Key documents checklist

The following documents must be attached to prove your eligibility to apply for ACT nomination and the Canberra Matrix score claimed. A decision may solely be based on the documents in the application. We are not required to look at any documents other than the ones that you attached to the application. It is the responsibility of the applicant, or their agent, to ensure all documents are uploaded, accurate, and up to date at the date the application is submitted.

•   Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI summary: showing personal, education, English and employment details submitted.
•   Home Affairs SkillSelect points advice.
•   Current / valid skill assessment in the nominated occupation: all pages of the assessment must be attached and the skills assessment must be valid at the date of Matrix submission. If your current skills assessment is issued after you submit Canberra Matrix, you must also attach the previous one in your application. For medical and legal practitioners, we also accept the following as proof of a skills assessment:
• Full, unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
• conditional specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This only allows you to practise in your speciality. You need no further training or supervision
• admission to practice law in the relevant state or territory.
•   Passport bio-data page.
•   Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume: which clearly states personal details, educational qualifications and work experience.
•   Current Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO):
  • For yourself and partner/spouse (if applicable).
•   Declaration of ACT nomination obligations: a signed and witnessed declaration that you acknowledge and accept ACT nomination obligations to live and work in Canberra for at least two years from visa grant.
•   Bank statements: your banking activity must reflect that you are living and working in Canberra, including regular shopping activity, income / salary payments and bill payments:
• ACT Residence: your bank statements / transaction history must prove your claimed date of arrival in Canberra. You must also provide bank statements / transaction history for each year claimed as a period of ACT residence until the date of invitation to apply for ACT nomination.
• ACT employment: your bank statements / transaction history must record all income payments for the claimed period of ACT employment. Income payments must be highlighted, and the corresponding payments recorded on the Summary of Working Hours.
•   Summary of ACT residence: a clear record of your claimed period of ACT residence and any period you were not living in Canberra for more than seven days at a time; including holidays interstate or overseas.
•   ACT employment:
  • Employee:
    • If paid by EFT: All payslips or pay advice for the claimed period of ACT employment. If your income is consecutively paid into your bank account, you are only required to provide the first, mid and last payslips.
    • If paid by cash: All payslips for the claimed period of ACT employment. If there are corresponding cash deposits of your net income into your bank account (for each pay period) you are only required to provide the first, mid and last payslips to prove the claimed period of employment. Evidence of taxable income: Single Touch Payroll (STP) report.
    • Summary of Working Hours: a clear record of the total hours worked, and net salary paid for each pay cycle in the claimed period of ACT employment.
      • The net salary for each pay period must correspond with the transactions on the bank statements.
      • You must record every pay period: weekly, fortnightly, or monthly for the length of employment claimed. If you didn't work for a period, record the date but leave the hours / salary fields blank.
      • Any period of unpaid personal or maternity leave must be evidenced by a valid medical certificate. Unpaid personal or maternity leave cannot be counted towards a minimum number of weeks worked, but you can add the number of weeks worked to the number of weeks before you took leave after you returned to work.
      • If you are working for more than two employers in any claimed period, you can construct your own spreadsheet to clearly prove the total hours worked in any given week.
      • If the pay cycles of your employers do not line up, you must show the hours worked per pay cycle per employer AND the total hours worked per employer per week.
    • Statutory Declaration: Your employer MUST declare that you are employed in a genuine position in accordance with Australian legislation. The statutory declaration must confirm:
      • The position title, position description / duties and location of employment.
      • Start / end date of employment.
      • Average hours worked each week.
      • Annual taxable income (or hourly rate).
  • Self-employed (if you are not a small business owner):
    • Australian Business Number (ABN).
    • Proof of work undertaken, e.g., tax invoices; client schedules; work sheets; partner payment summaries; working hours log sheets etc.
    • Australian Tax Office (ATO) evidence of taxable income: Single Touch Payroll (STP) report for the business or Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments for the last 12 months.
    • Bank statements for the claimed employment period showing income credits.
    • Summary of Working Hours: a clear record of the total hours worked, and net salary paid for each pay cycle in the claimed period of ACT employment.
    • Statutory Declaration. You MUST sign a statutory declaration confirming your self-employment:
      • A brief description of your ACT business activity.
      • ABN, business name, trading name and business address.
      • Start date of ACT trading and annual taxable income.
  • Small business owner:
    • ASIC Current and Historical Australian Registered Body Extract. This document should also evidence majority business ownership.
    • ACT business activity information:
    • Lodged Business Activity Statements (BAS), including the most recent one. As long as you have uploaded the most recent BAS, it does not need to cover the entire period up to date of Canberra Matrix submission.
    • Accountant prepared financial report.
    • Business bank statement (must show your income and your employee's wage payments).
    • Australian Tax Office (ATO) evidence of applicant's income: Single Touch Payroll (STP) report for the business and business owner’s individual tax return - notice of assessment.
