ACS Guide to

Skilled Migration
For IT and Data Science professionals
With a huge and growing need for IT and Data Science
professionals, Australia is a great place to build a thriving tech career.
This handy guide will help you navigate Australia’s visa system on your
path to migration success.
April 2024
Contents
Introduction2

Australian skilled migration in brief 4

Key terms you need to understand

What are Occupation Lists? 6
What are ANZSCO codes? 6
How does the ‘Points’ system work? 6

Stages on your path to migration success 8

Finding the right visa for you 10

Obtaining your ACS Migration 18

Skills Assessment

Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) 23

Submitting your visa application 24

Regional visa nominations 26

10 tips from previous applicants 28

Preparing for life in Australia 30

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 1

Introduction
The ACS Guide to Skilled Migration is a
comprehensive, end-to-end guide designed to
answer the questions asked by thousands of tech
professionals considering a move to live in Australia
and work in tech.

Who is ACS?
The Australian Computer
Society (ACS) is the professional
association and largest
community for Australia’s IT and
Data Science professionals.
ACS is authorised to assess the skills
and qualifications of IT and Data
Science professionals on behalf of
the Australian Government.

Did you know?

Skilled ICT migrants have high employment rates
in Australia, with over 90% finding jobs, 80% within
the IT sector.

Introduction
ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 3
Australian skilled
migration in brief
Australia has a growing need for skilled ICT
professionals like you. Australia needs around
60,000 new IT and Data Science professionals
every year and many come from overseas.

To obtain a visa under

Australia’s skilled migration
system, you must:

have an occupation on the

relevant Skilled Occupation List
have a suitable skills
assessment for the occupation
be invited to apply for a visa
satisfy the Points test

Australian skilled migration in brief

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 5
Key terms you need
to understand

What are Skilled Occupation Lists? How does the ‘Points’ system work?
These are lists of all in-demand occupations in In the Australian skilled migration system, points are
Australia, published by the Australian government. awarded based on various factors such as age,
The good news is that most ICT professions are English proficiency, work experience, education, and
included on these lists. other criteria. The higher your points, the better your
chances of being invited to apply for a visa.
Examples of skilled occupation lists include:
• Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
• Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
tend to be for temporary visas
• Regional Occupation List (ROL) Australia’s regions
have their own needs and may require your ICT skills
• Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Skills in high demand across Australia, often with
permanent visas​

What are ANZSCO codes?

• ANZSCO stands for Australian and New Zealand
Standard Classification of Occupations
• Every job title on the occupations lists has its own
unique six-digit ANZSCO code
• Example: if you are trying to migrate as a Software
Tester (ANZSCO code 261314), you must include that
specific ANZSCO code when you lodge your visa
Expression of Interest (EOI)

ACS is the authorised assessing authority for a specific

set of IT and Data Science ANZSCO codes. If your
occupation is assessed by ACS, you must obtain a
successful ACS Migration Skills Assessment before you
can submit your visa EOI.
For more on the ACS Migration Skills Assessment, see page 18.

Key terms you need to understand

Five things that increase your odds
of acceptance
The following factors can all help you earn points towards a visa:
1. Younger applicants typically receive more points than older ones

2. Educational qualifications

3. Skilled employment experience

4. Good English skills

5. Willingness to work in a regional area

– this may reduce other visa requirements

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 7

Stages on your
path to migration
success

Stages on your path to migration success

To obtain a visa from the Australian government,
you must first complete a number of steps. Be sure
to review each step thoroughly to make sure you
understand the process.

Stage 4
Receive an invitation
to apply from DoHA
Stage 3 and submit your visa
application
Submitting an
See page 24
Expression of
Stage 2 Interest (EOI)
Obtaining your See page 23
ACS Migration Skills
Stage 1 Assessment
Finding the right See page 18
visa for you
See page 10

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 9

Stage 1

Find the right visa for you

Australia has many different visas, each with its own requirements,
processing time frames and costs. There are three main visa types for
IT or Data Science professionals who want to live and work in Australia.

