any of our three Melbourne offices in Truganina, St Albans, or the CBD for a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions (AEO)

How long does an Expression of Interest take to be invited?

There's no set timeframe. It depends on your points score, occupation demand, and visa pathway. High points scores (95+) in priority occupations might receive invitations within weeks. Lower scores or less in-demand occupations could wait 12-24 months or not receive invitations at all.

Can I submit multiple EOIs for different visa types?

Yes. You can submit separate EOIs for Subclass 189, 190, and 491 simultaneously. You can also submit multiple EOIs if you have valid skills assessments for different occupations. This maximizes your chances of receiving an invitation.

What happens if I make a mistake in my EOI?

You can update your EOI anytime before receiving an invitation. If you discover an error after being invited, contact the Department immediately. Minor inadvertent errors might be corrected if your corrected score would still have resulted in an invitation. Major errors or false claims lead to visa refusal.

Do I need to pay for an Expression of Interest?

No. Submitting an EOI through SkillSelect is completely free. You only pay visa application fees after receiving an invitation. Be cautious of anyone charging fees to "submit your EOI" as this is a government system anyone can access for free.