Australia Skilled Visa Document Checklist for Kenyan Applicants
Australia Skilled Visa Document Checklist for Kenyan Applicants
The Australian skilled visa application involves documents that span four or five different phases, several Nairobi-based institutions, and a mix of digital and physical processes. Getting one document wrong — a DCI certificate that has expired, a reference letter missing a supervisor's contact details, or a transcript not sent directly from the registrar — can trigger a request for further information from the Department of Home Affairs, adding months to your processing time.
This checklist covers everything you need, organised by phase, with Kenya-specific logistics for each item.
Phase 1: Skills Assessment Documents
These are submitted to the relevant assessing authority (ACS, Engineers Australia, ANMAC, CPA Australia, or VETASSESS). Different authorities have slightly different requirements, but the core documents are consistent.
Academic Qualifications
Official transcripts:
Must be sent directly from your Kenyan university registrar to the assessing authority — not from you personally. Universities typically require 4–8 weeks to process.
- University of Nairobi: Apply through the Registrar's office at the relevant college. Request transcripts addressed to the specific assessing authority.
- JKUAT: Applications through the Registrar's office; allow 6 weeks.
- Strathmore University: Online request system available; typically faster than public universities.
- Kenya Medical Training Colleges (for nursing diplomas): Request directly from your specific KMTC.
Degree certificate / award letter:
Certified copy of your original degree certificate. "Certified" means a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public has signed confirming it is a true copy of the original. This is separate from the transcripts.
CUE Recognition Letter (when required):
Some authorities (ANMAC, AITSL) request a Commission for University Education confirmation of your university's recognition status. Available from CUE offices in Nairobi for nationally chartered universities.
Employment Evidence
Employer reference letters:
For each period of employment claimed, you need a letter from the employer on official letterhead confirming:
- Your full name
- Your job title
- Start and end dates (exact: day/month/year)
- A specific description of your duties (not a job description — what you personally did)
- Name, title, and direct contact (corporate email + phone) of the signing supervisor
- Company stamp or seal where available
Financial evidence of employment:
For each employer, at least one of:
- Bank statements showing monthly salary credits (3–6 months minimum per employer)
- M-Pesa statements if salary was paid via mobile money (download certified M-Pesa statement from the Safaricom App or Safaricom Business portal; ensure it shows the employer as the sender)
- Payslips for the claimed period
Tax documents:
KRA PIN confirmation and P9 form (annual tax certificate from employer) strengthen employment evidence, particularly for the ACS and VETASSESS assessments.
For ANMAC (nurses only):
NCK Verification of Registration — must be sent directly from the Nursing Council of Kenya (email from @nck.go.ke address) to ANMAC. Contact NCK to request this; allow 4–6 weeks.
Phase 2: English Test Results
Your test result must come directly from the testing body and be submitted to the assessing authority or Department of Home Affairs via official channels.
PTE Academic:
Request official score report sharing through the Pearson portal (pearsonpte.com). Computer Pride Ltd in Nairobi is the main test centre. Test fee approximately USD 225 (KES 30,000–35,000). Results available within 48 hours.
IELTS:
Available at British Council Nairobi, IDP Education Nairobi (Westlands), and centres in Eldoret and Kisumu. Fee approximately KES 41,580. Results in 3–5 business days for paper-based; 2–5 days for computer-based.
Score requirements for 20 points (Superior English):
- PTE: 79+ overall, with 88+ in Speaking and 85+ in Writing (under August 2025 rules)
- IELTS: 8.0 in each band
Score requirements for 10 points (Proficient English):
- PTE: 65+ in each component
- IELTS: 7.0 in each band
Phase 3: After Skills Assessment — EOI and Nomination
Once you have your positive skills assessment, you submit an EOI in SkillSelect (the Department of Home Affairs' online system). No documents are lodged at this stage — your EOI is a self-declaration that states invite you based on.
When a state nominates you, you apply to that state's program. State nomination applications typically require:
- Copy of skills assessment letter
- English test result
- Evidence of any Australian connections (optional but helpful)
- Statement of intent for the specific state (some states require this)
Free Download
Get the Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide — Quick-Start Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Phase 4: Visa Application Documents
After receiving nomination, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application in ImmiAccount. This is the most document-intensive phase.
Identity Documents
- Valid passport (must cover the intended residence period; ideally valid for 5+ years from lodgement)
- Kenyan National ID card (certified copy)
- Birth certificate (certified copy)
- Marriage certificate if applicable (certified copy)
- Children's birth certificates (certified copies)
Health: IOM Nairobi Medical Examination
Two authorised locations for Australia visa health examinations in Kenya:
IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre:
78 United Nations Crescent, Gigiri, Nairobi
Book via the IOM MHAC online portal using your HAP ID (Health Assessment Prerequisite — generated after lodging the visa application in ImmiAccount).
Aga Khan University Hospital — Family Medicine:
Parklands, Nairobi
Book through Aga Khan's dedicated visa medical portal.
Examination components:
- Adults (15+): Physical examination + chest X-ray + blood tests (HIV, syphilis for some visa types). Fee: USD 185
- Healthcare workers (nurses, doctors): Enhanced pathology including Hepatitis B and C. Fee: USD 225
- Children 11–14: Medical examination + chest X-ray. Fee: USD 155
- Children 2–10: Medical examination + TB blood test (IGRA). Fee: USD 140
- Under 2: Medical examination only. Fee: USD 110
TB screening note: Kenya is classified as a moderate TB prevalence country. All applicants receive chest X-ray screening. If your X-ray shows any opacity or abnormality, IOM will require sputum samples on three consecutive days for TB culture testing. Culture results take 8–10 weeks. This is the single most common cause of extended processing delays for Kenyan visa applications.