Student visas
For students who want to study IT in Australia. These visas give
international students the right to live in Australia while studying
at a registered Australian university or training institution.

Skilled Independent visas

These visas allow skilled IT of Data Science professionals the to
live and work in Australia without needing employer or state or
territory government sponsorship.

Sponsored visas
These visas allow skilled IT or Data Science professionals to be
sponsored by an Australian company, organisation or state/
territory government that needs their skills.

Find the right visa for you

Two ways to find
the right visa for you:
1. Discover your ideal visa through the
Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) Visa Finder

2. Explore Paths to migration success

In this section of the guide, ACS matches visa types to
your personal circumstances and explains how to use
different visa types to achieve your migration goals

International students
- see page 12

Young ICT professionals

- see page 14

Highly experienced ICT professionals

- see page 16

Did you know?

83% of ICT migrants surveyed said migrating to
Australia was a good decision, 73% would encourage
others to migrate.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 11

Paths to migration success:
International students
If you are an international student who wants to study IT or Data Science
in Australia, you need to start with a student visa.
• To apply for a Student visa (subclass 500), you must be already enrolled in a
course with a recognised Australian educational institution, who will provide
you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to use in your visa application
• While on a student visa you may work up to 48 hours a fortnight

Once you have a student visa there are two paths you can
take to permanent residence:

Path 1
Apply for a Skilled Independent visa

Work experience and Skilled

Student visa
or Professional Year Independent visa

To earn enough points for a Skilled Independent visa, you can:

A Gain relevant experience with an Australian employer while on your
student or graduate visa.

or

B Complete the ACS Professional Year while on a graduate visa.

This program helps IT graduates transition to working in Australia,
earning you points towards a Skilled Independent visa and often
leading to full-time job opportunities.

For more on the ACS Professional Year, see page 16.

Explore:

Student visa
(subclass 500)

Temporary Graduate visa

(subclass 485)

Skilled Independent visa

(subclass 189)

ACS Professional Year

Find the right visa for you

Path 2
Seek an employer to sponsor you after graduation

Employer-sponsored
Student visa Work experience
visa

After graduating from an Australian university, look for work in your field
during your visa’s remaining period. If your employer is impressed, they
might sponsor you for an employer-sponsored visa.

Explore:

Employer Nomination Scheme

(subclass 186)

Good places to search for tech

jobs in Australia include:

LinkedIn.com

seek.com.au

Indeed.com

ACS members can also access:

ACS careers jobs board

What if I can’t earn enough points

or find a sponsor?
You still have options. A few years relevant experience in
your home country might give you enough points to later
qualify for a Skilled Independent visa.Student visa

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 13

Paths to migration success:
Young ICT professionalsrofessional Year
If you’re a young ICT professional with qualifications from outside
Australia, for most visas you’ll need:
• Three years of relevant work experience, or one year working for an
Australian organisation in your field
• A recognised qualification, which many international ICT courses provide
• To pass the ACS Migration Skills Assessment, showing your skills meet
Australian standards

If you pass the ACS Migration Skills Assessment,

you have three options:

Path 1
Apply for a Skilled Independent visa

Pass the ACS Find an Employer-sponsored

Migration Australian employer
visa
Skills Assessment to sponsor you

Explore:

Employer Nomination Scheme

(subclass 186)

Temporary Skill Shortage visa

(subclass 482)

Good places to search for tech

jobs in Australia include:

LinkedIn.com

seek.com.au

Indeed.com

ACS members can also access:

ACS careers jobs board

Find the right visa for you

Path 2
Apply for a Skilled Independent visa

Pass the ACS If successful,

Submit Expression
Migration receive invitation
of Interest to DoHA
Skills Assessment to apply for visa

This visa is designed for passport holders with skills that Australia needs,
allowing them to live and work anywhere in the country permanently.
Unlike some other visas, you don’t need someone to sponsor or nominate
you. However, you must receive an invitation to apply, and you must be
under 45 years of age.

