How long does a SkillSelect EOI last?
Settledin Team3 min readA SkillSelect expression of interest (EOI) stays active for 2 years from the day it is submitted, according to Home Affairs. EOIs are then archived, including incomplete ones. Details can be updated at any time before an invitation arrives, and an EOI can be withdrawn at any point before an invitation.
Wording checked against Home Affairs on 9 November 2026.
How long is an EOI valid?
Home Affairs says an EOI "will remain active in SkillSelect for 2 years from when you submit it" (After you submit your Expression of Interest). Invitations can be issued during that time.
The 2 years run from submission, not from when the EOI was first started and saved. An EOI is only submitted once all the required information is in. Home Affairs describes the steps on its Expression of Interest page: start the EOI, add the required information, save at each step, then submit.
| Stage | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Started and saved | The EOI is not yet complete |
| Submitted | Active in SkillSelect for 2 years from submission |
| After 2 years | Archived, including incomplete EOIs |
| Invited to apply | 60 days from the invitation date to apply online |
What happens when an EOI expires?
Home Affairs uses the word "archived". On the same page it says: "EOIs, including incomplete EOIs, are archived after 2 years." The page does not describe automatic renewal, and does not say that updating details restarts the 2 years.
Two other events also remove an EOI from SkillSelect, per Home Affairs:
- A person receives 2 invitations but decides not to apply for a visa.
- A person is invited to apply and is granted a permanent or provisional visa.
Can an EOI be updated?
Yes, until an invitation is issued. Home Affairs says an EOI can be accessed and updated "any time before you receive an invitation to apply for a visa". After an invitation, it can't be updated.
Home Affairs lists these changes as reasons to update, because they may affect the points score:
- new work experience
- a higher education qualification
- improved English language proficiency
- a new skills assessment
It also says an EOI needs updating if the structure of a family changes, for example after having a baby.
What if the points change?
The 189, 190 and 491 visas are points tested, and the pass mark is 65 points. Home Affairs does not publish a points score that always leads to an invitation. It says that meeting the pass mark is no promise of an invitation.
SkillSelect gives an indicative points score once an EOI is complete, based on what has been entered. Home Affairs also has an official points calculator. The full table for each visa is published on the 189 points table page. For how the test works, see Settledin's Australia PR points test guide.
What if no invitation arrives?
Home Affairs says submitting an EOI does not mean an invitation will follow, and that it cannot notify a person about the progress of an EOI. After each round it publishes the lowest points score invited for the 189 and 491 (family sponsored) visas. The latest rounds are on the invitation rounds page.
For what each EOI status means in the SkillSelect account, see Understanding your SkillSelect EOI status.
Can an EOI be withdrawn?
Home Affairs says an EOI can be withdrawn "at any time before you are invited to apply for a visa."
FAQ
Does an EOI renew automatically?
Home Affairs does not say so on the pages it publishes about EOIs. It says EOIs are archived after 2 years.
Does updating restart the 2 years?
Home Affairs says the 2 years run "from when you submit it". It does not say that an update changes that period.
Which visas need an EOI?
The skilled independent (subclass 189), skilled nominated (subclass 190) and skilled work regional provisional (subclass 491) visas. The 186 and 482 visas are sponsored or nominated by an employer, and Home Affairs says an EOI is not needed for those. See Settledin's pages on the 189, 190 and 491 visas.
Where does a person log in to update an EOI?
Through SkillSelect, using the EOI ID and login details Home Affairs emails when the EOI is started. The "Log in to update your EOI" link is on the Home Affairs page.
What comes before an EOI?
Home Affairs says the occupation needs to be on a skilled occupation list, and a skills assessment is usually part of the EOI. See Settledin's skills assessment and occupations pages, or how to get PR in Australia.
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table, which helps when details change.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs rules, checked on 9 November 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.