Timing: Obtain the HAP ID from ImmiAccount after lodging the visa application, then book the IOM appointment. Medicals are valid for 12 months from the date of examination.
Character: DCI Certificate of Good Conduct
Required for everyone who has lived in Kenya for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Process:
- Visit ecitizen.go.ke and apply for Certificate of Good Conduct
- Pay KES 1,050 via M-Pesa or bank transfer on the portal
- Print the C24 fingerprint form (both sides on one A4 sheet) and the two-page payment invoice
- Book an appointment at DCI Headquarters (Kiambu Road, Nairobi) or a Huduma Centre (City Square, GPO, or Eastleigh branch)
- Attend with your National ID, passport, C24 form, and invoice
- Wait for SMS notification when the certificate is available
- Download from the eCitizen portal
Processing time: 2–4 weeks from fingerprinting appointment to certificate availability. In peak periods, it can extend to 6 weeks.
Validity: 12 months. Obtain the certificate after receiving your state nomination and close to your visa lodgement date — not months in advance.
If you've lived in other countries for 12+ months in the last 10 years, you also need police clearances from those countries. For Gulf experience, see the Gulf returnee post for country-specific processes.
Biometrics: VFS Global Westlands
After lodging the visa application, you will be instructed to provide biometrics (fingerprints and digital photo).
Location: VFS Global Australian Biometric Collection Centre, 5th Floor, Parkfield Place, Muthangari Drive, Westlands, Nairobi
Appointment: Strictly by appointment only — book online at vfsglobal.com
Fee: Approximately KES 4,222
Required: Valid Kenyan passport
Walk-ins are not accepted. Book your appointment as soon as the Department of Home Affairs instructs biometrics — there can be waiting times for available slots.
Financial Evidence (Some Applications)
For some visa pathways and sponsorship types, proof of funds may be required. For general skilled migration (189, 190, 491) without a state sponsorship requirement, funds evidence is not a standard requirement in the visa application itself — but you should have savings to cover the post-arrival period.
Statutory Declarations
Some visa forms require statutory declarations (sworn statements) signed before a Commissioner for Oaths. Kenyan advocates and commissioners for oaths can prepare and witness these. Requirements vary by specific form and whether you have additional dependencies or circumstances to declare.
Paying the Visa Fee From Kenya: M-Pesa GlobalPay
The visa application fee (AUD 4,640 for 190/491/189) is paid in Australian Dollars through ImmiAccount. Credit/debit cards issued outside Australia can be used, with M-Pesa GlobalPay being the most accessible option for Kenyans without international bank cards.
Activating M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card:
- Open the M-Pesa App (Safaricom)
- Select "Global Pay" from the menu
- Activate the virtual Visa card (one-time setup)
- Use the virtual card number and 30-minute dynamic CVV for online payment
Limits:
- Maximum single transaction: KES 150,000
- Daily limit: KES 300,000
- Forex markup: 3.5% on transaction value
The limit problem: AUD 4,640 at current rates is approximately KES 410,000 — exceeding the daily M-Pesa GlobalPay limit of KES 300,000.
Solutions:
- Pay in two transactions across two days (KES 300,000 on day one, remainder on day two) — confirm with ImmiAccount whether split payments are accepted
- Use a Kenyan bank's international Visa/Mastercard with higher limits (check daily cap with your bank first — Equity, KCB, NCBA, Standard Chartered all issue international cards)
- If you have a family member or friend with an Australian bank account, they can pay from their account and you transfer them the equivalent in KES
Payment timing: Initiate payment immediately when ready. The dynamic CVV expires after 30 minutes, and ImmiAccount payment sessions can time out. Have your card details ready before starting the payment process.
Document Checklist Summary Table
| Document | Source | Kenya-Specific Note |
|---|---|---|
| Official university transcripts | University registrar (direct to assessor) | Allow 6–8 weeks; request early |
| Degree certificate (certified copy) | Commissioner for Oaths | Must be certified true copy |
| Employer reference letters | Each employer | Must include duty descriptions + supervisor contact |
| Bank/M-Pesa salary statements | Your bank or Safaricom | Cover all claimed employment periods |
| KRA PIN + P9 tax certificate | Kenya Revenue Authority / employer | Strengthens employment verification |
| NCK Verification (nursing only) | NCK → direct to ANMAC | Must come from @nck.go.ke email |
| PTE or IELTS result | Pearson / British Council | Via official score sharing portal |
| Valid passport | Kenya Government | Must cover intended residency period |
| DCI Certificate of Good Conduct | eCitizen portal | Obtain post-nomination, before lodgement |
| IOM medical results | IOM Gigiri or Aga Khan Parklands | Book using HAP ID from ImmiAccount |
| VFS Global biometrics | VFS Westlands (by appointment) | After lodgement, per DHA instruction |
| Gulf country PCCs (if applicable) | UAE/Saudi/other embassy | Allow 4–6 weeks per country |
| Marriage certificate (if applicable) | Kenya Registry | Certified copy required |
| Children's birth certificates | Kenya Registry | Certified copies |
The Kenya to Australia Skilled Migration Guide provides full document preparation instructions for each item on this list, including reference letter templates, the DCI eCitizen walkthrough step by step, and how to structure M-Pesa salary evidence for the ACS and VETASSESS assessments.
Get Your Free Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide — Quick-Start Checklist
Download the Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide — Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.