Please note: If you have studied and worked overseas, you might face
more challenges in meeting the requirements for this visa. However,
if you have at least three years of relevant experience and hold a
recognised degree in IT or Data Science, you could still pass a points
test and be eligible.

Explore:

Skilled Independent visa

(subclass 189)

Path 3
Apply for a Regional
visa nomination
Regional visa nominations are similar to employer sponsorship but
provided by state or territory governments. They often require you to live
and work in a specific region and are usually processed faster with a
higher success rate.

For Regional visas by state and territory

see page 26.

Explore:

Skilled Nominated visa

(subclass 190)

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 15

ACS Professional Year
– helping graduates enter Australia’s tech sector
The ACS Professional Year in IT is a job-readiness program that bridges the gap between
full-time study and employment in Australia’s tech sector.
The program includes a guaranteed internship and the opportunity to build valuable
connections working with trainers, IT professionals, and industry mentors.
Anyone completing the ACS Professional Year may be able to claim five points towards their
skilled migration under an eligible IT skilled occupation.

Learn more

Find the right visa for you

Paths to migration success:
Highly experienced ICT professionals
If you have extensive experience in a relevant field, there are several visa
options you can explore.

Path 1 Path 3
Apply for a Skilled Look for an Australian
Independent visa business to sponsor you
Passing the points test for a Skilled Independent Australian businesses need skilled workers. If you find
visa gets harder as you get older. But lots of an employer who needs your skills, they might sponsor
experience, good English skills and other criteria can you. If your company has an Australian branch, they
help you accumulate enough points to qualify. could transfer you.

Check the Department of Home Affairs Explore:

points calculator to see where you stand
Employer Nomination Scheme
(subclass 186)
Explore:

Skilled Independent visa

(subclass 189)

Path 2 Path 4
Apply for a Global Seek a Regional
Talent visa visa nomination
A permanent visa for professionals who are Regional visa nominations are similar to employer
distinguished in their field and who can help to sponsorship but provided by state or territory
advance the Australian tech sector. You will need governments. They often require you to live and work
a nominator – ACS can provide nominations. in a specific region and are usually processed faster
with a higher success rate.
Explore:
Explore:
Global Talent visa
(subclass 858) Skilled Nominated visa
(subclass 190)
How to apply for ACS
nomination >>

Once you have found the right visa for

you, it’s time to obtain your ACS Migration
Skills Assessment.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 17

Stage 2

Obtain your ACS Migration

Skills Assessment
The ACS Migration Skills Assessment is a critical part of your migration
journey. Following these steps carefully and in order will increase your
chances of a successful assessment.

1
Make sure ACS is
the right assessing
authority for you

2 Choose your
Assessment
Pathway

3
Check your
eligibility &
prepare your
documents

4
Complete and
submit your
application

5
Receive your
results letter Get your skills assessment application right first time
Designed to help applicants to the ACS Migration Skills Assessment
check eligibility, choose assessment pathways and gain answers
to their questions, ACS AppAssist is a 30-minute, one-on-one
consultation with a member of the ACS migration team.

Learn more
Obtain your ACS Migration Skills Assessment
Step 1
Make sure ACS is the right
assessing authority for you
ACS assesses for wide range
of IT and Data Science
occupations. Before you Tip:
apply, make sure your If you are a student or recent graduate, look for
occupation is on the list. occupations that match your qualifications.
Check the list of ANZSCO
codes assesed by ACS.

Step 2
Choose an Assessment Pathway
Most of the 39,000 people
we help on their migration
Tip:
journey follow one of four
Assessment Pathways. Be sure to choose the Assessment Pathway that best
The portal will ask you to describes you – choosing the wrong pathway will
nominate a pathway when almost certainly lead to a negative assessment.
you start your application.

