TRA skills assessment: requirements and how to apply

Key facts

Assessment types: Migration Skills Assessment (MSA); Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP); Temporary Skills Shortage Skills Assessment (TSS); Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA); Job Ready Program (JRP); Migration Points Advice (MPA). The right program depends on occupation, country of passport, where you studied and the visa.
Qualification (MSA): The nominated occupation must be directly relevant to your qualification and/or apprenticeship. A relevant formal qualification is needed. Work experience and occupational licences cannot replace a qualification. TRA compares overseas qualifications with the relevant Australian qualification.
Employment (MSA): At least 3 years of paid work (full-time or part-time equivalent) in the nominated occupation, including at least 12 months full-time (38 hours a week) or part-time equivalent within the 3 years immediately before applying.
English (MSA): An English language test is not required for the Migration Skills Assessment Program.
Main documents (MSA): Passport identification page; qualification certificates; academic transcripts; apprenticeship documents (if applicable); a completed Employer Template form for each job claimed; pay evidence for each job; proof of self-employment (if applicable). Cash-paid work without documentary pay evidence is not accepted.
Fee: MSA: AUD 795 in total. OSAP and TSS: up to AUD 5,320 (Pathway 1) or AUD 2,020 (Pathway 2). Job Ready Program: AUD 3,410. As at 4 October 2026 (the pages show no effective date).
Processing time: MSA: typically within 120 days of submission (TRA says it was tracking at 120 days as of July 2026). OSAP: about 15 weeks. TSS: about 9 weeks. Times apply after all documents are provided and are a guide only.
Validity: Since 1 July 2014, TRA skills assessments lodged with certain skilled visa applications must be no older than three years from the date of issue.
How to apply (MSA): Register through the TRA Online Portal: 1. Register. 2. Upload evidence. 3. Review and confirm. 4. Pay and submit.

What TRA assesses

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skills assessment service for people with a trade skill gained overseas or in Australia (about TRA). It does not award Australian qualifications, registrations or licences.

TRA runs several programs (programs):

Migration Skills Assessment (MSA): a document-based assessment for skilled migration. It compares your qualifications and employment with Australian standards (the AQF and ANZSCO) for your nominated occupation (MSA).
Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP): done by a TRA-approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO), for set occupations and passport countries. It is compulsory for permanent migration in Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Plumber (General) and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic (OSAP).
Temporary Skills Shortage Skills Assessment (TSS): for Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa applicants in set occupations and passport countries, where Home Affairs requires an assessment (TSS).
Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) and Job Ready Program (JRP): for international graduates of an Australian VET course. The JRP is a minimum 12-month employment-based assessment in Australia, and needs a successful PSA from the last 3 years (JRP).
Migration Points Advice (MPA): may be needed by Home Affairs to work out points for certain visas (programs).

TRA's Pathfinder tool suggests a program based on your answers.

Requirements

These are the Migration Skills Assessment rules:

Occupation: on the MLTSSL or STSOL with TRA listed as the assessing authority (Home Affairs list), and directly relevant to your qualification and employment (MSA).
Not for: the four licensed occupations above, set passport countries and occupations that must use OSAP, 485 visa applicants, or 482 visa applicants (MSA).
Qualification: a relevant formal qualification is needed. Work experience or a licence cannot replace it (MSA FAQs).
Employment: at least 3 years of paid work in the occupation, including 12 months full-time (38 hours a week) or part-time equivalent in the 3 years immediately before applying (guidelines).
English: no English test is required for the MSA (MSA FAQs).
Documents: passport page, qualifications, transcripts, apprenticeship documents if any, an Employer Template form and pay evidence for each job (MSA FAQs).

How to apply

For the Migration Skills Assessment, TRA lists four steps in its Online Portal (MSA):

Register: complete the online registration.
Upload evidence: provide all required evidence.
Review and confirm: check that all sections are complete.
Submit: pay and submit.

For OSAP and TSS, you choose an approved RTO with the RTO Finder and contact it directly. The RTO checks eligibility and recommends an outcome, which TRA then approves (OSAP).

Common reasons for delays or unsuitable outcomes

TRA publishes these points (MSA FAQs):

An application without a relevant formal qualification is unsuccessful.
Employment without documentary pay evidence is not accepted, including cash-paid work.
Processing can take longer when external sources are slow to answer verification requests.
Academic degrees such as bachelor degrees generally lack enough practical trade content.

Common questions

What does TRA assess?

TRA is a skills assessment service for people with a trade skill gained overseas or in Australia. It runs several programs. The right one depends on your occupation, passport country, where you studied and the visa.

How long does a TRA skills assessment take?

TRA lists about 120 days for the Migration Skills Assessment, about 15 weeks for the Offshore Skills Assessment Program and about 9 weeks for the TSS program, after all documents are provided.

How much does a TRA skills assessment cost?

The Migration Skills Assessment costs AUD 795. The Offshore Skills Assessment Program costs up to AUD 5,320 (Pathway 1) or AUD 2,020 (Pathway 2), as at 4 October 2026.

How long is a TRA skills assessment valid?

TRA says skills assessments lodged with certain skilled visa applications must be no older than three years from the date of issue.

Do I need an English test for a TRA skills assessment?

TRA says an English language test is not required for the Migration Skills Assessment Program.

Which TRA program applies to electricians and plumbers?

The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is compulsory for permanent migration in Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Plumber (General) and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. These occupations cannot use the Migration Skills Assessment.

Can work experience replace a qualification for TRA?

No. For the Migration Skills Assessment, TRA does not accept work experience or an occupational licence as a substitute for a formal qualification.

TRA skills assessment