    • Employee information
      • Attachment C: Summary of working hours for qualifying employee
      • First and last payslip.
    • You MUST sign a statutory declaration confirming your ACT business activity:
      • A brief description of your ACT business activity.
      • ABN, business name, trading name and business address.
      • Start date of ACT trading, annual turnover, and net profit.
      • Your annual taxable income.
      • Number of employees, citizenship or residence, location of their employment and confirmation that they are employed in a genuine position in accordance with Australian legislation.
•    English:
  • A valid English language test result that meets the Department of Home Affairs requirement for the claimed level of English ability for the main applicant and / or partner. The English test result must be valid at the date of Matrix submission.
  • If the current test is taken after you submit Canberra Matrix, you must also attach the previous one in your application.
  • If the current test expires before you receive ACT nomination, it is your responsibility to obtain a valid English test before you are nominated.
  • For competent English only: a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom; Canada; New Zealand; United States of America; or Republic of Ireland.
  • For the spouse/partner only: an Australian passport if claiming competent English.
•    Spouse/partner (if applicable):
  • Passport bio-data page.
  • Proof of relationship: marriage certificate, civil partnership/union registration, or VEVO secondary applicant status for yourself or spouse/partner.
  • Proof of residence:
    • If they are living in Canberra, attach bank statements to prove their ACT residence and the 'Summary of ACT residence'. If they are not living in Canberra, attach evidence they are overseas.
•   Partner / spouse employment (if applicatble):
  • Proof of ‘competent’ English; or hold an Australian passport.
  • Employee
    • Bank statement to prove the claimed period of employment; with salary payments highlighted.
    • First, middle and last pay slips for claimed period of employment.
    • Summary of Working Hours.
    • Statutory Declaration from their employer declaring that they are employed in a genuine position in accordance with Australian legislation. The statutory declaration must confirm their position title, location of employment, position description / duties, salary (or hourly rate) and commencement date. (Attachment E)
    • Valid skills assessment relevant to current occupation (if applicable).
    • Relevant qualification (if applicable): academic transcript and completion letter from the Australian tertiary institution.
  • For self-employed only:
    • Australian Business Number (ABN).
    • Proof of work undertaken e.g., tax invoices; client schedules; work sheets; partner payment summaries; working hours log sheets etc.
    • Australian Tax Office (ATO) income reports: Single Touch Payroll (STP) or Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments.
    • Bank statements for the claimed employment period showing income credits.
    • They MUST sign a statutory declaration confirming their self-employment:
    • A brief description of their ACT business activity.
    • ABN, business name, trading name and address.
    • Start date of ACT trading.
    • Annual taxable income.
  • Not working: an academic transcript and completion letter from the Australian tertiary institution.
•   Tertiary qualification
  • Academic Transcript: record of your enrolment history, including results received, courses attempted, and awards conferred.
  • Letter of course completion from tertiary institution.
•   Financial capacity:
  • While you are not required to provide proof of your financial capacity, you must declare your assets available for settlement purposes when completing the online application.
•   Close family members living in Canberra
  • Proof of the close familial relationship with the Canberra resident:
    • Spouse/partner: marriage certificate, civil partnership/union certificate; or
    • Birth certificates to prove the familial relationship between you and the ACT family member.
  • From your Canberra relative:
    • Proof of two years ACT residence: bank statements, rates notice, utilities bill or PAYG summary; and
    • Proof of Australian citizenship or residency.
  Please note: statutory declarations will NOT be accepted as proof of relationship.
•   ACT assets:
  • Residential or commercial property: Certificate of Title and/or rates notice; purchase settlement statement; proof of minimum $250,000 cash investment; letter of mortgage approval (if applicable).

The following documents must be attached to prove your eligibility to apply for ACT nomination and the Canberra Matrix score claimed. A decision may solely be based on the documents in the application. We are not required to look at any documents other than the ones that you attached to the application. It is the responsibility of the applicant, or their agent, to ensure all documents are uploaded, accurate, and up to date at the date the application is submitted.

•   Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI summary: showing personal, education, English and employment details submitted.
•   Home Affairs SkillSelect points advice.
•   Current / valid skill assessment in the nominated occupation with points advice showing dates of the relevant work experience assessed: all pages of the assessment must be attached and the dates on the skill assessment must substantiate your eligibility and Canberra Matrix claim. If your current / valid skills assessment is issued after you submit your Canberra Matrix, you must also attach the skill assessment in your application that was valid at date of Canberra Matrix submission.
•   Passport bio-data page.
•   Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume: which clearly states personal details, educational qualifications, and work experience.
•   Current Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO):
  • For yourself and partner/spouse (if applicable).
•   Declaration of ACT nomination obligations: a signed and witnessed declaration that you acknowledge and accept ACT nomination obligations to live and work in Canberra for at least two years from visa grant.
