Trades Recognition Australia
Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is the Trades Recognition Australia program for skilled migration applicants in listed offshore occupations, and it is compulsory for the four licensed trades seeking permanent residence. It assesses skills against the Australian Qualifications Framework and ANZSCO, costs $2,020 to $5,320 by pathway, and takes approximately 15 weeks after complete documentary evidence. This guide explains eligibility, fees, the process and the Offshore Technical Skills Record.
Fee
$2,020 to $5,320
By pathway, plus practical if required
Processing
About 15 weeks
After complete documentary evidence
Who it is for
Skilled migration applicants in listed offshore occupations
Compulsory for the four licensed trades
Who is eligible for the Offshore Skills Assessment Program?
You are eligible if your occupation appears on the Offshore Skills Assessment Occupation List and you hold a passport from a listed country or Special Administrative Region (SAR). Applicants whose occupation is listed but whose country is not listed may opt in to the program. The assessment measures your qualifications and employment against the Australian Qualifications Framework and ANZSCO, and is delivered by a TRA-approved Registered Training Organisation, with Trades Recognition Australia approving the recommended outcome.
Compulsory for the four licensed trades
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is compulsory for permanent migration in the four licensed occupations. These trades cannot substitute another TRA program for a permanent skilled visa.
- Electrician (General)
- Electrician (Special Class)
- Plumber (General)
- Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Listed country, or opt in
Eligibility combines occupation and passport. The standard route requires both your occupation to be on the Offshore Skills Assessment Occupation List and your passport to be from a listed country or SAR.
If your occupation is listed but your country is not, you may opt in to the program. The Offshore Skills Assessment Program supports skilled visas such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).
What does the Offshore Skills Assessment Program cost?
The fee turns on your pathway. Pathway 2 applies where you hold a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current identified Australian occupation licence without restrictions, and totals $2,020. Pathway 1 applies where you hold no relevant Australian VET qualification, and reaches up to $5,320 once a Practical Assessment is required. The fees, pathways and review and reassessment rules are identical to the TSS Skills Assessment Program.
| Stage or fee | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pathway 1: Documentary Evidence stage | No relevant Australian VET qualification held | $1,120 |
| Pathway 1: Technical Interview stage | Conducted online with an invigilator | $2,000 |
| Pathway 1: Practical Assessment stage | Charged only if a practical demonstration is required | $2,200 |
| Pathway 1 total | Documentary, Technical Interview and Practical combined | Up to $5,320 |
| Pathway 2: Documentary Evidence stage | Relevant Australian VET qualification, or current unrestricted Australian occupation licence | $1,120 |
| Pathway 2: Technical Interview stage | Reduced interview stage for Pathway 2 applicants | $900 |
| Pathway 2 total | Documentary and Technical Interview combined | $2,020 |
| Review (per stage) | Review of a stage outcome | $700 |
| Reassessment: Documentary Evidence | Within 12 months of the original outcome letter | $450 |
| Reassessment: Technical Interview | Pathway 1 $1,000, Pathway 2 $450 | $450 to $1,000 |
| Reassessment: Practical Assessment | Within 12 months of the original outcome letter | $1,100 |
Reassessment must be requested within 12 months of the original outcome letter. The Pathway 1 versus Pathway 2 gap, $5,320 against $2,020, is the largest single cost variable, which is why confirming your pathway before paying any fee matters.
How does the Offshore Skills Assessment Program work?
The program runs in stages, and the assessment is delivered by a TRA-approved Registered Training Organisation while Trades Recognition Australia approves the recommended outcome. The steps below set out the standard sequence.
Step 1
Confirm occupation and pathway
Confirm your occupation is on the Offshore Skills Assessment Occupation List and identify whether you sit on Pathway 1 or Pathway 2. This decision sets the fee and the stages you will complete.
Step 2
Documentary Evidence stage
Lodge your qualifications and employment evidence for the $1,120 Documentary Evidence stage. The 15-week processing time starts once this evidence is complete, not when you first lodge.
Step 3
Technical Interview
Sit the online Technical Interview with an invigilator. It is conducted in English only, with no interpreters, on a laptop, notebook or desktop, requiring at least 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload.
