What Happens After EOI Submission? (Australia PR 2026)

Pressing "Submit" on your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is a massive milestone. It's an exciting moment, but it's important to remember that it isn't a visa application just yet. It's simply a formal declaration to the Australian Government that you're interested in applying for a skilled visa and that you've calculated you meet the minimum threshold of 65 points.

So, what exactly happens next? Do you need to start uploading documents? Do you just sit and wait? And how long will it really take?

This guide is here to walk you through the exact sequence of events that follow your EOI submission. We'll cover how invitation rounds actually work, the difference between state pre-invites and formal ITAs, and what you can be doing right now to prepare while you wait in the pool.

The Waiting Game & Validity

Once you've submitted it, your EOI sits securely in the SkillSelect pool alongside thousands of other hopeful applicants. Here are the key things to know about this waiting period:

• Validity: Your EOI remains valid in the system for exactly 2 years (24 months). If 2 years pass without an invitation, your EOI will simply expire and be automatically removed. If you're still eligible, you're welcome to submit a new one.
• Cost: Submitting an EOI is 100% free. You don't pay the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) a single cent until you're invited and you formally apply for the visa (currently AUD 6,135 for the primary applicant).
• No Document Uploads: You don't upload your skills assessment, English test results, or passport to SkillSelect. You just enter the reference numbers and test dates. Keep the physical and digital evidence safe-you'll need to upload them later.

How Invitation Rounds Actually Work

The process for being "invited" out of the pool depends heavily on which visa subclass you've applied for. It's a completely different system for the federal 189 visa compared to state-nominated visas.

What is a Pre-Invite? (190 & 491 Only)

If you selected a specific state in your EOI for a 190 or 491 visa, you might receive an email directly from that state's government. This is a Pre-Invite.

• A Pre-Invite is essentially the state government asking you: "We like your EOI. Can you prove your claims to us?"
• You usually have a short window (often 14 days) to submit an application directly to the state government's own portal.
• You'll need to pay a non-refundable state assessment fee, which varies by state but typically ranges from AUD 300 to AUD 800.
• You'll upload your skills assessment, English test, proof of residency, and work experience documents to the state for them to review.
• If the state approves your documents, they will formally "nominate" you in SkillSelect.
• Once you're nominated, SkillSelect instantly and automatically issues you a formal Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Department of Home Affairs.

Updating Your EOI While You Wait

You can log into SkillSelect and update your EOI at any time before you receive an invitation. It's highly recommended that you update it immediately if:

• You achieve a higher score on a new English test (like IELTS or PTE).
• You accumulate enough work experience to cross into a higher points bracket (for example, hitting the 3-year or 5-year mark).
• Your relationship status changes (e.g., you get married or de facto, or your partner gets a skills assessment).

Preparing Your Documents (The 60-Day Rule)

Once you finally receive an ITA from the Department of Home Affairs, the clock starts ticking. You have exactly 60 days to lodge your visa application and pay the base application charge in your ImmiAccount.

If you miss this 60-day window, the invitation expires, and you go back into the pool. It's important to know that you can only receive a maximum of two invitations per EOI. If you miss it twice, your EOI is locked. Because 60 days can fly by, you should actively prepare while you wait in the pool:

• Police Checks: You'll need police certificates for every country you've lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years. Some countries can take months to process these, so look into the requirements early.
• Medical Exams: Familiarise yourself with the health requirements. You'll need an exam from an approved panel physician, though it's often best to wait for the ITA before undertaking the actual exam so the results don't expire before your visa is granted.
• Employment Evidence: Gather your payslips, tax returns, bank statements, and detailed reference letters to prove every single month of employment you've claimed for points. The Department will scrutinise this closely.

Frequently Asked Questions