Lodging Your EOI From Overseas: The Process and What to Know

Can You Lodge an EOI From Overseas?

The short answer is: yes. You can lodge a SkillSelect EOI while overseas, without needing to be physically present in Australia. The EOI is an online system, and DHA does not require applicants to be residing in Australia when they lodge.

This is good news for most people planning skilled migration — you can prepare and lodge your EOI from your home country or anywhere else in the world.

Conditions to Have Ready Before Lodging an EOI

Before lodging an EOI, you need to make sure you have completed the basic preparation steps:

Step 1 — Complete a skills assessment. This is a prerequisite. You must have a positive outcome from an assessing authority recognised by DHA for your occupation. A skills assessment usually takes 2–6 months depending on the authority and the complexity of your case.

Step 2 — Hold a current English test result. You need to reach at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band, or the equivalent in PTE/TOEFL). Test results are valid for 3 years from the test date. Make sure the result is still valid not only when you lodge the EOI but also when you receive the ITA and lodge the visa application.

Step 3 — Know your ANZSCO code. The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the occupation code you will use in your EOI. This code must match your skills assessment result.

Step 4 — Calculate your expected EOI score. Before lodging, calculate your estimated score and compare it with the occupation’s cutoff history to assess your realistic prospects.

Creating an ImmiAccount

ImmiAccount is DHA’s online account system — where you log in to lodge and manage your EOI. To create an account:

1. Go to the ImmiAccount home page on the DHA website.
2. Select “Create an ImmiAccount” and enter your basic personal details: name, date of birth, email.
3. Confirm your email to activate the account.
4. Log in and start creating a new EOI.

Note: each person should only create one ImmiAccount. Creating multiple accounts breaches the terms of use and can affect your migration record.

The Process of Lodging an EOI From Overseas

Once you have the conditions in place and an ImmiAccount, the process of lodging an EOI is fairly straightforward.

In the EOI, you will need to declare:

• Personal details (name, date of birth, nationality, marital status)
• ANZSCO code and the visa type you are targeting (189, 190, 491, or multiple types)
• English results (entering your test scores and the date issued)
• Educational qualifications
• Work experience (occupation, company, dates, role)
• Information about your partner (if any)
• Information relevant to bonus points (study in Australia, community language, and so on)

The system automatically calculates your EOI score as soon as you enter the information. You can view your expected score before formally lodging.

A Note on Documents When Lodging an EOI

This is a point many people get confused about: when lodging an EOI, you do not need to submit original documents. The EOI is only a declaration of information while you wait to be invited. Supporting documents are only required when you receive an ITA and lodge the formal visa application.

That said, this does not mean you can declare incorrectly. All information declared in the EOI must be truthful and provable with documents. DHA will check carefully after you receive an ITA.

Updating Your EOI After Lodgement

After lodging an EOI, you can still update information at any time through ImmiAccount. Common situations that require an update:

• A new English score: If you re-sit and achieve a higher score, update it immediately so the system recalculates your EOI score.
• A change in marital status: If you marry after lodging the EOI, update it to check whether you are now eligible for partner points.
• A change of occupation: Be careful — changing your ANZSCO code will reset your EOI lodgement date to the date of the change.

Common Mistakes When Lodging an EOI From Overseas

Declaring experience too broadly. Many people declare all of their work experience without carefully checking whether it matches their nominated ANZSCO code. Experience unrelated to the occupation in your EOI will not be counted.

Forgetting to check the validity of the skills assessment. A skills assessment has a time limit (usually 3 years). If it expires while your EOI is waiting, you may be excluded from consideration.

Not checking ImmiAccount regularly. The ITA is notified through ImmiAccount, not personal email. If you do not check, you may miss the ITA and lose the 60-day deadline.

Using an unstable email address. Use a reliable personal email (such as Gmail) rather than a company or school email — these can be deleted when you leave a job or graduate.