ACS
Fundamental criteria for Partner visa
An ACS skills assessment is an official assessment of your ICT (Information and Communications Technology) qualification(s) and/or ICT work experience against the Australian standard for your nominated occupation (ANZSCO). A positive result is commonly required before you can proceed with many skilled migration pathways.
Who needs an ACS skills assessment?
You may need an ACS assessment if you are nominating an ICT occupation for:
- Points-tested skilled visas (subclass 189, 190, 491) where an ICT occupation is nominated;
- Some employer-sponsored visas (or where a skills assessment strengthens the nomination/visa case);
- Situations where you need ACS to confirm which period of your work is at the required skill level.
Why the ACS assessment matters
- It confirms you meet the minimum skills standard for your nominated ICT occupation.
- It identifies a “Skill Level Requirement Met Date” (often called a skilled-from date), which impacts what employment can be counted as skilled for points.
- It reduces delays and risk at the visa stage when your evidence is clear and consistent.
| Pathway | Who it suits | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Graduate (TG) – 485 (Qualification-only) | Australian diploma or associated degree holders with an ICT major that is closely related to the nominated ANZSCO. | Used for subclass 485 purposes only (ACS checks qualification alignment; visa rules are set by Home Affairs). |
| Post Australian Study (PAS) | Australian Bachelor degree holders (or higher) with an ICT major closely related to the nominated ANZSCO. | Requires either 1 year (365 days) of relevant work experience after the degree completion date OR an ACS Professional Year ( PY). |
| General Skills Assessment (Skills) | Applicants with recognised tertiary ICT qualifications and ICT employment (Australia and/or overseas). | Work experience requirements depend on whether your ICT content is a Major/Minor and whether it is closely related to the nominated ANZSCO. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | Applicants with insufficient/no ICT content, or no recognised tertiary qualification. | Requires an RPL application plus substantial ICT employment history, including two project reports. |
General Skills Assessment – experience rules (quick guide)
For General Skills Assessment, ACS uses your qualification level, whether your ICT content is a Major or Minor, and whether it is closely related to your nominated occupation to decide how much work experience is needed.
- Australian accredited Bachelor (or higher) with ICT Major, closely related: usually 1 years relevant experience (within the past 10 years) or PY
- Oversea Bachelor (or higher) with ICT Major, closely related: usually 2 years relevant experience (within the past 10 years) OR 4 years anytime (whichever gives the earlier skilled-from date).
- Bachelor (or higher) with ICT Major, not closely related: usually 4 years relevant experience anytime.
- Bachelor (or higher) with ICT Minor, closely related: usually 5 years (past 10 years) OR 6 years anytime.
- Bachelor (or higher) with ICT Minor, not closely related: usually 6 years anytime.
- Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree with ICT Major, closely related: usually 5 years (past 10 years) OR 6 years anytime.
- Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree with ICT Major, not closely related: usually 6 years anytime.
- RPL: if AQF Diploma or higher but insufficient ICT content – usually 6 years relevant ICT experience + RPL; if no recognised tertiary qualification – usually 8 years relevant ICT experience + RPL.
Payment evidence – what ACS expects
ACS requires evidence to confirm the employment is paid and the pay matches the skill level. In general:
- Provide at least two different types of evidence from the beginning of each employment episode, and two different types from the end (or most recent if still employed).
- At least one type should be from a source other than the employer (for example, tax records or bank statements).
- Cash payments are not accepted as sufficient evidence.
Common examples of acceptable payment evidence include:
- Government tax records / payment summaries / group certificates (tax documents completed by the applicant are not accepted).
- Payslips showing your name and the employer’s name.
- Superannuation / provident fund documents.
- Bank statements showing salary credits from the employer.
If you cannot obtain an employer reference
ACS may accept a third-party Statutory Declaration or Affidavit only in limited circumstances, usually where you cannot obtain an employer reference. It must be written by a manager/supervisor-level colleague and witnessed by an authorised witness.
- The Statutory Declaration/Affidavit must include the same key details as an employer reference (dates, duties, hours, location, etc.).
- It must state it was “Sworn Before / Signed Before / Witnessed Before” the authorised witness (with date and place).
- Self-written declarations are not accepted.
Contractor / self-employed evidence (high level)
If you are self-employed or freelancing, you usually need a self-written statutory declaration describing the business and work performed, plus supporting documents (business registration, accountant letter, client letters on letterhead, invoices and matching bank statements, etc.).
Skill Level Requirement Met Date (skilled-from date)
Your ACS outcome letter includes a Skill Level Requirement Met Date. Work experience needed to meet ACS suitability criteria is not counted as “skilled employment”. Generally, only relevant work completed after the skill level requirement date can be counted as skilled employment for points (Home Affairs makes the final decision on points).
The Process (Step-By-Step)
Choose the best-fit ANZSCO
occupation based on your actual duties (not just your job title).
Select the correct ACS
pathway for your background (TG / PAS / Skills / RPL).
Prepare your documents
(identity, qualifications, employment references, and payment evidence).
Submit the application
application via the ACS online portal and pay the fee.
Respond quickly
quickly if ACS requests further information.
Receive your result letter
letter and use it for your EOI/visa process (result letters are time-limited).
Common reasons for an unsuitable outcome (and how to avoid them)
- Duties are generic or do not match the nominated ANZSCO at a professional ICT level.
- Employment dates/hours are unclear or inconsistent across documents.
- Insufficient payment evidence (especially for contractors/self-employed).
- Wrong pathway selected (for example, RPL required but not provided).
- Duties copied from ANZSCO or copied from another reference letter.
Feeling overwhelmed? We’re here to help.
Our expert team will be at your side at every stage of your partner visa journey, from
understanding eligibility requirements and gathering evidence to submitting your application.
FAQs
Yes. If your qualification has insufficient ICT content (or you have no recognised tertiary qualification), you may be eligible through the RPL pathway if you can demonstrate the required ICT employment history and provide the required project reports.
Payment evidence is important. ACS generally expects multiple forms of evidence covering the start and end of each employment episode, with at least one type from an independent source (for example, bank statements or tax records).
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