Australia's skilled migration points test ranks applicants based on factors like age, English ability, work experience, qualifications, and bonus criteria. You need a minimum of 65 points to be invited. Invitations depend on SkillSelect rounds and are often above the minimum. The points test applies to the Subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas. Every factor has a maximum, and understanding how to optimise your score is critical to a successful application.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Minimum score | 65 points |
| Score needed for an invitation | Set by each SkillSelect round, and often above the minimum |
| Maximum possible | 130 points without nomination (145 with 491 nomination or family sponsorship) |
| Assessed at | Date of invitation |
| Applies to | Subclass 189, 190, 491 |
Complete Points Breakdown
Age (Maximum 30 Points)
Your age at the time of invitation determines your points. This is the single largest non-English factor.
| Age Range | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–24 years | 25 |
| 25–32 years | 30 |
| 33–39 years | 25 |
| 40–44 years | 15 |
| 45 or older | Not eligible (must be under 45 when invited) |
Strategy: The 25–32 bracket is the sweet spot. If you're 24, waiting a year gets you 5 extra points. If you're 32, apply before your 33rd birthday. The drop from 30 to 25 at age 33 — and the devastating drop from 25 to 15 at age 40 — makes timing critical.
English Language Ability (Maximum 20 Points)
English proficiency is tested through approved tests, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge C1 Advanced. On 7 August 2025 the approved tests and scores changed. The table shows the minimum score in each of the 4 test components for tests taken on or after that date, from the Home Affairs English pages.
| Level | IELTS | PTE | TOEFL iBT | Cambridge | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent | 6.0 each | L47, R48, W51, S54 | L16, R16, W19, S19 | L163, R163, W170, S179 | 0 |
| Proficient | 7.0 each | L58, R59, W69, S76 | L22, R22, W26, S24 | L175, R179, W193, S194 | 10 |
| Superior | 8.0 each | L69, R70, W85, S88 | L26, R27, W30, S28 | L186, R190, W210, S208 | 20 |
Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 use the old scores (for example PTE Academic 50, 65 or 79 in each component, and Cambridge 169, 185 or 200). Home Affairs says these older results may be used "until 6 August 2028, inclusive", depending on the visa.
Strategy: The gap between Competent (0 points) and Superior (20 points) is enormous. For many applicants, improving English from proficient to superior is the most impactful thing they can do. A 20-point boost often costs less time and money than gaining equivalent points through other factors.
PTE Academic is widely considered the most achievable test for high scores due to its computer-based marking system. Note that the Superior PTE score for tests taken from 7 August 2025 is no longer 79 in each part. It is 69 listening, 70 reading, 85 writing and 88 speaking.
Skilled Employment — Australian (Maximum 20 Points)
Work experience in your nominated (or closely related) skilled occupation, performed in Australia. Must be post-qualification.
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1–2 years | 5 |
| 3–4 years | 10 |
| 5–7 years | 15 |
| 8+ years | 20 |
Skilled Employment — Overseas (Maximum 15 Points)
Work experience in your nominated occupation, performed outside Australia.
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3–4 years | 5 |
| 5–7 years | 10 |
| 8+ years | 15 |
Strategy: Australian experience is worth more. If you have 3 years overseas experience (5 points) and then work 1 year in Australia on a 485 visa (5 points), you get 10 total. The same 4 years entirely overseas would only give 5 points. Moving to Australia on a temporary visa to build local experience is almost always worth it.
Important: You can claim both Australian and overseas experience, but the total claimed periods must not overlap. Home Affairs caps employment points: "The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20", even if your Australian and overseas years add up to more. Only work of at least 20 hours a week, in your nominated or a closely related occupation, in the 10 years before invitation counts (points table). The Department verifies employment through tax records, payslips, and employer references.
Qualifications (Maximum 20 Points)
Educational qualifications recognised by the relevant skills assessing authority.
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| PhD | 20 |
| Bachelor's degree (or higher) | 15 |
| Diploma or trade qualification from an Australian institution | 10 |
| Qualification or award recognised by assessing authority | 10 |
Strategy: A PhD gives 20 points but takes 3–4 years. For most applicants, a bachelor's degree (15 points) is the practical ceiling. The 5-point difference between a diploma (10) and a bachelor's (15) can matter significantly in competitive occupations.
Specialist Education Qualification (Maximum 10 Points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Master's by research or PhD from an Australian institution in a STEM field | 10 |
| All others | 0 |
This bonus applies specifically to research-based postgraduate qualifications in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from Australian institutions. Coursework master's degrees don't qualify — it must be research-based.
Australian Study Requirement (Maximum 5 Points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed at least 2 academic years of study at a CRICOS-registered institution | 5 |
This is automatic for most international graduates. Under regulation 1.15F, the course must be registered, completed in at least 16 calendar months, taught in English, and studied in Australia while you held a visa that allowed you to study.
Professional Year (Maximum 5 Points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed an approved Professional Year program in Australia | 5 |
Professional Year programs are workplace-readiness courses for graduates in accounting, IT, and engineering. For the points, Home Affairs says the Professional Year must be in your nominated or a closely related occupation, "completed over a period of at least 12 months", completed in Australia in the 4 years before your invitation, and run by ACS, CPA Australia, CA ANZ, IPA or Engineers Australia.
