EOI Validity and Updates: The Rules You Need to Know

How Long Is an EOI Valid?

An EOI lodged in SkillSelect is valid for 2 years from the date of lodgement. Throughout this period, your EOI is kept in the queue and can be selected in any invitation round if your score is high enough.

After the 2 years are up, the EOI automatically expires and is no longer considered. If you still want to continue your migration journey, you need to lodge a new EOI.

What Information Can Be Updated?

During the 2-year validity period, you can update most of the information in your EOI through ImmiAccount. Common updates:

A new English result. This is the most frequent update. When you re-sit and achieve a higher score (for example, from Proficient to Superior English), update it in your EOI immediately. The system recalculates the score straight away, and the new score takes effect from the time of the update.

Additional accumulated work experience. If you reach a new experience-year threshold (for example, from 4 years to 5 years, to jump from 5 points to 10 points of overseas experience), update your EOI to earn the higher points.

Marital status. If you marry after lodging the EOI and your partner meets the partner skills conditions, update it to be counted for the extra 10 points.

A new or renewed skills assessment. If your old skills assessment result has expired and you have re-assessed, update the new result.

Address and contact details. Always keep your email and phone number up to date so you do not miss notifications from DHA.

The Golden Rule: Updates Do NOT Reset Your Lodgement Date

This is the most important rule to grasp: in most cases, updating information in your EOI does not change your original lodgement date. The EOI lodgement date remains the date you first created and lodged the EOI.

This is extremely important because, in invitation rounds, when several EOIs have the same score, DHA gives priority to the EOI with the earlier lodgement date. If updating information reset your lodgement date, you would lose your timing advantage over people who lodged at the same time as you.

The Exception: Changing Your ANZSCO Code Resets the Lodgement Date

The most important exception: changing your occupation code (ANZSCO code) WILL reset your EOI lodgement date to the date of the change.

This is a hard rule with no exceptions. The reason is that the ANZSCO code determines which queue you are in. When you switch to a different ANZSCO code, you are essentially withdrawing from the old queue and joining a completely new one — so the lodgement date is counted from the start.

The practical consequence: if you are considering changing your ANZSCO code and already have an EOI lodged years ago with a valuable old lodgement date, think carefully. Sometimes it is better to:

• Keep the existing EOI with the old ANZSCO code (if it still has a chance of being invited)
• Create a new EOI with the new ANZSCO code in parallel (since you cannot have two active EOIs for the same visa type at once)

Or withdraw the old EOI and lodge a new one with a more suitable ANZSCO code, accepting the loss of the old lodgement date.

Do Updates Affect Your Position in the Queue?

With most updates (other than an ANZSCO change):

• If your score increases: You are placed higher in the queue based on the new score. You keep your old lodgement date but now have a higher score — meaning both a better score and a retained timing advantage.
• If your score is unchanged: Your position in the queue essentially does not change.
• If your score decreases (for example, your English result expires and you update with a lower new score): Your total score falls accordingly, and you may drop lower in the queue.

When Should You Consider Withdrawing and Re-Lodging an EOI?

Sometimes withdrawing your old EOI and lodging a new one is the right decision, even though you lose the old lodgement date:

When you need to change your ANZSCO code: As mentioned, changing occupation requires a new EOI. If the new occupation has better prospects, losing the old date is acceptable.

When your EOI is close to its 2-year expiry: If your EOI is about to expire and you have not been invited, you will need to withdraw and re-lodge anyway.

When there is a fundamental change in your profile: In some cases there is an important change (such as completing a new study program, or changing occupation) that cannot be updated within the current EOI.

Monitor Your EOI Regularly

Do not lodge an EOI and forget about it — this is a common mistake. You should check ImmiAccount at least once a week to:

• Avoid missing an ITA if you are invited
• Update promptly when something changes (a new English score, additional experience)
• Track the validity of your skills assessment and English results

Remember that the ITA has a 60-day deadline with no extension. Checking regularly is your best protection.