Skilled Migration Points Test — Full Points Table (2026)
How the Skilled Migration Points Test Works
The skilled migration points test applies to Australia’s three main points-tested skilled visas:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
The minimum score to be eligible is 65 points — but 65 points alone rarely results in an invitation. In most SkillSelect invitation rounds, applicants need 80–95+ points to receive an invitation in competitive occupations. The higher your points score above 65, the stronger your position in the invitation queue.
Points are awarded across nine categories. Use the tables below to calculate your pr points calculator score, then check whether your total is competitive for your occupation in recent invitation rounds.
Critical: You must be able to evidence every point you claim at the time the Department invites you — not just when you submit your EOI. Do not claim points you cannot document.
All points criteria are assessed at the time of invitation — not at EOI submission.
Your score on the day you receive your invitation must match what you claimed. Update your EOI immediately if your circumstances change.
Age Points
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| at least 18 but less than 25 years | 25 |
| at least 25 but less than 33 years | 30 |
| at least 33 but less than 40 years | 25 |
| at least 40 but less than 45 years | 15 |
Age points apply to the main applicant only and are assessed at the date of invitation. You must be under 45 years of age at invitation to be eligible for any skilled visa under the points test. At 45 or over, you receive 0 age points and lose eligibility. Plan your EOI timing carefully around your age milestone — speak to a VisaAid consultant if you are approaching 45.
English Language Points
| English | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
Competent English is the minimum to be eligible — it earns 0 bonus points. Achieving Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 each band) adds 10 points and Superior English (IELTS 8.0 each band) adds 20 points — the highest single points gain available from any one category. Improving your English score is the fastest way to increase your skillselect points if your other categories are fixed. See our English language points guide for full test score equivalencies.
Overseas Skilled Employment Points (outside Australia)
Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)
| Number of years | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| At least 3 but less than 5 years | 5 |
| At least 5 but less than 8 years | 10 |
| At least 8 years | 15 |
Overseas employment is counted only if it was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related occupation, within the 10 years before you are invited to apply. Employment must be for at least 20 hours per week to count.
Australian Skilled Employment Points (in Australia)
| Number of years | 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 |
| At least 8 years | 20 |
Australian employment earns more points per year than overseas employment — a significant incentive to gain local experience before applying. For the 485 visa holders, 1 year of Australian skilled employment in your nominated occupation adds 5 points to your score — plan your EOI timing to maximise this.
Important rules for claiming employment points:
- Employment must be in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
- It must fall within the 10 years before your invitation date
- You must have held a substantive visa or Bridging A or B visa (for Australian employment) and complied with all conditions of that visa
- Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours per week
Closely related occupations satisfy one of:
- Same ANZSCO Unit Group as your nominated occupation
- Consistent with a career advancement pathway to your nominated occupation
- Recognised by your assessing authority as closely related, as part of your skills assessment
See our closely related skilled occupation guide for more detail.
Employment points cap: The maximum points for combined Australian and overseas employment experience is 20 points — even if your years of experience would technically earn more, only 20 are counted. Plan your strategy around the cap.
Educational Qualification Points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. | 20 |
| At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. | 15 |
| A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. | 10 |
| Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation | 10 |
Points are awarded for your highest qualification only — you cannot stack points for multiple degrees. For overseas qualifications, your assessing authority determines whether your qualification is comparable to the relevant Australian standard. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply.
Recognition of Overseas Qualifications
Your skills assessing authority determines whether your overseas qualification is comparable to the relevant Australian standard. Assessing authorities are listed against each occupation in the relevant skilled occupation list. You must hold this recognition at the time you receive your invitation — not just at EOI lodgment.
PhD Points — Important Note
The 20 doctorate points apply only to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim doctorate points for a Doctor of Medicine (MBBS/MD), Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or any other professional doctoral qualification that confers the title “Doctor” but is not a PhD. General practitioners, dentists and vets cannot claim 20 points — they claim the bachelor degree points (15) unless they hold a separate PhD.
Specialist Education Qualification Points (STEM)
These 10 points apply in addition to your standard qualification points — they are not a replacement. A PhD holder who also meets the STEM specialist requirement can claim both 20 (doctorate) + 10 (specialist) = 30 qualification points total.
