From 1 July 2014, if a skills assessment is mandatory as part of a visa application, that assessment will only be valid for a period of three years from the date of issue, unless a shorter validity period is specified on the assessment.

A skills assessment must be valid at the time of lodgement for the following visas:

•Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) visa
•Direct Entry stream of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa
•Graduate Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.

A skills assessment must be valid at the time of invitation to apply through SkillSelect for the following visas:

•Skilled—Independent (subclass 189) visa
•Skilled—Nominated (subclass 190) visa
•Skilled Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa.

These changes do not affect the Temporary Work (Skilled)(subclass 457) visa.