Employment in Australia
An Employer Template form per period, plus at least 2 of:
- Income statements or notices of assessment
- Payslips
- Superannuation documents
- Bank statements
Trades Recognition Australia
TRA Migration Skills Assessment (MSA)
The Migration Skills Assessment is a documentary assessment of qualifications and employment against Australian standards, run by Trades Recognition Australia for occupations on the MLTSSL or STSOL. The fee is $795 and processing takes about 120 days.
Fee
$795
Per application
Processing
About 120 days
From complete evidence
Who it is for
MLTSSL or STSOL occupations with TRA as assessing authority
Not subclass 482, 485 or licensed trades
Official Website
tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.auWho is eligible for the Migration Skills Assessment?
You are eligible for the Migration Skills Assessment when your occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) with TRA as the assessing authority, and your qualification and employment are directly relevant to that occupation. The assessment is documentary: TRA assesses your qualifications and your employment history against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
You may apply when
- Your occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL with TRA as the assessing authority.
- Your qualification is directly relevant to the nominated occupation.
- Your employment is directly relevant to the nominated occupation.
You cannot use the MSA if
- You are routed to the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) by country or occupation.
- Your occupation is one of the four licensed trades: Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), or Plumber (General).
- You are a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicant.
- You are a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) applicant.
A successful assessment supports skilled migration including the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Applicants applying for a points-tested independent visa often follow the assessment with Migration Points Advice.
What does the Migration Skills Assessment cost?
The Migration Skills Assessment application fee is $795. A review of an outcome costs $610 and must be requested within 28 days of the assessment outcome. This program has no discounted reassessment, so an unsuccessful outcome that is not reviewed within the window can only be addressed by a fresh application at the full $795 fee.
| Fee | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Migration Skills Assessment application | $795 | Charged on each application, including any reapplication after an unsuccessful outcome |
| Review of an outcome | $610 | Must be requested within 28 days of the assessment outcome |
| Reapplication after an unsuccessful outcome | $795 | A fresh application and the full application fee again, not a discounted reassessment |
How does the Migration Skills Assessment process work?
The process is a documentary assessment with five steps, from confirming eligibility to receiving the outcome. Processing of about 120 days runs from the point complete evidence is provided, so assembling the full evidence set before lodging is what keeps the timeframe on track.
Step 1
Confirm eligibility
Verify the occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL with TRA as the assessing authority, and that no exclusion applies.
Step 2
Gather evidence
Collect qualification documents, an Employer Template form for each employment period, and the required pay evidence.
Step 3
Prepare documents
Provide full-colour PDF files at a minimum of 150 dpi and a maximum of 10MB each. Non-English documents need NAATI-accredited translation.
Step 4
Lodge and pay
Submit the application and pay the $795 fee. The 120-day processing period runs from the point complete evidence is provided.
Step 5
Receive the outcome
A review may be requested within 28 days of the outcome for $610. A reapplication requires a new application and the full $795 fee.
What evidence does the Migration Skills Assessment require?
Every employment period needs an Employer Template form plus pay evidence, and the accepted combinations differ for employment and self-employment, in Australia and overseas. The Employer Template form is the TRA-issued document a referee completes to confirm the duties and dates of each role.
Employment overseas
An Employer Template form per period, plus at least 2 of:
- Official tax records
- Official government employment documents
- 3 payslips
- Superannuation documents
- Bank statements
Self-employment in Australia
At least 3 of:
- ABN
- Financial statements
- Invoices
- Bank statements
- BAS
- Tax returns
- Notice of assessment
- Accountant statement
Self-employment overseas
At least 3 of:
- Business registration
- Licences
- Annual returns
- Invoices
- Bank statements
- Accountant statement
- Tax documents
Document and counting rules
- Part-time work is counted pro-rata: 20 hours per week over 2 years equals 12 months full-time.
- Documents must be full-colour PDF, a minimum of 150 dpi, and a maximum of 10MB each.
- Non-English documents require NAATI-accredited translation in Australia, or translation approved by the correct authority in the country of translation.
What are the common traps and refusal causes?
Most avoidable failures come from applying under the wrong program, submitting an incomplete pay-evidence combination, missing the 28-day review window, or offering documents that TRA does not accept as qualification substitutes. Each carries a real cost because the full $795 fee is charged again on reapplication.
Applying under the wrong program
The Migration Skills Assessment is not available to Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants, nor to the four licensed trades. Confirming the correct program before paying avoids a wasted fee and a wasted 120 days.
Incomplete pay-evidence combinations
Each employment period needs an Employer Template form and the correct minimum number of pay documents from the accepted set. A single missing document holds processing because the 120-day clock runs only from complete evidence.
Missing the 28-day review window
A review must be requested within 28 days of the outcome for $610. Once that window closes, the only route is a fresh application at the full $795 fee, so the calendar matters as much as the merits.
Documents not accepted as qualification substitutes
TRA does not accept occupational licences, trade tests without verifiable formal training, short course certificates, unpaid work experience, or incomplete qualifications and statements of attainment in place of a qualification.
Confirm your eligibility before you pay the $795 fee
An initial conversation confirms whether the Migration Skills Assessment is the correct program for your occupation and visa, identifies the exact pay evidence your employment history requires, and sets out the cost and timeframe for your matter.
Speak with a Migration LawyerCommon questions about the Migration Skills Assessment
How much does the TRA Migration Skills Assessment cost in 2026?
The Migration Skills Assessment costs $795 for the application. A review of an outcome costs $610 and must be requested within 28 days of the outcome. There is no discounted reassessment for this program, so a reapplication after an unsuccessful outcome requires a new application and the full $795 fee again. Fees are set by Trades Recognition Australia and are subject to change.
How long does the Migration Skills Assessment take?
The Migration Skills Assessment takes approximately 120 days to process. This timeframe begins once complete documentary evidence has been provided, so missing pay evidence or an incomplete Employer Template form for any employment period extends the wait. Trades Recognition Australia is the assessing authority and publishes current processing times at tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au.
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 any applicant routed to the Offshore Skills Assessment Program by country or occupation. Selecting this program when one of those exclusions applies wastes both the fee and the processing time.
Which occupations cannot use the Migration Skills Assessment?
Four licensed occupations cannot use the Migration Skills Assessment: Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), and Plumber (General). Applicants routed to the Offshore Skills Assessment Program by country or occupation are also excluded, as are Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants. The occupation must sit on the MLTSSL or STSOL with TRA as the assessing authority.
What pay evidence does TRA require for the Migration Skills Assessment?
TRA requires an Employer Template form for each employment period plus pay evidence. For employment in Australia, provide at least two of: income statements or notices of assessment, payslips, superannuation documents, or bank statements. For overseas employment, provide at least two of: official tax records, official government employment documents, three payslips, superannuation documents, or bank statements. Self-employment carries its own combinations requiring at least three documents.
What happens if my Migration Skills Assessment is unsuccessful?
You may request a review within 28 days of the outcome for $610, or reapply with a new application and the full $795 fee. There is no discounted reassessment for this program. Because the cost is repeated in full on reapplication, correcting the evidence before reapplying protects both time and money. Acting within the 28-day review window preserves the lower-cost option.
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.