Skilled migration
points table.
Know your starting point.
Understand the points for the subclass 189, 190 and 491 pathways, what can be combined and what you need to support with evidence.
See what counts.
Check what you can claim.
Start with the highest applicable row within each factor. Add separate factors only when their requirements are met, and apply the combined employment cap before calculating your total.
The minimum threshold, with more to consider.
Applicable nomination or sponsorship points count towards the threshold. Meeting 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. Your invited score may be higher, and your claims need supporting evidence.
Age
Your age when you are invited to apply.
Up to 30 pointsYou must be under 45 when invited for these points-tested visa pathways. A birthday can change your points before invitation.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| 18 to 24 years | 25 |
| 25 to 32 years | 30 |
| 33 to 39 years | 25 |
| 40 to 44 years | 15 |
English language
Meet the Home Affairs definition for the level claimed.
Up to 20 pointsClaim the highest level you can support, once. Competent English is the minimum English requirement for these pathways but earns no additional points.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
What needs to be checked for English language
- Approved tests and required scores changed on 7 August 2025. Check the official requirements for your test type and test date, including validity and any applicable passport-based evidence. Do not use an overall test score alone to assess a claim.
Skilled work outside Australia
Eligible work in the 10 years before invitation.
Up to 15 pointsOverseas and Australian skilled employment points are capped at 20 combined. A similar job title does not automatically make work eligible.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| At least 3 but less than 5 years | 5 |
| At least 5 but less than 8 years | 10 |
| 8 years or more | 15 |
What needs to be checked for Skilled work outside Australia
- The work must be paid, at least 20 hours a week, and in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation.
- Check the periods that can be counted against your skills assessment, duties and supporting employment evidence.
Skilled work in Australia
Eligible work in the 10 years before invitation.
Up to 20 pointsAustralian and overseas skilled employment points are capped at 20 combined. Professional Year points are a separate category.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| At least 1 but less than 3 years | 5 |
| At least 3 but less than 5 years | 10 |
| At least 5 but less than 8 years | 15 |
| 8 years or more | 20 |
What needs to be checked for Skilled work in Australia
- The work must be paid, at least 20 hours a week, and in your nominated or a closely related skilled occupation.
- For Australian employment, you must have held a substantive visa, Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B, and complied with its conditions.
Educational qualifications
Use your highest applicable qualification category.
Up to 20 pointsDo not add multiple education rows together. Separate Australian study, regional study or specialist education points may also be available if their own requirements are met.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| A doctorate from an Australian institution, or an overseas doctorate of a recognised standard | 20 |
| At least a bachelor degree from an Australian institution, or an overseas bachelor qualification or higher of a recognised standard | 15 |
| An Australian diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| A qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated skilled occupation | 10 |
What needs to be checked for Educational qualifications
- The qualification requirements and any necessary recognition need to be met by invitation. A professional title of “Doctor” does not by itself establish a doctoral qualification for points.
Specialist education
Qualifying Australian postgraduate research study.
Up to 10 pointsThe eligible fields are specified science, technology, engineering, mathematics and information and communication technology fields. A coursework masters alone does not meet this category.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| An Australian masters by research or doctorate including at least two academic years of study in a specified eligible field | 10 |
What needs to be checked for Specialist education
- Confirm the course and field against the official requirements. This is a separate category from the points awarded for your highest educational qualification.
Australian study requirement
Qualifying Australian study, not simply any Australian course.
Up to 5 pointsGenerally requires eligible CRICOS-registered degree, diploma or trade study totalling at least 92 weeks, completed over at least 16 calendar months in Australia.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Meet the Australian study requirement | 5 |
What needs to be checked for Australian study requirement
- Study must have been taught in English and undertaken in Australia while holding a visa authorising study.
- Credits, exemptions, course combinations and overlapping study can affect the amount of study that counts. Check the full requirement rather than relying only on the course’s advertised length.
Study in regional Australia
An additional category with its own location requirements.
Up to 5 pointsThe campus and your residence during the relevant study must be in a designated regional area. None of that study can be distance education.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Meet the Australian study requirement while living and studying in a designated regional area | 5 |
What needs to be checked for Study in regional Australia
- Check the applicable regional designation for the study claimed. Living regionally, or working regionally, on its own does not meet this study category.
Professional Year in Australia
One qualifying Professional Year, counted once.
Up to 5 pointsIt must cover at least 12 months and have been completed within the 48 months before invitation. The official completion date is the key date.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Complete an eligible Professional Year in Australia in your nominated or a closely related occupation | 5 |
What needs to be checked for Professional Year in Australia
- Home Affairs identifies eligible Accounting, ICT/Computing and Engineering Professional Years delivered through approved bodies. A general internship or work placement is not enough.
- The program may have started before the 48-month window, provided it was completed within that window and meets the other requirements.
Credentialled community language
A recognised credential, rather than language ability alone.
Up to 5 pointsSimply speaking another language does not qualify. Check that your credential meets the required level and can support a claim at invitation.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Hold a qualifying NAATI accreditation, certification or community language credential for interpreting or translating | 5 |
What needs to be checked for Credentialled community language
- Home Affairs recognises NAATI accreditation at paraprofessional level or above, certification at certified provisional level or above, or a qualifying community language credential for interpreting or translating.
Partner circumstances
These are alternatives. Claim only the highest category that applies.
Up to 10 pointsDo not add the 5-point and 10-point partner categories together. Relationship changes during processing can affect these points; the single/Australian partner item is not assessed only at invitation.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| No spouse or de facto partner, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Your partner is an applicant for the same visa subclass and meets the skilled-partner criteria See the age, English, occupation and skills assessment conditions below. | 10 |
| Your partner is an applicant for the same visa subclass and has competent English Your partner must not be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. | 5 |
What needs to be checked for Partner circumstances
- For skilled-partner points, your partner must not be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and must be applying for the same visa subclass.
- At your invitation, your partner must be under 45, have competent English, have an eligible nominated occupation on the same skilled occupation list as your occupation, and have a suitable assessment from the relevant authority that was not obtained for a subclass 485 visa.
- For the 5-point English-only category, competent English is required at invitation. If no partner category is met, no partner points are awarded.
Nomination or sponsorship
Use the row for the visa subclass you are considering.
Up to 15 pointsSubclass 190 and 491 nomination points cannot be combined for one visa. Subclass 491 nomination and eligible family sponsorship are alternative ways to receive the same 15 points.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), points-tested stream No nomination or sponsorship points are available for this pathway. | 0 |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) You were invited for the visa and the state or territory nomination has not been withdrawn. | 5 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) You were invited for this visa and either your state or territory nomination remains in place or the Minister has accepted eligible family sponsorship. | 15 |
What needs to be checked for Nomination or sponsorship
- An intention to seek nomination or family sponsorship is not an approved nomination or accepted sponsorship. The relevant requirements and the invitation process still apply.
- Nomination or sponsorship points count towards the minimum points threshold for the relevant subclass. They do not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
A useful score.
A stronger understanding.
Before you rely on a total, check how each claim connects to your documents and the visa you are considering.
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Use the right dates
Most points criteria are assessed at invitation. Age, English, work history and qualification dates can affect the score. Relationship changes during processing can also matter.
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Support every claim
Check skills assessments, qualification records, English evidence and employment documents against the relevant requirements. Count the periods and qualifications you can substantiate.
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Look beyond the total
Your occupation, skills assessment, nomination criteria and other visa requirements still need to fit. An EOI is not a visa application and does not give you a bridging visa.
Your points need a plan.
Let’s make it clearer.
Talk through your skilled migration options and the evidence behind your points with our team.