General Skills For IT or Data Science professionals with recognised tertiary

qualifications and several years of experience.
Application fee: $1,450.00

Temporary For international students who have completed an Australian Bachelor

degree of higher with an IT or Data Science major and want to remain
Graduate 485 in Australia temporarily. Application fee: $600.00

Post Australian For international students who have completed an Australian

bachelor's degree or higher with an IT or Data Science major who are
Study seeking permanent residency. Application fee: $1,100

Recognition of For seasoned IT or Data Science professionals who have ample

experience but lack formal qualifications in their fields.
Prior Learning Application fee: $605.00

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 19

Step 3
Check your eligibility and
Each Assessment Pathway
has different eligibility Tip:
criteria and document
requirements. Before you settle on an Assessment Pathway, be sure
to review the eligibility criteria on the ACS Migration
Skills Assessment website.
See Assessment Pathways and eligibility.

prepare your documents

Once you’ve confirmed that
you meet the eligibility criteria, Tip:
gather the documents you
will need to complete your Be sure to check the document requirements.
online application. Many applications are delayed by incorrectly
submitted evidence.
The portal will prompt
you to upload documents
as required, with links to
examples of what these
documents must include.

Obtain your ACS Migration Skills Assessment

Step 4
Complete and submit your application
The application for ACS How ACS simplifies the process:
Migration Skills assessment
is done through the intuitive • You can scan your proof of identity documents directly into
and easy-to-use Applicant the portal
portal, with clear guidance • The system automatically suggests one or more ANZSCO
at every step. codes that match your skills
• You can select up to three ANZSCO codes for assessment
within the same application fee, boosting your chances of
a positive outcome
• When uploading documents, the system provides visual
examples to help you avoid errors
• You can authorise a Registered Migration Agent to
complete your application for you

Start your application

without delay
You can start you application and come back to it any
time. All you need are your proof of identity documents
and the means to pay your application fee.

Apply now

For full details of the ACS skills assessment process, visit the
ACS Migration skills assessment website.

Tip:
Make sure you keep all the documents you
collect for your skills assessment to use later in
your visa application.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 21

Step 5
Receive your ACS results letter
Once your application is assessed, you will
receive an ACS Outcome Letter confirming Complimentary ACS
whether your assessment was successful.
Membership
You must submit this letter to the
Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) when A complimentary 12-month ACS
applying for your visa. membership is offered as part of your
ACS Migration Skills Assessment.
ACS members enjoy a wide range
of membership benefits including
exclusive events, offers, training and
career development opportunities.

Obtain your ACS Migration Skills Assessment

Stage 3

Submit your Expression

of Interest
Once you have obtained a successful ACS Migration Skills Assessment,
you can to submit your visa Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department
of Home Affairs.

Step 1
If you haven’t already, create an ImmiAccount
to access Department of Home Affairs online services.

Click here

Step 2
Submit your EOI at: SkillSelect – an online system
for professionals who want to apply for skilled
migration to Australia. SkillSelect allows the Australian
Government and regional governments to invite skilled
workers to apply for visas.

Submit your EOI

Important
When submitting your EOI, be sure to specify:
• the visa class
• the ANZSCO occupation code (this will be detailed in
your ACS Migration Skills Assessment Outcome letter)

Step 3
Wait until DoHA sends you an invitation to apply
for the visa.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 23

Stage 4

Submit your visa

application
Once you receive an invitation from DoHA, you can apply for the specified
visa. All you need to do is Log into your ImmiAccount and complete and
submit your application. Good luck!

Visa processing times

For an indication of processing Tip:
times for your selected visa, use
the DoHA visa processing time
Keep all the documents you collect for your
guide tool. skills assessment and use them to complete your
visa application.
Click here

Submit your visa application

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 25
Regional visa
nominations
Regional visas in Australia are offered by state
or territory governments, similar to employer
sponsorship. They are usually processed faster
with a higher success rate, but require you to live
and work in a specific specific state, territory, or
regional area. If you're having difficulty obtaining
an independent or employer-sponsored visa, a
Regional visa could be a good alternative.
Explore:

Employer Nomination Scheme

(subclass 186)

