New validity requirements for skills assessments

Up until July 2014, skills assessments by official Australian skills bodies were deemed to be valid indefinitely. From July 2014, a skills assessment continues to be a mandatory part of a skilled visa application, but that assessment is now only valid for three years from the date of issue, unless a shorter period of validity is specified.
A skills assessment must be valid as the time of lodgement for the following visas:
Employer Nominated Scheme – subclass 186
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme – Subclass 187
Temporary Graduate – Subclass 485
A skills assessment must be valid at the time of invitation to apply through SkillSelect for the following visas:
Skilled Independent – Subclass 189
Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
Skilled Regional – Subclass 489
Please note that these do not affect Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 visas.