What are the main steps in applying for a skilled permanent resident visa?

The application is a 3-stage process consisting of lodgement of an application for assessment of qualifications and work experience with a nominated assessing body in the particular occupation, secondly after a successful assessment into an appropriate job classification code according to the ANZSCO Dictionary, EOI lodgement followed by an invitation from department to lodge a visa and lodgement of a visa application.  The Department of Immigration requires all of the documents lodged for assessment of the qualifications and work experience with the assessing body to be again lodged with the visa application as the Department of Immigration carried out a fresh assessment of the qualification and work experience of the visa applicant.