Australia is one of the most sought out countries to start your new journey, a new life. The question is why? If you are planning to start over in a whole new place, why should Australia be one of your preferred options?
The attractive lifestyle and plenty of job opportunities in Australia that you hear about are actually pretty true. And who does not want to live in a peaceful environment, get better pay, better lifestyle? This is the reason why so many individuals plan to start their new careers and new lives in a country like Australia.
And if you plan to call Australia your home, then the first thing you need is a clear understanding of Australia’s immigration system. Australia’s immigration system is a bit of a task, especially for first-time applicants, people often get confused about which visa type to opt for.
But, don’t worry we are here to help. The first, and very important thing you should keep in mind while undergoing your immigration process is submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI).
In this blog, we will discuss the details of Expression of Interest (EOI), its purpose, steps, and tips on how you should submit your EOI successfully. Most people confuse Expression of Interest as a visa type, but it is totally wrong. EOI is not a visa but is a step required in the process of acquiring your visa through different subclasses.
I won’t take much of your time, let’s dive deeper into the topic and walk through the details.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
What is an Expression of Interest (EOI)?
As the name suggests- Expression of Interest (EOI) is an online form that you need to submit. It is a form expressing your interest in acquiring a visa in order to live and work in Australia. Most people get confused, considering Expression of Interest as a visa type, however they are completely wrong.
Expression of Interest (EOI) is not a visa but is a step required in the process of acquiring your visa through different subclasses. Especially the visa subclasses under Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) program.
An expression of Interest is a document that provides the Australian government with all the information about you. Including your skill set, age, qualifications, and work experience.
Why is the EOI Important?
Expression of Interest popularly abbreviated as EOI is a component of quite a strong influence on your migration process to Australia. If you are planning to migrate to Australia through the SkillSelect programs, there is no way you don’t have to deal with EOI.
The Australian government has especially designed its Expression of Interest (EOI). In order to manage the skilled migration of applicants from all around the globe quite smoothly.
Let’s get to the details, where I will be answering why so.
Application Gateway
If you want to migrate to Australia, you need two things- a positive skill set, and submission of your Expression of Interest (EOI). You will need to submit your EOI if you are migrating to Australia through the following programs.
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
- Subclass-190 (Skilled Nominated)
- Subclass- 491 (Skilled Work Regional)
EOI is a document showcasing your interest in getting a job and living a new life in Australia through the SkillSelect program. So, if you don’t submit an EOI, there’s no way you are going to make it to Australia- your dream life!
Showcasing eligibility
Expression of interest (EOI) showcases your eligibility for the migration process. How? It captures your age, work experience in Australia, and overseas, skill set, qualification, language proficiency, and other important factors.
That means, whether you are eligible for qualifying Australia’s skilled migration process or not, is determined by this single step- EOI.
Invitation process
Expression of Interest (EOI) is a great tool that helps the state or territories of Australia. In order to determine and select the applicants who they think are best matches for the skill shortage of the Australian territory.
The invitation to apply for the Australian migration program is based on who has got higher EOI ranking. That means, if you have a higher EOI rank, you are more likely to be selected for migration. This ranking system of Expression of Interest (EOI) ensures that only the high-quality candidates who have the required skill set migrate to Australia.
Transparency
The Expression of Interest provides you with transparency. Transparency of points you got, will help you evaluate your position in the migration program. After submitting your EOI, you can track your points.
Now, you must think about what points?
Points are granted to you based on different criteria. Your age, work experience, English language proficiency, educational qualifications, and whatnot. These points help the Australian authority to rank migration applicants like you accordingly.
The transparency of the whole process, helps you realise and understand your potential of receiving an invitation letter from the authorities. This also helps you understand your flaws, and improve your profile accordingly.
Efficient skill matching
EOI works are a bridge between the skilled professional potential applicants and the employers, state or territory sponsorships. Expression of Interest helps the Australian government to streamline the process of meeting the shortage of skills in specific market sectors.
Doesn’t matter whether the IT industry or finance sector is facing a labor or skill shortage, EOI will cater to this shortage. This will make sure that there is no skill shortage, and that the sector is capable of meeting new challenges.
No Upfront Fees
Most of the time, for applying for visas, you need to pay an additional fee. However, in the case of Expression of Interest (EOI), you are not required to pay any such fee. This elimination of extra payment makes EOI a risk-free, and affordable way to express your interest in migrating to Australia.
Step-by-Step Guide to the EOI Process:
Check whether you are eligible to apply
The first thing you need to address is your eligibility to qualify for applying for your intended subclass visa type before submitting your EOI. So, what do you need to have to be eligible?
- You need to have a minimum of 65 points in order to qualify for most GSM visa types.
- A positive potential skill set that aligns with the occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
- A satisfying fluency in the English language, you must have a preferred score in tests like IELTS, and PTE.
Creating a SkillSelect Account
In order to submit your Expression of Interest you will need your SkillSelect account. All you need to do is make one on the SkillSelect platform by providing your basic details- age, gender, date of birth, and contact info.
Complete your EOI form
To complete your EOI form, you will need to enter your basic details:
- Personal information: This includes your name, age, date of birth, gender, nationality, and marital status.
- Work experience: your past experience of work, in which field you have worked before with relevant evidence.
- Educational qualifications: your academic degrees, and certificates from the last institution you went to.
- English proficiency: your test scores that support your English proficiency like IELTS, PTE, etc.
- Skills assessment: Outcome of your skills assessment.
- Visa preferences: which visa subclass do you prefer to migrate through, and what is your interest in any of the states or territories of Australia?
Submit your EOI
Once you have provided all your details, and completed the form, fill it out. All you need to do is submit the form through SkillSelect. You don’t need to pay anything to submit the EOI form.
Receive an invitation to apply (ITA)
If your EOI meets the preferred number of points and is ranked competitively. There are a lot more chances of you receiving your ITA for the preferred subclass visa. Invitations are typically issued during periodic invitation rounds conducted by the Department of Home Affairs.
Apply for visa
Once you have got your Invitation to Apply (ITA) you can apply for your visa through your preferred subclasses within 60 days. Make sure to keep all your supporting documents and pay the applicable visa fees.
Conclusion
Though we have covered everything you need to know about Australia’s EOI, in this blog. It is important for you to fulfill all the conditions before applying for a skilled migration visa. Make sure you possess the right amount of skills, and requirements to acquire your Australian visa.