Credentialed Community Language (Maximum 5 Points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Hold a NAATI community language credential, or NAATI interpreting or translating accreditation or certification at the required level | 5 |
NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) offers accreditation in dozens of languages. If you're bilingual, this is relatively easy points. The credential tests your ability to translate or interpret between English and another language.
Languages in demand: Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, and many others. Check the NAATI website for available language pairs.
Study in Regional Australia (Maximum 5 Points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed Australian study requirement while living in a designated regional area | 5 |
If your Australian qualification was obtained from a university or institution in a regional area (a designated regional area), you get 5 bonus points. This is separate from the Australian study requirement points — you can claim both.
Partner Skills (Maximum 10 Points)
Your partner's skills can contribute to your points, but the criteria depend on whether they're included in your visa application.
| Partner Situation | Points |
|---|---|
| Partner with skills assessment + competent English + age under 45 + occupation on the same list as yours | 10 |
| Partner with competent English only (no skills assessment) | 5 |
| Single applicant (no partner) | 10 |
| Partner is Australian citizen/PR | 10 |
Strategy: This is one of the most overlooked factors. A single applicant with no partner automatically gets 10 points. An applicant whose partner has a skills assessment and competent English also gets 10. But an applicant whose partner has neither gets 0. If your partner can get a skills assessment and pass an English test, it's worth 10 points.
Nomination/Sponsorship Points
| Visa | Points |
|---|---|
| Subclass 189 (no nomination) | 0 |
| Subclass 190 (state nomination) | 5 |
| Subclass 491 (state nomination or eligible family sponsorship) | 15 |
These points are added when you receive a nomination. You can't "choose" them independently — they come with the visa subclass.
Sample Points Calculations
Scenario 1: Strong 189 Candidate
| Factor | Details | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 28 years old | 30 |
| English | IELTS 8.0 each (Superior) | 20 |
| Australian experience | 2 years | 5 |
| Overseas experience | 4 years | 5 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree | 15 |
| Australian study | 2-year degree | 5 |
| Single | No partner | 10 |
| Total | 90 |
Outcome: Well above the 65-point minimum. Whether it is enough for a 189 invitation depends on the round for your occupation.
Scenario 2: Average Graduate Needing Help
| Factor | Details | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 26 years old | 30 |
| English | IELTS 7.0 each (Proficient) | 10 |
| Australian experience | 1 year | 5 |
| Overseas experience | None | 0 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree | 15 |
| Australian study | 2-year degree | 5 |
| Partner | No skills, no English | 0 |
| Total | 65 |
Outcome: Meets the minimum, but invitations are often above it. Options: improve English to Superior (+10), get state nomination for 190 (+5), or go regional for 491 (+15).
Scenario 3: Regional Pathway
| Factor | Details | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 35 years old | 25 |
| English | IELTS 7.0 each (Proficient) | 10 |
| Australian experience | None | 0 |
| Overseas experience | 5 years | 10 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree | 15 |
| Community language | NAATI accredited | 5 |
| 491 nomination | Regional | 15 |
| Total | 80 |
Outcome: Strong candidate for 491 regional visa. Without the 15 nomination points, they'd only have 65, the bare minimum.
How to Maximise Your Points
Priority 1: English. If you're at Competent (0 points), getting to Superior (20 points) is the single biggest improvement available. Even moving from Competent to Proficient (10 points) is high-impact. Invest in test preparation.
Priority 2: Skills assessment and occupation choice. Make sure your occupation is on the right list and your skills assessment is positive. Without these, your points score is irrelevant.
Priority 3: Australian work experience. Each year of Australian work adds points. If you're in Australia on a temporary visa, use every month to build experience.
Priority 4: Partner skills. If your partner can get a skills assessment and pass an English test, that's 10 points for relatively modest effort.
Priority 5: NAATI community language. If you're bilingual, the NAATI credential is 5 relatively easy points.
Priority 6: Professional Year. For accounting, IT, and engineering graduates, the Professional Year adds 5 points. It's expensive and time-consuming, but if those 5 points are the tipping point, it's worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my points assessed — at EOI or at invitation?
Your points are assessed at the time of invitation. You must be able to claim all the points in your EOI at the moment of invitation. If your circumstances change (e.g., you turn 33 and lose 5 points), you must update your EOI. Claiming points you don't have at invitation leads to visa refusal.
Can I claim points for a qualification obtained overseas?
Yes, if it's recognised by the relevant skills assessing authority. Your overseas degree must be assessed as equivalent to an Australian qualification of the same level. A bachelor's degree from India that's assessed as equivalent to an Australian bachelor's gets 15 points.
Do IELTS and PTE scores expire?
For immigration purposes, English test results are generally accepted for 3 years from the test date. For the 189, Home Affairs says "At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English", so your result must be valid when you are invited. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa. If your score is about to expire, retake the test.
What if I'm exactly on 65 points — will I get invited?
Possibly not. 65 is the minimum, but Home Affairs ranks EOIs against each other, and invitations are often above the minimum. Consider the 190 (+5 points) or 491 (+15 points) to improve your competitiveness.
Can I get points for multiple qualifications?
No. You receive points for your highest qualification only. A person with both a diploma and a bachelor's degree gets 15 points (bachelor's), not 25 points (15 + 10). Similarly, a PhD holder gets 20 points, not 35 (20 + 15).