Regional and state

sponsorship visas:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Regional visa nominations

Did you know?
Skilled migration to regional Australia offers great
career and lifestyle opportunities. Today, 27% of
ICT migrants claim to reside outside of Sydney,
Melbourne, and Brisbane up from only 18% in 2017.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 27

10 tips from
previous applicants
1. Research Australian demand for your
occupation. Check occupations and
6. Tailor your resume and cover letter
when applying for jobs. Highlight
ANZSCO codes assessed by ACS. your relevant skills, experience and
To boost your job prospects, adapt achievements clearly and concisely.
your skills and knowledge based on
in-demand skills, emerging
technologies, and promising industries. 7. Stay up to date with visa requirements:
regularly check the DoHA immigration
website for the most accurate and
2. Get to know the points-based system
used in Australian skilled migration to
up-to-date information.

maximise your points to increase your

chances of receiving an invitation. 8. Networking and professional
connections. ACS International
Membership makes you a member
3. Gain relevant work experience.
Prioritise gaining relevant work
of Australia’s largest tech community.
Apply now for a 33% discount.
experience in your field before
migrating. Australian employers
often value local work experience, 9. Consider state and territory
sponsorship opportunities: Research
so consider internships, freelance the nomination criteria and assess
projects or remote work with whether you meet the requirements.
Australian businesses to establish a
track record.
10. Seek professional advice: Consider
consulting a registered migration
4. Get familiar with the ACS skills
assessment process used to validate
agent or immigration lawyer, who can
assess your eligibility and guide you
your IT or Data Science qualifications through the application process.
and experience.
ACS Migration Skills Assessment

5. Boost your English skills by taking

courses or prepping for tests like IELTS or
TOEFL. Higher scores earn more points
and better communication helps you
get a job and succeed at work.

10 tips from previous applicants

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 29
Preparing for life
in Australia
Once your visa application has been accepted, it's
time to start preparing for your new life in Australia
and the next stage of your thriving tech career.

Preparing for life in Australia

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 31
Finding work Understanding
Find out about work opportunities available Australia’s government
in Australia. Search jobs on the Government’s Australia has three levels of government which provide
Workforce Australia website. services for migrants and residents.

Click here
Click here

Your rights at work Getting a tax file number

and study
Australian workers pay income tax. To receive an income
Visa holders and migrant workers have the same in Australia, you will need a tax file number (TFN).
workplace entitlements and protections as all other
employees in Australia.
Click here
Important things to know about your rights.

Your rights

Students can see their rights and protections.

83% said migrating to Australia
Students was a good decision, 73% would
encourage others to migrate.

Preparing for life in Australia

Help with English Getting to know
Free English classes can be accessed via the Australian culture
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). Australia is a multicultural society that embraces
diverse lifestyles and customs. While you don't
need to abandon your own culture, it's helpful to
Click here
learn about Australian culture and adapt to it. For
instance, Australians commonly use first names when
addressing each other.
Australia’s multicultural broadcaster SBS offers one of
Health and wellbeing the best guides to these kinds of cultural rules.
Permanent resident visa holders generally have
access to health care under Medicare. Medicare is
Click here
the Australian Government’s national health care
scheme, which helps pay for some medical expenses.
Temporary visa holders may require Overseas Visitors
Health Cover (OVHC), depending on the visa type.

Click here
Regional Australia is benefiting
from the changes to visa rules
implemented in 2019:
27% said they were residing
outside of Sydney, Melbourne, and
Brisbane up from only 18% in 2017.

ACS Guide to Skilled Migration 33

Powering Australia’s
technology brilliance
We champion the technologies, people and skills
critical to Australia’s future.

Contact us
Member services general enquiries
T: +61 2 9299 3666
E: [email protected]

Canberra South Australia

[email protected] [email protected]

New South Wales Tasmania

[email protected] [email protected]

Northern Territory Victoria

[email protected] [email protected]

Queensland Western Australia

[email protected] [email protected]

acs.org.au