Skills assessment for Australian skilled and employer-sponsored visas: summary

A skills assessment is issued by the authority that Home Affairs names for each occupation, not by Home Affairs itself. You need one before lodging a points-tested expression of interest and, unless exempt, for the 186 Direct Entry and 494 Employer Sponsored streams. Get the ANZSCO occupation right first, because the assessment must match the occupation you are nominated in.

The process in brief: Confirm the ANZSCO occupation → Find the assessing authority → Gather evidence → Apply online and pay → Assessment → Use the outcome.

Full guide above: requirements, costs, step-by-step process and FAQs, checked against official government sources.