DE Stream

Age

Must be under 45 at time of application, unless in one of three exemption categories: academic applicants, science applicants, or Subclass 444/461 workers.

English Language

Must have competent English at time of application. No exemptions currently apply for DE stream applicants.

Subclass 491 or 494 Visa Holders

Same 3-year holding requirement applies as in the TRT stream.

The Position and Nomination

The position must match the DE stream nomination. The criteria cannot be satisfied if the nomination was approved under the TRT stream, or if the position differs from the one nominated. The person employing the applicant must be the nominator. The same 6-month time limit, nomination approval, adverse information and position availability rules apply as in the TRT stream.

Skills Assessment and 3 Years Work Experience

At time of application, the applicant must have had their skills assessed as suitable for the nominated occupation and been employed in that occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis at the required skill level — unless in an exemption category.

Skills assessment rules: Must have been obtained before the visa application date. Must be for the exact 6-digit ANZSCO occupation code. Where a positive assessment exists for the same 4-digit unit group but a different 6-digit code, the officer may request confirmation from the assessing authority that the applicant would meet a skills assessment for the nominated occupation.

Validity: Assessments with an expiry date of 3 years or less are invalid after that date. Assessments without an expiry date or with a date more than 3 years from the assessment date are treated as valid for 3 years from the date of assessment.

Trade occupations: TRA is the assessing authority. Assessments under the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) by a TRA-approved RTO are accepted. "Job Ready" TRA assessments are acceptable only if marked as a Final Assessment.

3-year work experience: Does not need to be continuous or immediately before the application. Full-time means an average of 38 hours per week. Part-time work counts pro-rata — for example, 50% part-time requires 6 years. Unpaid and volunteer work cannot be counted. Career breaks, unemployment and unpaid leave must be excluded. The applicant must demonstrate tasks performed match the nominated occupation at the same level of complexity and responsibility. Officers focus on tasks performed, not job titles. Any period spent in a training capacity — apprenticeships, traineeships or assistant roles — does not count. The applicant must have been fully qualified and working without restriction during the 3-year period.