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. | 10 |
The specialist education points require a research Masters or Doctorate from an Australian institution, after at least 2 academic years of study in one of the following fields:
Natural and physical sciences
- biological sciences
- chemical sciences
- earth sciences
- mathematical sciences
- natural and physical sciences
- other natural and physical sciences
- physics and astronomy
Information technology
- computer science
- information systems
- information technology
- other information technology
Engineering and related technologies
- aerospace engineering and technology
- civil engineering
- electrical and electronic engineering and technology
- engineering and related technologies
- geomatics engineering
- manufacturing engineering and technology
- maritime engineering and technology
- mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
- other engineering and related technologies
- process and resources engineering.
For the full guide on claiming specialist education points visit our STEM qualification points page.
Australian Study Requirement Points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Meet the Australian study requirement | 5 |
To claim these 5 points you must hold at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian Study Requirement — at least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of CRICOS-registered study, conducted in English while physically in Australia. See our 2-year study requirement guide for full conditions.
Professional Year Points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Completion of a Professional Year in Australia | 5 |
To claim these 5 skillselect points for a Professional Year, your program must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, in your nominated occupation or closely related occupation, completed over at least 12 months, completed in Australia within the 4 years before your invitation, and provided by one of:
- The Australian Computer Society (ACS)
- CPA Australia
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Engineers Australia
See our full Professional Year points guide for eligibility conditions and how to structure your program for maximum benefit.
Community Language (NAATI) Points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language | 5 |
To claim these 5 points test australia points, you must be credentialled at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or hold a community language credential for interpreting or translating from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). See our NAATI community language points guide for qualifying languages and credential levels.
Regional Study Points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia | 5 |
To claim these 5 regional study points, your qualification must:
- Meet the Australian Study Requirement
- Have been obtained while you lived in and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
- Not include study undertaken by distance education
Note: for the 485 visa regional study may also extend your visa duration — see our regional study points page for the full conditions.
Partner Skills Points
| Requirement | 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 |
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 |
| You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
10 points (skilled partner): Your partner must be an applicant on the same visa subclass, must not be an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and at the time of invitation must have been: under 45 years old, competent English, nominated a skilled occupation on the same occupation list, and held a valid skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for that occupation (the assessment must not be for a 485 visa).
5 points (competent English partner): Your partner is an applicant on the same visa subclass, is not an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and has Competent English — but does not meet the full skilled partner criteria above.
10 points (single or Australian partner): You have no spouse or de facto partner, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
See our full partner skills points guide for all conditions and evidence requirements.
Nomination Points
Subclass 190 — State or Territory nomination: +5 points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| You were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) visa and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination | 5 |
You received an invitation for the 190 visa and your nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination. Your nomination must remain in effect at the time of invitation to claim these points.
Subclass 491 — State/Territory nomination or family sponsorship: +15 points
| Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
You received an invitation for the 491 visa through state/territory nomination (and nomination has not been withdrawn) OR through family sponsorship (and the Minister has accepted the sponsorship). These 15 points are the largest single boost available in the skilled migration points test — making the 491 the most accessible pathway for applicants below the 189 invitation threshold. | 15 |
Nomination must remain active at invitation — if the state withdraws nomination before invitation, you lose the 15 points. For sponsored applicants, the Minister must accept the sponsorship. See our 491 visa guide for full nomination and sponsorship conditions.
How to Maximise Your Skilled Migration Points Score
The five fastest ways to add points before your EOI:
- Improve your English — IELTS 7.0 adds 10 points; IELTS 8.0 adds 20. See our English points guide
- Complete a Professional Year in accounting, IT or engineering — adds 5 points
- Gain Australian skilled work experience — 1 year adds 5 points, 3 years adds 10. See our work experience points guide
- Claim partner skills points if your partner holds a skills assessment and Competent English — adds 10 points
- Target a 491 visa state nomination — adds 15 points automatically If your score is competitive for the 189 visa, check the latest invitation rounds to see what score is attracting invitations in your occupation right now. If not yet competitive, the 190 visa (state nomination, +5 points) or 491 visa (+15 points) may get you invited sooner.
Speak to a VisaAid consultant to get a precise points calculation and a strategy for maximising your score before you submit your EOI.