Working Abroad: What are the Top Documents You Need Before Applying for Work in Australia

Excited ka na ba magtrabaho sa Australia?

Starting your journey to work in Australia is exciting, but it also requires preparation. Kailangan mo din itong paghandaan para mas tumaas ang chances mong sumakses sa Australia!

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is waiting too late to organize their documents. Tandaan, mas ready, mas okay.

We know from experience that having complete and correct documents from the start can make a big difference—it helps you get selected faster, avoids delays, and ensures your application moves smoothly through every stage.

Before you apply, here are the documents you should prepare:

1. Updated Resume and Valid Passport

Your resume is often the first impression employers will have of you. It should clearly show your work history, training, and skills. (READ: Tips on how to write your resume)

Meron din kaming resume templates na maaring mong gamitin sa iyong pag-aapply.

You’ll also need a valid passport with enough years left before expiration. This is a basic but critical requirement for both employers and visa processing.

2. Training and School Certificates

These documents not only prove your education and qualifications, but they may also help you qualify for an English language exemption. For example:

• If you completed five years of education in English, you may not need to take IELTS or PTE.
• If your training or schooling was in a recognized English-medium institution, it could also count toward exemption.

This is why we strongly encourage candidates to secure all their training and school records early such as Transcript of Records (TOR) for college/vocational, Form 137 for High School and Medium of English Instruction (MOI) Certificate for both college and High School attainment.

3. Employment Records

Employers and assessing bodies want to see a clear and verifiable work history. These are the common requirements:

• Reference letters – These should be on company letterhead and signed by your employer or supervisor. They typically include your job title, employment dates, detailed duties, and whether you worked full-time or part-time. If you are no longer connected to the company, a letter from your previous supervisor will be sufficient as long as they can be contactable and can attest to your skills and qualifications.
• Certificates of Employment (COE) – Similar to reference letters, but usually shorter and focused on employment confirmation.
• Salary evidence – Acceptable proofs include payslips, bank statements showing salary deposits, government contribution such as SSS records or tax records. This help verify that your employment was genuine and paid.

Having these ready is essential for both client selection and skills assessment with Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).

4. Skills Assessment Requirements (TRA)

For most trade occupations, you will need to undergo a skills assessment through TRA. This process confirms that your skills and experience meet Australian standards. The assessment usually requires:

• Training and education certificates
• Detailed employment references
• Salary evidence (payslips, bank records, or tax documents)
• Work samples or trade tests (depending on the occupation)

You can check the official requirements for your occupation on the TRA website. Collecting these documents early avoids delays and increases your chance of success.

5. Police Clearance Certificates

Character checks are part of the visa process. The main document you’ll need is an NBI Clearance. However, if you’ve worked or lived overseas for a total of 12 months or more in the past 10 years, you will also need police clearances from those countries. Gathering these documents can take time, so it’s best to plan ahead.

Why This Matters

At Cirrus Global, we’ve adjusted our recruitment process to collect documents earlier—before client selection. This way, we know your application is strong, you’re better prepared for interviews or trade tests, and you avoid cancellations due to missing requirements.

Final Word

Think of your documents as your ticket to Australia. The more complete and accurate they are, the smoother your journey will be. With Cirrus Global guiding you, you’ll know exactly what to prepare, when to submit it, and how each requirement brings you closer to your goal.

Tandaan— mas kumpletong documents, mas panalo ka, Ka-Cirrus!