SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) Australia: Complete 2026 Guide

What Is an Expression of Interest?

An Expression of Interest is a declaration lodged in the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect system that registers your intent to apply for a skilled migration visa. You provide details about: your age; your English language test results; your educational qualifications; your skilled employment history (Australian and overseas); your nominated skilled occupation and skills assessment; your state or territory nomination status (if applicable). The system calculates a points score based on these inputs. Your EOI sits in a pool alongside other EOIs for the same occupation group. You do not pay a fee to lodge an EOI — it is free. An EOI remains active for 2 years from the date it is submitted. During that time, it can be updated at any time (for example, if you get a higher English test score, complete additional study, or receive state nomination — all of which change your points score).

How Invitation Rounds Work

The Department of Home Affairs conducts invitation rounds at regular intervals (typically monthly or more frequently for high-demand occupations). In each round, the Department selects the highest-scoring EOIs from the pool for each visa subclass and occupation group, and issues invitations to apply. Invitations are issued in descending score order — the highest-scoring EOIs are invited first. When multiple EOIs have the same score, the tiebreaker is the date and time the EOI was submitted — earlier submissions are preferred. This is why you should lodge your EOI as soon as you meet the minimum criteria and have your scores ready, rather than waiting. When you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application. If you do not lodge within 60 days, the invitation lapses and you must wait in the pool for another invitation.

Points Score: What Counts and What Scores Are Needed

The points test allocates points across several categories. Key categories: Age: maximum 30 points for ages 25–32; 25 points for 18–24 and 33–39; 15 points for 40–44; 0 points for 45+. English: 0 bonus points for Competent English (IELTS 6.0 all bands); 10 points for Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 all bands); 20 points for Superior English (IELTS 8.0+ all bands). Overseas skilled employment: up to 15 points for 8+ years in your nominated occupation. Australian skilled employment: up to 20 points for 8+ years. Educational qualifications: 20 points for PhD; 15 points for bachelor or masters; 10 points for diploma. Australian study requirement (2 academic years in Australia): 5 points. STEM credential: 10 points. Specialist educational qualification: 5 points. Credentialled community language: 5 points. Partner skills: 10 points if your partner has competent English and a positive skills assessment. State/territory nomination (for 190): +5 points. What scores are actually needed? This changes constantly depending on occupation demand. Current typical invitation scores range from 65 (minimum, very rare) up to 110+ for congested occupations in the 189 pool. For the 190 with state nomination, 70–90 points covers most occupations. Check the Department's SkillSelect invitation data for current rounds.

Skills Assessment: The Prerequisite Before You Lodge

Before you can lodge an EOI, you must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. The assessing authority is the body designated by the Department to assess whether your qualifications and work experience meet the Australian standard for that occupation. Common assessing authorities: Engineers Australia (engineering occupations); VETASSESS (a wide range of professional and technical occupations); ACS (ICT occupations); AIPT and TRA (trades); ANMAC (nursing); Australian Institute of Social Work; Pharmacy Board; and others. Each assessing authority has its own requirements, evidence standards, documentation requirements, and processing times. Processing times range from 2 weeks to 6+ months depending on the authority and current demand. Starting your skills assessment early is critical — it is the most common bottleneck in the skilled migration timeline.

How to Maximise Your EOI Score

Several actions can significantly increase your points score before or after lodging your EOI: Take an English test (or retake it). The jump from Competent (6.0 all bands) to Proficient (7.0 all bands) = +10 points. The jump from Proficient to Superior (8.0+ all bands) = another +10 points. PTE Academic is often preferred by test-takers looking for a higher score — preparation matters. Apply for state or territory nomination for the 190. +5 points from nomination, plus states sometimes nominate occupations not currently receiving invitations in the 189 pool. Accumulate more Australian work experience. Each additional year in Australia in your nominated occupation adds points toward the 8-year maximum. Consider a regional area for 491 nomination, which adds 15 points instead of 5. Include your partner's skills assessment and English results if they qualify. This adds 10 points if both conditions are met. Update your EOI immediately when any circumstance changes — new test score, additional years of experience, nomination.

How long does it take to get an invitation after lodging an EOI?

It depends entirely on your occupation and points score. For some occupations, high-scoring EOIs are invited in the next monthly round — days to weeks. For congested occupations with many high-scoring candidates, a wait of 6–18 months or longer is possible. Some occupations are rarely or never invited at current program settings.

Can I have multiple EOIs open at once?

Yes. You can have EOIs open for 189, 190, and 491 simultaneously (and for the same or different nominated occupations). This is recommended — invite whichever invitation comes first.

What happens if my EOI expires without an invitation?

Your EOI expires after 2 years if no invitation is issued. You must lodge a new EOI — your queue position resets. If your score has improved in the intervening period, a new EOI may perform better.

Do I need a migration agent to lodge an EOI?

No — you can lodge an EOI yourself through the SkillSelect portal. However, a migration agent can ensure your EOI accurately captures all available points (particularly for complex work history or mixed education), calculate your current score against other occupations you might be eligible for, and advise on whether now is the right time to lodge based on current invitation data.