Australia's skilled migration program uses a points-based test to rank applicants for visas including the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491). You need at least 65 points to be eligible — but in practice, you need significantly more to receive an invitation.
The Points Test at a Glance
| Factor | Maximum Points | |--------|---------------| | Age | 30 | | English language ability | 20 | | Skilled employment (overseas) | 15 | | Skilled employment (in Australia) | 20 | | Educational qualifications | 20 | | Australian study requirement | 5 | | Specialist education qualification | 10 | | Accredited community language | 5 | | Study in regional Australia | 5 | | Partner skills | 10 | | Professional Year in Australia | 5 |
Maximum possible score: 130 points
Age (Maximum 30 Points)
Age is the single most valuable factor. Points decline significantly after 32:
| Age | Points | |-----|--------| | 18–24 | 25 | | 25–32 | 30 | | 33–39 | 25 | | 40–44 | 15 | | 45+ | 0 |
Applicants aged 45 or over score zero points for age — making it very difficult to reach invitation thresholds. This is Australia's explicit mechanism to favour younger workers.
English Language Ability (Maximum 20 Points)
| Level | Points | IELTS Score | |-------|--------|-------------| | Competent English | 0 (minimum required) | 6.0 in each band | | Proficient English | 10 | 7.0 in each band | | Superior English | 20 | 8.0 in each band |
Superior English (IELTS 8.0 in all four components) adds 20 points — a massive boost. If you're at IELTS 7.5 in any band, retaking specifically to hit 8.0 everywhere could be worth it.
Alternative tests are also accepted: PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency.
Skilled Employment (Maximum 15 Overseas / 20 Australian)
Overseas skilled employment
| Years | Points | |-------|--------| | 3–4 years | 5 | | 5–7 years | 10 | | 8–10 years | 15 |
Work must be in your nominated ANZSCO occupation or a closely related one.
Australian skilled employment (temporary visa holders)
| Years | Points | |-------|--------| | 1–2 years | 5 | | 3–4 years | 10 | | 5–7 years | 15 | | 8–10 years | 20 |
Working in Australia on a temporary visa (482, student, WHV) in your nominated occupation is one of the most powerful strategies. It contributes to Australian employment points AND demonstrates genuine labour market activity.
Educational Qualifications (Maximum 20 Points)
| Qualification | Points | |---------------|--------| | PhD from Australian institution or recognised overseas | 20 | | Bachelor's degree or higher (not PhD) from Australian institution | 15 | | Diploma or trade qualification from Australian institution | 10 | | At least one year of a doctorate at an Australian institution | 5 |
Note: "Australian institution" here provides the full points. Overseas qualifications typically count for the same points but must be assessed by the relevant assessing authority.
Specialist Education Bonus (10 Points)
If your PhD or master's by research is in a STEM field — science, technology, engineering, or mathematics — you get an additional 10 specialisation points on top of the standard education points.
Australian Study Requirement (5 Points)
Completing at least two years of study in Australia that resulted in a qualification of at least diploma level earns 5 bonus points. The study must have taken place in the 10 years prior to invitation.
Study in Regional Australia (5 Points)
If your Australian study was completed in a regional area (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast), you earn an additional 5 points. Combined with the standard study bonus, that's 10 points for regional study.
Accredited Community Language (5 Points)
If you have a NAATI-certified credential in a community language at the paraprofessional level or above, you earn 5 points. NAATI credentials demonstrate bilingualism in languages like Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, and others.
Partner Skills (10 Points)
If your partner or spouse is:
- Under 45
- Has competent English
- Has their nominated skilled occupation assessed
They contribute 10 points to your application. However, if your partner is an Australian citizen/PR, you only get 5 points (not 10).
If you don't have a partner or your partner doesn't contribute points, you receive 10 points for being single — so this factor is worth 10 either way.
Professional Year (5 Points)
Completing an accredited Professional Year program in Australia (typically 44 weeks) in accounting, IT, or engineering adds 5 points. Professional Year programs also contribute to Australian work experience.
What Score Do You Actually Need?
The minimum threshold is 65, but Subclass 189 (independent) invitations have been going out at scores of 85–95+ in most draws. Lower scores are possible for Subclass 190 (state-nominated) and Subclass 491 (regional).
Subclass 189 — Skills in Demand
For occupations on the Skills in Demand list, invitation scores have dropped to 70–80 in recent draws. Check the current occupation list — it changes quarterly.
Subclass 190 — State Nomination
Each state territory has its own nominated occupation list and requirements. Points needed vary: Victoria and NSW are competitive (90+), while South Australia, Tasmania, and the NT are more accessible.
Subclass 491 — Regional
This is the lowest-threshold pathway. Regional nomination is often achievable at 65–75 points but commits you to living and working in a designated regional area for 3 years before applying for Subclass 191 (permanent regional).
Skills Assessment
Before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), your overseas qualifications and work experience must be assessed by the relevant assessing authority for your ANZSCO occupation:
- Engineers Australia — engineers
- ACS (Australian Computer Society) — ICT professionals
- VETASSESS — most professional and technical occupations
- AHPRA — healthcare professionals
- CPA/CAANZ — accountants
Processing times vary from 4 weeks (ACS fast-track) to 3+ months. Start early.
The SkillSelect EOI Process
- Submit an EOI on SkillSelect
- Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) via periodic draws
- If invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application
- Include skills assessment, English test, health and character documents
- Receive visa decision (typically 3–12 months)
Use ImmigrationIQ to calculate your current Australia points score and see which state nomination streams offer you the best chance of invitation.