Step 4
Practical Assessment if required
Complete a Practical Assessment where one is required, at $2,200 on Pathway 1. A practical demonstration is compulsory for the licensed occupations.
Step 5
Receive your outcome
Receive the recommended outcome. A licensed occupation receives an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR). A successful Pathway 1 non-licensed outcome includes award of the relevant Australian VET qualification.
Step 6
Licensing and migration
Use an OTSR to apply for a provisional or restricted licence with state and territory licensing authorities. The full Australian VET qualification then requires Australian-context gap training and a period of supervised employment.
What experience and evidence are required?
Pathway 1 applicants must meet a minimum employment threshold, measured as full-time paid or equivalent work. The threshold falls where formal training has been completed, and is lower again for non-licensed trades. The table below sets out the Pathway 1 thresholds.
| Pathway 1 applicant | Minimum experience |
|---|---|
| Licensed trade, without formal training | 6 years |
| Licensed trade, with formal training | 4 years |
| Non-licensed trade, without formal training | 5 years |
| Non-licensed trade, with formal training | 3 years |
Experience must be full-time paid or equivalent. Pathway 2 applicants rely on a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current unrestricted Australian occupation licence rather than these thresholds.
Evidence requirements
Your evidence must establish your qualifications and your employment history against ANZSCO. Non-English documents require a NAATI-accredited translation if translated in Australia, or a translation approved by the correct authority in the country where it was translated.
- Qualification certificates and transcripts for your trade
- Employment evidence covering the relevant experience period
- Identity and passport documents establishing eligibility
- NAATI-accredited or country-approved translations of any non-English document
Common traps and refusal causes
Most avoidable failures arise from pathway, evidence and the online assessment rules rather than the substance of the trade. The points below are the most frequent.
Misjudging the pathway
Assuming Pathway 2 without a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current unrestricted Australian occupation licence pushes an applicant onto Pathway 1, where the fee can reach $5,320 rather than $2,020.
Missing the experience threshold
Falling short of the six, five, four or three year Pathway 1 threshold for the applicant type, or counting work that is not full-time paid or equivalent, undermines a Documentary Evidence submission.
Translation defects
Submitting non-English documents without a NAATI-accredited translation in Australia, or without a translation approved by the correct authority in the country of translation, is a recurring and avoidable refusal cause.
Online assessment setup
Using a phone or tablet, or failing to meet the minimum 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload, blocks the invigilated online technical assessment. A laptop, notebook or desktop is required.
Expecting interpreters
The online technical assessment is conducted in English only, with no interpreters. Applicants who expect language support are unprepared for the format of the interview.
Non-attendance
Non-attendance at a scheduled assessment without notice may forfeit the fee. Missing the 12-month reassessment window after the original outcome letter forces a full fresh application.
Related TRA programs and visas
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program serves permanent skilled migration. If you are pursuing a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa as an electrician, the TSS Skills Assessment Program applies instead, sharing identical fees, pathways and thresholds.
All TRA programs
Compare the six Trades Recognition Australia skills assessment programs and find the one for your occupation and visa.
View the pillar guide →TSS Skills Assessment
The program for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, compulsory for electricians, with identical fees and pathways.
Read the TSS guide →Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
The points-tested permanent visa a successful Offshore Skills Assessment can support for eligible licensed and non-licensed trades.
Read the subclass 189 guide →Confirm your pathway before you pay any TRA fee
An initial conversation confirms whether you sit on Pathway 1 or Pathway 2, the experience and evidence the Offshore Skills Assessment Program requires for your occupation, and the licensing route an Offshore Technical Skills Record opens. Visa Plan builds the plan from assessment through to visa grant.
Speak with a Migration LawyerCommon questions about the Offshore Skills Assessment Program
Is the Offshore Skills Assessment Program compulsory for electricians and plumbers?
How much does the Offshore Skills Assessment Program cost in 2026?
What is an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR)?
How long does the Offshore Skills Assessment Program take?
How much work experience do I need for the Offshore Skills Assessment Program?
Can I reapply if my Offshore Skills Assessment is unsuccessful?
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.