Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) Skills Assessment
Trades Recognition Australia sits within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and assesses trade and associate professional occupations under the Migration Regulations 1994. It runs six skills assessment programs, with fees from $130 to $5,320 depending on the program and pathway. This guide explains which one applies to you.
The program is determined by your occupation and the visa you are pursuing. Licensed trades seeking permanent residence must use the Offshore Skills Assessment Program. Skills in Demand (subclass 482) electricians must use the TSS Skills Assessment Program. Subclass 485 graduates start with the Provisional Skills Assessment and progress to the Job Ready Program. Other applicants in TRA occupations on the MLTSSL or STSOL use the Migration Skills Assessment. The Migration Points Advice follows a successful assessment for points-tested visas.
Holders of a successful TRA skills assessment applying for a points-tested independent skilled visa
$450
About 120 days
The six TRA skills assessment programs
Migration Skills Assessment (MSA)
The Migration Skills Assessment is a documentary assessment of qualifications and employment against Australian standards, for applicants in a TRA occupation on the MLTSSL or STSOL. The fee is $795 and processing takes approximately 120 days. The costliest traps are eligibility: it is not available to Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants, nor to the four licensed trades, and an unsuccessful outcome requires a fresh application and the full $795 fee again.
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program serves skilled migration applicants in listed offshore occupations and is compulsory for the four licensed trades seeking permanent residence. Processing takes approximately 15 weeks. Pathway 2 costs $2,020 where a relevant Australian VET qualification or unrestricted licence exists; Pathway 1 reaches $5,320 where a practical assessment is required. Licensed occupations receive an Offshore Technical Skills Record rather than the full qualification, which then requires gap training and supervised employment.
The TSS Skills Assessment Program is TRA's official program name, and it serves the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. It is compulsory for 482 applications as Electrician (General) or Electrician (Special Class). Processing takes approximately 9 weeks after complete documentary evidence. Pathway 2 costs $2,020 and Pathway 1 reaches $5,320. Reassessment must be requested within 12 months of the original outcome letter, so a missed window forces a full fresh application.
The Job Ready Program is a 12-month employment-based assessment for international student graduates of an Australian VET course working toward a skilled visa. Fees total $3,410. A successful Provisional Skills Assessment within the last three years is a compulsory prerequisite, using the same occupation. The entire program must be completed within three years of the start date, and Prior Employment can be claimed only at the Job Ready Employment application, never added later.
The Provisional Skills Assessment is the first step for recent graduates applying for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa Post-Vocational Education Work Stream, and the compulsory prerequisite for the Job Ready Program. The fee is $130 and processing takes about 12 weeks. The outcome is valid for three years. Qualifications must be issued by a CRICOS-registered RTO and must not include units granted through recognition of prior learning, a common and avoidable refusal ground.
Migration Points Advice is for applicants who already hold a successful TRA skills assessment and are applying for a points-tested independent skilled migration visa. The fee is $450 and processing takes approximately 120 days. It considers relevant work experience in the 10 years before applying. The advice does not allocate points; the Department of Home Affairs determines points. The letter states how qualifications and employment compare against Australian standards.
The wrong program is an expensive error, and several TRA fees are non-refundable. Visa Plan confirms the correct program and pathway for your occupation and visa before a single fee is paid, so a 482 applicant is not routed into the Migration Skills Assessment and a licensed trade is not routed away from the Offshore Skills Assessment Program.
Employer Template and pay evidence preparation
The Migration Skills Assessment requires an Employer Template for each employment period and specific combinations of pay evidence, with different rules for employment and self-employment, in Australia and overseas. Visa Plan prepares this evidence to the standard TRA requires, which is where incomplete applications most often fail.
Review strategy and full migration plan
A Migration Skills Assessment review must be lodged within 28 days of the outcome, and the TSS and Offshore reassessment window closes 12 months after the outcome letter. Visa Plan advises on review strategy within those windows and builds the migration plan from assessment through to visa grant.
Confirm the right TRA program before you apply
An initial conversation identifies the correct TRA program and pathway for your occupation and visa, the evidence you will need, and the cost and timeframe specific to your matter.
How much does a TRA skills assessment cost in 2026?
TRA fees range from $130 to $5,320, set by the program and pathway. The Provisional Skills Assessment is $130 and the Migration Skills Assessment is $795. The Job Ready Program totals $3,410. The TSS and Offshore programs reach $5,320 on Pathway 1 where a practical assessment is required, or $2,020 on Pathway 2. Migration Points Advice is $450.
How long does a TRA skills assessment take?
Processing time depends on the program. The TSS Skills Assessment Program takes approximately 9 weeks after complete documentary evidence, and the Offshore Skills Assessment Program approximately 15 weeks. The Provisional Skills Assessment takes about 12 weeks. The Migration Skills Assessment and Migration Points Advice each take approximately 120 days. The Job Ready Program runs over a minimum of 12 months of employment.
Which TRA program do I need for my visa?
The correct program depends on your occupation and visa. Licensed trades seeking permanent residence use the Offshore Skills Assessment Program. Skills in Demand (subclass 482) electricians use the TSS Skills Assessment Program. Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants start with the Provisional Skills Assessment and then complete the Job Ready Program. Other applicants in TRA occupations on the MLTSSL or STSOL use the Migration Skills Assessment.
Do electricians and plumbers have to use the Offshore Skills Assessment Program?
For permanent migration, yes. The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is compulsory for the four licensed occupations seeking permanent residence: Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Plumber (General), and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. For a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) application, electricians must instead use the TSS Skills Assessment Program, which is compulsory for that visa.
Can I use the Migration Skills Assessment for a subclass 482 or 485 visa?
No. The Migration Skills Assessment is not available to Skills in Demand (subclass 482) applicants or to Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants. It also excludes the four licensed occupations and applicants routed to the Offshore Skills Assessment Program. Subclass 482 applicants use the TSS Skills Assessment Program, and subclass 485 applicants begin with the Provisional Skills Assessment.
What happens if my TRA skills assessment is unsuccessful?
For the Migration Skills Assessment, reapplication requires a new application and the full $795 fee. The TSS and Offshore programs allow a review at $700 per stage and a reassessment within 12 months of the original outcome letter, with reassessment fees that vary by stage. A Provisional Skills Assessment review is $130. The right strategy before reapplying protects both time and cost.
How much work experience do I need for a TRA assessment without formal qualifications?
Under the TSS and Offshore programs, Pathway 1 applicants without formal training need six years in a licensed trade or five years in a non-licensed trade. With formal training, the thresholds fall to four years for a licensed trade and three years for a non-licensed trade. Experience must be full-time paid or equivalent.
Is the Provisional Skills Assessment compulsory for the Job Ready Program?
Yes. A successful Provisional Skills Assessment within the last three years is a compulsory prerequisite for the Job Ready Program, using the same online account and the same occupation. The Provisional Skills Assessment is the first step for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants, and the Job Ready Program follows for those working toward a permanent skilled visa.
Reviewed by Visa Plan Migration Lawyers. Last updated June 2026. Figures are drawn from the Trades Recognition Australia Program Guidelines, May 2026 editions. Fees and processing times are set by TRA and are subject to change. Verify the current figures with Trades Recognition Australia at tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au before applying. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
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