Partner Points for Skilled Migration — Who Can Claim?
The skilled migration points test awards up to 10 additional points based on your partner’s skills, English and age — or awards 10 points if you are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. These partner points skilled migration points apply to the 189 visa, 190 visa and 491 visa and can significantly affect your invitation prospects. The amount depends on your partner’s age, educational qualification, nominated occupation and English language skills.
10 Points — Skilled Partner With Age, Skills and English
To claim 10 partner points skilled migration points, your partner must meet all four of the following requirements at the time you are invited to apply:
- Partner must be under 45 years old at the time the invitation to apply for the visa is issued
- Partner must hold a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation
- Partner must demonstrate at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent)
- Partner’s occupation must appear on an eligible occupation list — which list depends on your visa:
- 491 (state sponsored) — partner’s occupation can be on any eligible list (ROL, Short-term or Medium to Long-term)
- 190 — partner’s occupation must be on the Short-term or Medium to Long-term list
- 189 or 491 (family stream) — partner’s occupation must be on the Medium to Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) only
Examples of When You Can and Cannot Claim 10 Partner Points
Scenario 1: You apply for the 189 visa (MLTSSL) and your partner’s occupation is on the STSOL only (not the MLTSSL).
- Your partner cannot contribute 10 points for the 189 visa or 491 Family Stream — STSOL does not qualify for these
- Your partner would contribute 10 points for a 190 visa or 491 State Sponsored application
Scenario 2: You apply for the 189 visa (MLTSSL) and your partner’s occupation is also on the MLTSSL.
You can claim 10 points for partner skills
- Example: You are a Biomedical Engineer (MLTSSL) and your partner is a Chef (MLTSSL) — both occupations qualify. Your partner must obtain a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
Scenario 3: You apply for the 491 visa and your partner’s occupation is on the 491 occupation list.
- You can claim 10 points for partner skills
Specific 190 visa examples:
- PA is ICT Project Manager (190 list) + partner is Accountant (MLTSSL) → 10 points
- PA is ICT Project Manager (190 list) + partner is Real Estate Representative (ROL/STSOL) → 0 points
- PA is Accountant (MLTSSL, 189) + partner is ICT Project Manager (STSOL only) → 0 points for 189
- PA is Real Estate Representative (ROL, 491) + partner is also Real Estate Representative (ROL) → 10 points
5 Points — Partner Has Competent English
You can claim 5 partner points skilled migration points if your spouse or de facto partner holds Competent English — but does not meet the full skilled partner criteria for 10 points.
Competent English is demonstrated through one of the following (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025):
- IELTS — at least 6.0 in each of the four components
- PTE Academic — at least 50 in each component
- TOEFL iBT — at least 16 listening, 16 reading, 19 writing, 19 speaking
- OET — at least B in each component
- Cambridge C1 Advanced — at least 162 in each component
For tests taken before 7 August 2025, different score thresholds apply — see our English language requirements page for full score tables by test date.
10 Points — Single Applicant or Australian Partner
If you are single (no spouse or de facto partner) or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you can claim 10 points on the pr points calculator — the same as a skilled partner.
Partner Points Summary Table
| You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 points |
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:
| 10 points |
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. | 5 points |
EOI Relationship Status: When completing your SkillSelect EOI, select “Partner” as your relationship status if you have a spouse or de facto partner. Do not leave this blank or select “Single” if you have a partner — your relationship status at EOI must match your status at invitation.
What Is a De Facto Partner?
A de facto relationship for migration purposes is one where you and your partner are not legally married but:
- Are committed to a shared life excluding all others
- Have a genuine and continuing relationship
- Live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
- Are not related by family
A de facto relationship can be between partners of the same or different sex.
Time spent dating or in an online-only relationship does not count as a de facto relationship for migration purposes — the relationship must involve a genuine shared life together.
What Is a Spouse?
- Have a mutual commitment to a shared life excluding all others
- Have a genuine and continuing relationship
- Live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
SkillSelect Relationship Status: Select “Partner” in your EOI if you have a spouse or de facto partner. Do not select “Engaged” if the person is also your de facto partner — this affects your partner points skilled migration claim. Keep your relationship status updated throughout the life of your EOI — a change in status between EOI and invitation can affect your points score.
De Facto Relationship Definition — Impact on GSM Points (Schedule 6D)
For calculating skilled migration points under Schedule 6D, the de facto relationship definition follows section 5CB of the Migration Act and Regulation 1.09A — with one key difference: Regulation 2.03A (the 12-month rule) does not apply at the EOI stage.
How SkillSelect Allocates Partner Points by Relationship Status:
- Single – SkillSelect will award 10 points
- Engaged – SkillSelect will award 10 points
- Married – SkillSelect will award 0 points
- De Facto – SkillSelect will award 0 points
Relationship status can change between EOI and invitation — and this directly affects your pr points calculator score. An applicant who selected “Single” at EOI (10 points) who subsequently enters a de facto relationship or marries before invitation may lose those 10 points at the visa application stage if their partner does not meet the skilled partner criteria.
Strategy for Engaged and De Facto Couples: If you are both engaged and in a de facto relationship at EOI, consider selecting “De Facto” rather than “Engaged” — regardless of the relationship duration. This prevents being invited at a higher score (10 points for Engaged) that you cannot maintain if your de facto partner fails to qualify under the skilled partner criteria at invitation.
The 12-Month Rule Applies at Visa Application Stage: While the 12-month rule does not apply at EOI lodgment, it does apply when you lodge your visa application. If your de facto relationship is less than 12 months old at the time you lodge your visa application, your de facto partner may not be eligible for consideration as your partner for visa purposes — which could affect both your partner points skilled migration claim and your partner’s inclusion in the application.
Partner Points Strategy — What to Consider Before Lodging Your EOI
The partner points category is one of the most strategically complex on the points test australia — the wrong relationship status selection or a change in circumstances between EOI and invitation can cost you 10 points at a critical moment. Key considerations:
- If your partner qualifies as a skilled partner — obtain their skills assessment before you submit your EOI, not after
- If you are single now but may enter a relationship before invitation — understand how that change will affect your score
- If you are engaged and de facto simultaneously — consider selecting “De Facto” to avoid over-claiming
- Monitor the 12-month de facto rule carefully if your relationship is recent
See your full points picture on our Skilled Visa Points Test Table or book a free assessment with VisaAid to confirm the right partner status strategy for your situation.
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