From EOI in SkillSelect to visa application in ImmiAccount

How SkillSelect and ImmiAccount connect

SkillSelect and ImmiAccount are separate systems maintained by the Department. SkillSelect handles EOIs — it is where you enter your skills, qualifications, work experience, and nominated occupation to express interest in a skilled visa. ImmiAccount is the transactional platform where you actually lodge, pay for, and manage visa applications.

The two systems connect at the invitation stage. When you are invited through SkillSelect, you receive a notification that includes a link or reference directing you to ImmiAccount to begin your visa application. Your EOI reference number carries across so that the application in ImmiAccount is linked to the EOI that generated the invitation.

You use the same email address for both systems, but the accounts are technically separate. Your SkillSelect password and your ImmiAccount password may be different, and each has its own login page.

Submitting an EOI

To submit an EOI, you create a SkillSelect account (if you do not already have one) and complete the online form. The EOI captures:

- Personal details (name, date of birth, citizenship)
- Nominated occupation and relevant skills assessment reference
- English language test results
- Work experience details
- Education qualifications
- State or territory nomination details (if applicable)

Once submitted, your EOI enters the pool and is ranked against other EOIs based on a points score. You can update your EOI at any time before receiving an invitation — changes take effect immediately and may alter your ranking.

EOIs remain in the pool for two years from the date of submission. If no invitation is received within that period, the EOI expires and you would need to submit a new one.

What happens when you receive an invitation

When the Department runs an invitation round, qualifying EOIs are selected based on points score and occupation ceilings. If your EOI is selected, several things happen at once:

1. You receive an invitation notification in SkillSelect, typically by email and visible in your SkillSelect dashboard.
2. Your EOI status changes to "Invited."
3. A 60-day countdown begins. You have exactly 60 days from the date of invitation to lodge a valid visa application in ImmiAccount.
4. Your EOI is suspended. While invited, you cannot modify the EOI or submit a new one for the same visa subclass.

The 60-day window is strict. If you do not lodge by the deadline, the invitation lapses, your EOI returns to the pool (with the status changed back to "Submitted"), and you must wait for another invitation round.

EOI suspended status

Once an invitation is issued, SkillSelect marks your EOI as suspended. This means:

- You cannot edit the EOI details.
- You cannot withdraw the EOI while invited (it must either be actioned by lodging an application or allowed to lapse).
- The EOI does not appear in subsequent invitation rounds while suspended.

If the invitation lapses (because you did not lodge within 60 days), the EOI returns to "Submitted" status and re-enters the pool with its original submission date. Note that the two-year EOI validity continues to count from the original submission date — it is not reset by the invitation.

Starting the visa application in ImmiAccount

Once you have received an invitation, log in to ImmiAccount to begin the visa application. The process is:

1. Log in to ImmiAccount at `online.immi.gov.au`. If you do not have an account, create one immediately — the 60-day clock is already running.
2. Select "New application" and choose the visa subclass you were invited to apply for (e.g., subclass 189, 190, or 491).
3. Enter your SkillSelect EOI reference number when prompted. This links your visa application to the EOI and verifies that you hold a valid, current invitation.
4. Complete the application forms. You will need to provide detailed personal, employment, education, and character information — much of which overlaps with what you entered in your EOI.
5. Upload supporting documents. Follow the standard ImmiAccount upload rules: 5 MB per file, 60 documents maximum, filenames using only A–Z, 0–9, dashes, and underscores.
6. Pay the visa application charge. Payment is made by credit or debit card through ImmiAccount at the time of submission.
7. Submit. Once submitted, the application status moves to "Submitted" and then "Received."

If any information in your visa application differs from what was in your EOI (for example, a claimed qualification that cannot be supported with evidence), this may affect the assessment.

MFA extended to SkillSelect from July 2025

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has been mandatory for ImmiAccount since 18 June 2025. From July 2025, MFA was extended to cover SkillSelect and EOI submissions as well. This means you now need an authenticator app or other MFA method configured not only for ImmiAccount but also for your SkillSelect login.

Set up MFA on both systems before you need them. If you are locked out of either system due to MFA issues, account recovery can take time — and the 60-day invitation window does not pause while you regain access. See the ImmiAccount guide for MFA setup instructions; the SkillSelect MFA process follows a similar pattern.

If your account is locked due to failed login attempts, the lockout period is 4 hours. Plan ahead to avoid being locked out during the final days of your invitation window.