Partner Skills Points: How Your Spouse Can Boost Your Score
You can claim 5 or 10 bonus points in Australia's skilled migration points test based on your partner's situation. If you're single or your partner is an Australian citizen/PR, you get 10 points. If your partner has a positive skills assessment and competent English, you get 5 points. These partner-related points are often overlooked but can make the difference between receiving an invitation and waiting indefinitely. Understanding the requirements and strategically claiming these points is essential for competitive applications.
Quick Facts
| Scenario | Points |
|---|---|
| No partner (single applicant) | 10 |
| Partner is Australian citizen or PR | 10 |
| Partner has skills assessment + competent English | 5 |
| Partner has no skills assessment or insufficient English | 0 |
How Partner Points Work
The points system recognises three partner scenarios:
Single Applicant: 10 Points
If you don't have a spouse, de facto partner, or fiancé(e), you automatically receive 10 points. "Single" means genuinely single — not separated, not in a relationship you haven't declared, and not in a de facto relationship you're trying to hide.
The Department verifies your relationship status through your application and supporting documents. Misrepresenting your status is a serious issue that can result in visa refusal.
Partner Is Australian Citizen or PR: 10 Points
If your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you receive 10 points. This applies regardless of your partner's occupation, qualifications, or English skills.
Evidence needed:
- Partner's Australian passport or citizenship certificate, OR
- Partner's permanent residence visa grant letter
- Evidence of your relationship (marriage certificate, statutory declaration for de facto)
Skilled Partner: 5 Points
If your partner has a positive skills assessment in an occupation on the skilled occupation list AND competent English, you receive 5 points.
Requirements for the partner:
- Under 45 years of age
- Positive skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (same lists used for primary applicants)
- Competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent
Important note: Your partner's occupation doesn't need to be the same as yours, and they don't need to submit their own EOI. Their assessment and English score are used solely to support your points claim.
Getting Your Partner Assessed
Skills Assessment
Your partner needs the same type of skills assessment as a primary applicant:
- Assessment by the relevant authority for their occupation
- A positive outcome confirming their qualifications and experience match the occupation
- The assessment must be current (typically valid for 3 years)
Common assessments:
| Partner's Occupation | Assessing Authority | Cost | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Engineers Australia | $800-$1,200 | 4-8 weeks |
| Accountant | CPA/CA ANZ/IPA | $500-$800 | 4-8 weeks |
| IT Professional | ACS | $500-$700 | 6-12 weeks |
| Nurse | ANMAC | $500-$800 | 8-12 weeks |
| Teacher | AITSL | $500-$700 | 6-10 weeks |
| Trades | TRA | $300-$500 | 4-8 weeks |
English Test
Your partner must achieve at least Competent English:
- IELTS: 6.0 in each band
- PTE Academic: 50 in each component
- TOEFL iBT: Listening 12, Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 18
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 169 in each component
The English test doesn't need to be the same type as yours. Your partner could take PTE while you take IELTS.
Strategic Considerations
5 Points vs 10 Points
If you're single, you get 10 points — more than the 5 points for a skilled partner. This means being single is actually advantageous in the points system, which is unusual in Australian immigration.
If you have a partner who can't get a skills assessment or competent English, you get 0 partner points. This can be a significant disadvantage compared to single applicants (who get 10 points) or applicants with skilled partners (5 points).
Is It Worth Assessing Your Partner?
Calculate the difference:
- Without partner assessment: 0 partner points
- With partner assessment: 5 partner points
- Cost: $500-$1,500 (assessment + English test)
If those 5 points would push you over the invitation threshold, the investment is absolutely worth it. If you're already well above the threshold, it's unnecessary.
What If My Partner Can't Get Assessed?
If your partner doesn't have a qualification or experience that qualifies for a skills assessment, or can't achieve competent English, you'll receive 0 partner points.
Options:
- Focus on maximising your own points instead
- Consider whether your partner could complete a short course or obtain a relevant qualification
- Some occupations have lower assessment requirements that your partner might meet
Common Issues
De Facto Partners
De facto partners need to demonstrate 12 months of cohabitation (or have registered the relationship). If you've been together for less than 12 months, you may not be able to claim partner points — and declaring a partner without meeting the de facto criteria can backfire.
Separated but Not Divorced
If you're legally married but separated, your status is complicated. You need to declare your partner (legally married) but may not be able to claim their skills (if separated). Consult a migration agent about your specific situation.
Partner's Assessment Fails
If your partner's skills assessment is negative, you cannot claim the 5 points. You'll be in the 0-points category unless you're single or your partner is an Australian citizen/PR.
Multiple Occupations
Your partner can be assessed in any eligible occupation — it doesn't need to relate to your nominated occupation. If your partner has qualifications that could map to multiple occupations, choose the one most likely to receive a positive assessment.
Including Your Partner on the Visa Application
Whether you claim partner points or not, if you have a partner, you must declare them on your visa application. Your partner:
- Will be included on your visa as a secondary applicant
- Will receive work and study rights (on most skilled visas)
- Must meet health and character requirements
- Must provide police clearances
Partner visa application fee: $2,320 (secondary applicant, Subclass 189/190). This is in addition to the primary applicant fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my partner get assessed even if they never worked in the assessed occupation?
Some assessing authorities assess based on qualifications alone, while others require a combination of qualifications and experience. Check the requirements of the specific assessing authority.
Does my partner need competent English if they're from an English-speaking country?
Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are generally considered to have competent English without a test. Other nationalities need a formal test result.
Can I claim 10 points as single if my partner stays in our home country?
No. If you have a partner (married or de facto), you must declare them regardless of where they live. You can only claim single points if you genuinely do not have a partner.
What if my partner becomes an Australian PR after I submit my EOI?
Update your EOI to claim 10 points (partner is Australian PR) instead of 5 points (skilled partner) or 0 points. This update will reset your date of effect, but the 5-10 point gain is usually worth it.
Can same-sex partners claim partner points?
Yes. Australia recognises same-sex relationships for immigration purposes. Same-sex married couples and de facto partners can claim partner points on the same basis as heterosexual couples.
