RPL Certificate Cancelled — Could Your Visa Be Next?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been receiving an unusual number of calls, emails, and messages from skilled visa holders and applicants caught in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) cancellation saga.

For many, the first question is:

“If my RPL is cancelled, will my visa be cancelled too?”

It’s a fair question — but the truth is far more layered than most people realise. Let’s break it down.

What is RPL and Why It’s Used in Migration

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows your existing skills and work experience to be formally recognised as equivalent to an Australian qualification.

For migration purposes, RPL is often the first step toward a positive skills assessment — a key requirement for visas such as:

• Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand Visa

• Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme

• General Skilled Migration visas (Subclass 189, 190, 491)

Many RPL applicants have already passed technical interviews or practical skills assessments. Their ability to perform in their nominated occupation has never been in doubt.

Why Are RPLs Being Cancelled?

The current wave of cancellations is linked to ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) deregistering certain training providers.

When a provider loses its registration, every qualification they issued can be reviewed or cancelled. Common reasons include:

• Failing to meet national training standards

• Poor record-keeping or administration

• Fraudulent or unethical issuing of qualifications

• Quality or delivery failures

Does RPL Cancellation Automatically Cancel Your Visa?

No — it doesn’t work that way.

Here’s the usual sequence:

1. Your skills assessment authority (e.g., TRA) reviews whether to uphold or withdraw your skills assessment.

2. If they withdraw it, the Department of Home Affairs considers whether your visa is affected.

3. If they believe cancellation is justified, they must issue a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation (NOICC).

4. You have 28 days to respond and present your case.

Until those steps occur, your visa is not automatically at risk.

The Reality

For this process to be applied to every RPL holder — and we’re talking hundreds, possibly thousands of people — the Department would need an enormous amount of time, staff, and resources. In practice, it’s unrealistic for them to investigate each case in depth.

Even in the small percentage of situations where a NOICC is issued, a well-prepared response from an experienced migration professional can often resolve the matter in your favour.

While it’s making headlines today, this is the kind of saga that will eventually fade. For most visa holders, life — and their visa — will continue without interruption.

When Should You Be Concerned?

You should act quickly if:

• Your visa application is still in process and relies on that RPL-backed skills assessment.

• Your assessing authority has already withdrawn your skills assessment.

• You receive a NOICC from the Department.

In these cases, immediate migration advice is critical.

Final Word

We don’t live in a perfect world — or a perfect world class migration system. Many RPL holders have already proven their skills through technical interviews, on-the-job performance, and years of real industry experience. If the need ever arises, they can obtain a new RPL or pass another assessment to defend their case.

In other words, most people will be fine. But when you’re navigating the uncertainty of Australia’s visa system, you need the right guidance from someone who knows exactly where the pitfalls are — and how to steer you away from them. And if the Department ever sends that dreaded NOICC, you already know where to find me.