The Impact of Delays in Skills Assessment Processing

Learn more about skills assessment processing time and the impact of delays in skills assessment processing in this blog.

For skilled visas and some employer-sponsored visas, skills assessments are part of the visa application process. In order for skilled foreign workers to apply for a skilled visa, they must obtain a skills assessment.

Currently, there is an extensive delay in skills assessment processing. A high volume of skills assessment applications combined with a restricted number of authorised skills assessment authorities and the inflexibility to recognize overseas qualifications are all factors that are contributing to these delays.

Foreign skilled workers are unable to apply for a skilled visa until they have received an outcome on their skills assessment. The delays in skills assessment processing time and subsequently the visa application process can have a significant impact on the Australian labour force and economic benefit.

How Long is the Skills Assessment Processing Time?

Skills assessment processing times for skills assessments vary. While skills assessment authority websites are quoting indicative time frames, in reality, these time frames are just an estimate, and many applications are taking as long as up to nine months.

Priority processing is available for an additional cost. Priority processing fast tracks applications and reduces wait times significantly; however, there are limited slots available for this service.

Learn more about How Skills Assessment Work

Mounting Frustrations

Unsurprisingly, skills assessment applicants are frustrated with many taking to social media and migration forums to express their frustrations.

A Reddit user who was waiting for a skills assessment for a mechanical technician from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) said, ‘Submitted March 21 … got my result 264 days later. Their website says 120 days. That’s more than double. Completely unacceptable.’

Another Reddit user said about their experience with VETASSESS, ‘It’s been 10 weeks since submission and still no update. They just keep saying 12–20 weeks, or longer. It feels like they don’t care.’

Yet more negative feedback for VETASSESS, ‘Mine took 14 weeks because they asked for extra documents after 12 weeks. Why couldn’t they ask earlier? It’s a nightmare.’

The Impact on Skills and Economic Benefit

In industries requiring skilled foreign workers, their skills needs can vary between being structural or cyclical. Regardless of their requirements, there is usually some urgency when it comes to requiring foreign workers.

The printing and mining industries are perfect examples of meeting skills needs based on structural or cyclic needs.

The Australian printing industry has structural needs. There is still a printing industry, however there is a lack of local printing machinists and finishing specialists.

Rapid technological advancements in the printing industry have made it difficult for Australian vocational trainers to develop a curriculum that would be relevant and adequately provide training that would fulfill the future needs of the industry. This lack of training has resulted in a lack of skills and experience levels of local talent thus requiring the skills of foreign workers. This is considered structural as there’s a constant need for production but with a limited workforce.

The mining industry however experiences booms which are considered cyclical. Mining booms see the price of gold and iron ore increase significantly resulting in more work. With a shortage of skills including mining engineers, heavy diesel fitters and geologists, the industry is reliant on foreign workers for these peak times.

When delays occur in skills processing, industries such as these which rely on foreign workers are placed in a kind of holding pattern with demand being high yet businesses being unable to operate at full capacity and increase their productivity.

There are numerous industries affected by these skills assessment processing delays; however, the one industry that has received a reprieve from excessive skills processing wait times is the construction industry. The Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor announced that from 1 July 2025 migrants with building and construction-related skills will have their skills assessments fast tracked. This is to assist with urgent demand in the housing industry.

As a trusted registered migration agency, Visa Solutions Australia (VSA) provides an adjunct to the domestic workforce through the supply of offshore foreign skilled labour. Working closely with their clients, the VSA team sees first-hand how these skills processing delays affect productivity and the ability to meet demand.

How Can These Delays and Subsequent Issues Be Resolved?

The current reliance on VETASSES, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and the handful of skills assessment bodies authorised by the Australian Government to process skills assessments is a big factor when it comes to the delays in skills assessment processing. Clearly, these organisations don’t have the resources to handle the high volume of applications received.

While excessive wait times are the impetus for the frustrations experienced by applicants, the attitude of these assessing bodies is also being called in to question. Given there is limited competition when it comes to skills assessment authorities, it seems complacency may have set in and there is limited accountability for service speed or quality.

Perhaps it’s time for the Australian Government to consider alternatives or reforms to improve the skills assessment process. Authorising more assessing authorities per occupation will not only improve skills assessment processing wait times but also give applicants a choice when it comes to choosing a skills assessment body and create some competition that will encourage a better level of service and customer satisfaction.

Allowing offshore professional bodies to provide fast-tracked skills and trade equivalence can also help alleviate the pressure on the skills assessment system as would allowing private sector involvement at certain stages of the skills assessment process. Likewise, recognising reputable foreign bodies for direct skills transfers will free up local resources and aim to fill Australian skills shortages in a timely and effective manner.

The delays in skills assessment processing time results in businesses being unable able to fill immediate skills and labour shortages. This significantly impacts businesses through loss of productivity and revenue.

To learn more about skills assessments, clarify skills assessment processing time or any aspect of migration, contact the experienced team of registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia. Book a consultation.