•    English:
  • A valid English language test result that meets the Department of Home Affairs requirement for the level of English ability you have claimed (in the Canberra Matrix and / or ACT eligibility criteria). The English test result must be valid at the date of Matrix submission and continue to be valid until the date of nomination.
  • If your current test is taken after you submit Canberra Matrix, you must also attach the previous one in your application.
  • If your current test expires before you receive ACT nomination, it is your responsibility to obtain a valid English test before you are nominated.
  • For competent English only: a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom; Canada; New Zealand; United States of America; or Republic of Ireland.
  • For the spouse/partner only: an Australian passport if claiming competent English.
•   Previous ACT residence
  • International Movement Record from the Department of Home Affairs.
  • The claimed arrival date in Canberra must be proven by a bank statement/s showing commencement of ACT transaction activity. Note: visits to Canberra do not meet the residence criteria. Your bank statements must reflect that you were living and settled in Canberra.
  • Proof of having stayed at least seven consecutive nights in Canberra, including date of arrival and departure, accommodation receipts or evidence of close family ties, and flight itinerary. A statement about staying with friends / family is not proof.
•   Relevant Overseas Work experience
  • Current skills assessment with points advice and dates of the relevant work experience assessed (if this service is provided by the assessing body). The skills assessment must substantiate your eligibility and Canberra Matrix claim of overseas work experience.
  • You can claim relevant overseas work experience in addition to the years specified in your points tested skills assessment, provided that the employment has already been positively assessed (e.g. you continued to be employed in the same position that has already been assessed and your skills assessment remains valid). The duration of any relevant employment not included on the skills assessment must be evidenced with an employment reference letter, salary statements, and an employment contract (including duties and responsibilities).
  • The SkillSelect EOI must record the relevant work experience.
•   ACT job offer (if applicable):
  • ACT employment contract
  • Evidence that the ACT employer has tested the labour market within the last three months and is unable to find an Australian Citizen or permanent resident to fill the position.
  • Employer statutory declaration: (if applicable): your ACT employer MUST declare:
  • your position title, position description, duties, salary, and proposed commencement date.
  • that you will be employed in a genuine position in Canberra in accordance with Australian legislation.
  • the position is relevant to the operations of the business.
  • the minimum period of employment is for at least two years.
•   ACT employability
  • Attach an employability statement explaining the research you have undertaken of the ACT labour market and confirm that you are satisfied that your skillset and experience are relevant to the ACT economy and that you are employable in Canberra in your nominated occupation. Please note: you may not be eligible to apply for positions within the Australian Government due to citizenship / security clearance requirements.
•   Spouse/partner (if applicable):
  • Passport bio-data page.
  • Proof of relationship: marriage certificate, civil partnership/union registration, or VEVO secondary applicant status for yourself or spouse/partner.
  • If you cannot legally obtain a relationship certificate in your country of residence, you can still claim points provided you request a waiver for this requirement. You must demonstrate that you cannot legally obtain a relationship document, that you are in a de facto relationship, and your partner must be listed as a secondary applicant on your visa.
•   Spouse/partner employability (if applicable):
  • Evidence of six months full time employment e.g. payslips and employer statement of service.
  • Proof they meet the Department of Home Affairs requirement for ‘competent’ English; or hold an Australian passport. If you have claimed points for your partner's English level, they must have an English test at the claimed level.
  • Valid skills assessment relevant to their current occupation (if applicable).
  • Academic transcript to evidence the claimed period of full-time study (if applicable).
•   Tertiary qualification
  • Academic Transcript: record of your enrolment history, including results received, courses attempted, and awards conferred.
  • Letter of course completion from tertiary institution.
•   Period of completed ACT study (if applicable)
  • Academic Transcript from ACT institution: record of your enrolment history, including results received, courses attempted, and awards conferred.
  • Letter of course completion from ACT tertiary institution.
•   Close family members living in Canberra
  • Proof of the close familial relationship with the Canberra resident:
    • Spouse/partner: marriage certificate, civil partnership/union certificate; or
    • Birth certificates to prove the familial relationship between you and the ACT family member.
  • From your Canberra relative:
    • Proof of two years ACT residence: bank statements, rates notice, utilities bill or PAYG summary; and
    • Proof of Australian citizenship or residency.
  Please note: statutory declarations will NOT be accepted as proof of relationship.
•   Commitment statement: In no more than two pages, explain in your own words why you want to live in Canberra for at least two years from date of arrival.
  • Signed declaration committing to living and working in Canberra for at least two years from the date of permanent arrival in Australia.
•   Financial capacity:
  • Signed financial declaration declaring you own sufficient assets to fund your migration to Australia and settlement in Canberra..
•   ACT assets:
  • Residential or commercial property: Certificate of Title and/or rates notice; purchase settlement statement; proof of minimum $250,000 cash investment; letter of mortgage approval (if applicable).
  • Evidence of majority business ownership, ABN, ASIC Current and Historical Australian Registered Body Extract, Business Activity Statements (BAS) for the last six months.