SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI): How It Works, From Lodging to Invitation

Short answer: an Expression of Interest (EOI) is an online profile you submit in SkillSelect to tell the Department you want to be invited to apply for a skilled visa. It is not a visa application. You need an EOI before you can be invited to apply for the Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (491) visa (Department of Home Affairs, read 29 October 2026). If you are invited, you have 60 days to apply, and you must be able to prove every claim you made.

What an EOI is, and is not

• It is a statement of your skills, work history, English, education and points. You do not upload documents with it, according to the Department.
• It is not a visa application, and there is no visa decision on it.
• Each of the 189, 190 and 491 requires that you were invited in writing to apply (Migration Regulations 1994, Sch 2 cl 189.221, 190.211 and 491.213, compilation No. 289, 2 October 2026).
• Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation, as the Department itself says.

The EOI lifecycle, step by step

Claims you make, and why accuracy matters at invitation

Your points are worked out from what you enter. The Department says that if you are invited, you must provide evidence to support all the claims you made in your EOI. The Regulations then test key facts at the time of invitation:

• Skills assessment: the assessing authority had already assessed your skills as suitable for your nominated occupation, and the assessment was still within its validity period (or not more than 3 years old if no period was stated) (cl 189.222, 190.212 and 491.214).
• English: you had competent English at the time of invitation (cl 189.223, 190.213, 491.215).
• Points: at decision, your score must not be less than the score stated in your invitation, and not less than the pass mark (cl 189.224, 190.214, 491.216). The pass mark for applications made on or after 16 November 2019 is 65 points (LIN 19/210, s 6).

The trap: if you claim points for something you did not yet have on the invitation date (for example, an English result or a skills assessment received later), the claim can fail. Giving false or misleading information can also lead to refusal under public interest criterion 4020; see our PIC 4020 guide.

State interest in your EOI

For the 190, a state or territory government agency nominates you, and the nomination must not have been withdrawn at decision (cl 190.215). For the 491, if a state or territory nominated you, that nomination must not have been withdrawn (cl 491.217(1)). Each state runs its own process; see state nomination for the 190 and 491.

After an invitation

• Apply within 60 days. The Department suggests applying as soon as possible.
• You cannot edit the EOI once invited, according to the Department.
• If your points drop before the decision (for example because of a birthday that changes your age points), cl 190.214 and 491.216 require that your score is still not less than the invitation score. Check this before you lodge.
• Same score as others: the Department pages we read do not publish a ranking rule for equal scores, so we do not state one. Past invitation data by occupation is in our EOI Explorer.

How long an EOI lasts

The Department states that an EOI remains active in SkillSelect for 2 years from when you submit it. Keep it up to date while it is active: the Department asks you to update it for new work experience, a higher qualification, better English, a new skills assessment, or a change in your family.

Where to go next

• Points test explained and our points calculator
• Skilled occupation lists explained
• Skills assessments: which assessing authority
• Visa pages: 189, 190, 491

Frequently asked questions

Is an Expression of Interest a visa application?

No. An EOI tells the Department you want to be invited to apply. The visa application comes after an invitation (cl 189.221, 190.211, 491.213).

How long do I have to apply after an invitation?

The Department states you have 60 days from the date of the invitation to apply online.

Can I change my EOI after I am invited?

No. The Department states you cannot update your EOI once you have received an invitation.

How long does an EOI stay in SkillSelect?

Two years from when you submit it, according to the Department.

What is the minimum points score for an EOI?

The pass mark is 65 points for 189, 190 and 491 applications made on or after 16 November 2019 (LIN 19/210, s 6). Meeting it does not guarantee an invitation.

Do I need a skills assessment before I lodge an EOI?

You need a suitable skills assessment by the time you are invited (cl 190.212, 491.214). The Department asks you to add the result to your EOI when you receive it.

Talk to us before you submit

An EOI is quick to submit, but a wrong claim can cost you the visa. Book a skilled visa assessment and we will check your points and evidence before you go into the pool.

Reviewed by Dr Asad Muhammad Khan, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619525. Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.

Figures current as at 29 October 2026 (Migration Regulations 1994 compilation No. 289, 2 October 2026; LIN 19/210; Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect pages read 29 October 2026); confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before lodgement.

This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Speak to a registered migration agent before you act.