Work Experience Points for Skilled Migration — Full Guide (2026)
Claiming Work Experience Points on the Skilled Migration Points Test
The skilled migration points test awards up to 20 points for skilled work experience — making it one of the highest-value categories available after English. Points are awarded separately for overseas employment (up to 15 points) and Australian employment (up to 20 points), but the combined total is capped at 20 points. Your employment must be in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related occupation, within the 10 years before your invitation date, and for at least 20 hours per week to qualify.
When Is Employment Considered Skilled?
When assessing skilled employment periods for work experience points skilled migration purposes, the Department considers:
- The skills assessing authority’s opinion — including the specific date on which they determined you reached a skilled level in your occupation
- The ANZSCO classification for your occupation — including any prerequisite qualifications or work experience required for that occupation
- Any other relevant information — employment records, references and supporting documentation
What If the Skills Assessment Date Differs From Your Claimed Start Date?
If your assessing authority’s opinion would result in fewer skilled migration points than you claimed in your EOI, the Department normally applies the more beneficial outcome — comparing the authority’s determination date against the ANZSCO classification requirements and awarding points from whichever date is more favourable to you.
The Department must also be satisfied with the authenticity of all supporting documents before awarding points. Fabricated or unsupported employment claims are a visa refusal risk.
The regulations require only that the applicant is employed in a nominated skilled occupation for the relevant period — not that they performed at a particular skill standard throughout. The Department assesses whether the applicant performed at least some of the duties the ANZSCO classification prescribes for that occupation. For example, an applicant claiming employment as a Carpenter must demonstrate they performed carpentry duties — not just that they held a carpentry job title.
Closely Related Occupations — Critical Rule
You can only claim work experience points skilled migration for employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation. A closely related skilled occupation is one listed under the same four-digit ANZSCO Unit Group as your nominated occupation.
If you claim employment points for work outside your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation, and you then lodge a visa application, the Department may refuse your application. Do not claim points you cannot defend — speak to a VisaAid migration consultant to confirm which employment periods qualify before submitting your EOI.
Overseas and Australian Work Experience Points
The pr points calculator awards separate points for overseas and Australian skilled employment — recognising the value of both international experience and local Australian workplace knowledge:
- Overseas employment (outside Australia) — up to 15 points for 8+ years
- Australian employment (in Australia) — up to 20 points for 8+ years
Both categories count employment in the 10 years immediately before your invitation date. See the full tables on our Skilled Visa Points Test Table page.
Australian employment earns more points per year than overseas employment — reflecting the Department’s recognition that firsthand Australian workplace experience gives migrants a stronger foundation for long-term career success in Australia.
Employment does not need to be continuous. The Department counts the aggregated total of relevant skilled employment periods — gaps filled with unrelated work, study or other activities do not disqualify your qualifying employment periods.
Example 1 — Non-Continuous Employment Counts
An applicant nominates Accountant. Their employment history over 9 years is: 2 years as an Accountant → 2 years postgraduate study → 2 years as an IT Consultant → 3 years as an Accountant.
The Department counts their 5 years of Accountant experience for work experience points (the 2 years IT consulting is unrelated and does not count) — provided all qualifying employment falls within the 10 years before invitation. The study gap does not break the continuity of the qualifying employment periods.
Applicants can claim both Australian and overseas employment points — provided each period of employment occurred within the 10-year window before invitation and was in the nominated or closely related occupation.
Example 2 — Combining Overseas and Australian Employment
An applicant nominates Registered Nurse and has: 5 years nursing overseas + 3 years nursing in Australia on a temporary visa.
The Department counts 5 years overseas employment (up to 15 points scale) and 3 years Australian employment (up to 20 points scale) separately — both periods qualify independently.
You cannot combine overseas and Australian periods to reach a threshold. Each category is assessed independently. An applicant cannot claim 3 years of Australian employment by combining 6 months overseas with 30 months in Australia — the 30 months counts only as Australian employment and falls below the 3-year Australian threshold.
What "Employed" Means for Work Experience Points
For work experience points skilled migration purposes, “employed” means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours per week. Two elements must both be satisfied:
Remuneration — Must Be Paid Employment
Employment must be on a paid basis. The following do not satisfy the remuneration requirement:
- Unpaid internships or voluntary work — even if professionally valuable
- Emotional or psychological satisfaction from work
- Minimal living allowances or expense-covering scholarships
Only genuine paid employment counts toward skilled migration points.
At Least 20 Hours Per Week
The 20-hours-per-week minimum applies to your employment generally — not necessarily to every individual week. Where employment contracts involve variable hour distributions (such as shift workers, fly-in fly-out workers or seafarers), the Department considers the overall employment arrangement when determining whether the 20-hour threshold is met.
To evidence your hours and remuneration claims, the Department may request: payslips, employment contracts, tax returns, group certificates and superannuation statements. Prepare these documents before lodging your skilled visa application.
Leave Periods — What Counts
Only paid leave counts as employment time for work experience points purposes. Periods of leave without pay — including unpaid maternity or paternity leave — may not count toward your qualifying employment period. If you have taken extended periods of unpaid leave, speak to a VisaAid migration consultant about how this affects your points claim before submitting your EOI.
ICT Professionals — NSW Nomination and Skilled Employment Points
For ICT professionals seeking NSW state nomination for the 190 visa or 491 visa, New South Wales applies a specific rule: NSW only recognises skilled employment that occurred after the date the ACS determined you reached the required skill level in your occupation.
If you have claimed employment points in your SkillSelect EOI, your ACS skills assessment must specifically identify the date from which your employment is considered skilled.
If your ACS assessment does not identify a specific skilled employment start date, you cannot claim employment points for NSW nomination purposes — regardless of how many years of ICT experience you have. Check your ACS assessment document carefully before submitting your NSW nomination application.
Only claim employment points from after the ACS skill determination date in your EOI. Over-claiming points that predate your ACS assessment can lead to NSW nomination refusal.
Employment After Your ACS Assessment Date
If you have a valid ACS skills assessment that has already assessed your skilled employment, you do not need to obtain a new or updated assessment to claim employment points for periods that occurred after your assessment date.
Demonstrate post-assessment employment with:
- Letter of offer
- Employment contract
- Payslips
- Employment reference letter showing duration, hours per week and duties performed
Maximising Your Work Experience Points
Work experience is one of the most variable and complex categories on the points test australia — the same employment history can produce very different point scores depending on how it is characterised and evidenced. Key strategies to maximise your claim:
- Start your skills assessment early — the assessment date determines how many years of employment count as “skilled”
- Document every employment period thoroughly — payslips, contracts, references and tax returns for every qualifying role
- Confirm closely related occupation status before claiming — use your assessing authority’s classification or the ANZSCO Unit Group
- ICT applicants targeting NSW nomination — obtain an ACS assessment that specifically identifies your skilled employment start date
See your full points picture on our Skilled Visa Points Test Table and book a free assessment with VisaAid to confirm exactly how many employment points you can defensibly claim on your EOI.
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