Skilled migration · Points test
The Points Test Explained for Australia's Skilled Visas
The points test Australia uses for skilled visas scores your age, English, work, qualifications and more. It applies to the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. You need at least 65 points to be invited, and every point is scored on the day you are invited.
What Is the Points Test?
The points test is the scoring system in the Migration Regulations for points-tested skilled visas. It awards points for age, English, skilled work, qualifications, Australian study and several extras. The Australia points test pass mark is 65 points. For the 189, SkillSelect then ranks EOIs by points, so a higher score improves your chance of an invitation.
Key Takeaways
- Pass mark. 65 points for the 189, 190 and 491. Reaching it does not guarantee an invitation.
- Scored at invitation. Every factor is assessed on the day you are invited.
- Nomination points. 5 for a 190 nomination. 15 for a 491 nomination or eligible family sponsorship.
- Work cap. Overseas and Australian skilled work together earn at most 20 points.
- Age. 30 points from 25 to 32. No points from 45, and no invitation.
- Incorrect claims. A score you cannot prove leads to refusal, and false information can bar future visas under PIC 4020.
Points Breakdown Table
This is the full points table for the 189, 190 and 491. It follows the Migration Regulations in force from 1 July 2026. Work years count only in your nominated or a closely related occupation. Age points, work experience points and partner points make up most scores.
| Factor | What counts | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 24 years | 25 |
| Age | 25 to 32 years | 30 |
| Age | 33 to 39 years | 25 |
| Age | 40 to 44 years | 15 |
| English | Competent English | 0 |
| English | Proficient English | 10 |
| English | Superior English | 20 |
| Overseas skilled work | 3 to 4 years in the last 10 | 5 |
| Overseas skilled work | 5 to 7 years in the last 10 | 10 |
| Overseas skilled work | 8 or more years in the last 10 | 15 |
| Australian skilled work | 1 to 2 years in the last 10 | 5 |
| Australian skilled work | 3 to 4 years in the last 10 | 10 |
| Australian skilled work | 5 to 7 years in the last 10 | 15 |
| Australian skilled work | 8 or more years in the last 10 | 20 |
| Work cap | Overseas and Australian work combined | 20 maximum |
| Qualification | Doctorate — Australian, or of a recognised standard | 20 |
| Qualification | Bachelor degree or higher — Australian, or of a recognised standard | 15 |
| Qualification | Diploma or trade qualification from an Australian institution | 10 |
| Qualification | Award or qualification your assessing authority recognises | 10 |
| Specialist education | Master's by research or doctorate in a specified field, Australian institution | 10 |
| Australian study | At least 2 academic years of study in Australia | 5 |
| Regional study | Australian study at a regional campus, living regionally | 5 |
| Community language | Credentialled community language (NAATI) | 5 |
| Professional Year | At least 12 months, finished in the 48 months before invitation | 5 |
| Partner | Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Partner | Partner under 45 with a skills assessment and competent English | 10 |
| Partner | Partner with competent English only | 5 |
| Nomination | State or territory nomination for a 190 | 5 |
| Nomination | Nomination or family sponsorship for a 491 | 15 |
Score yourself with our PR points calculator, which applies the work cap for you.
Step-by-Step: How the Points Test Works
- Get a skills assessment. Your nominated occupation and assessment decide which work years count.
- Sit an English test. Competent English is the minimum. Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20.
- Add up your points. Use the table above or the points calculator.
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect. Your EOI records your claims, and SkillSelect works out your score.
- Receive an invitation to apply. You then have 60 days from the invitation date to apply online.
- Prove every point. The visa application must prove the score you were invited on.
Why It Matters
The points test is required for the subclass 189, subclass 190 and subclass 491. For the 189 and family-sponsored 491, SkillSelect ranks EOIs by points within each occupation. For a state-nominated 190 or 491, the nomination triggers the invitation, and each state uses its own criteria.
Points can fall while you wait. Turning 33 removes 5 points, and turning 40 removes 10. An English result that is no longer valid at invitation scores nothing. Time your EOI around those dates.
Risks & Common Errors
- Overclaiming work experience. Only paid work of at least 20 hours a week counts. Claim years your evidence cannot prove and the application is refused.
- English that no longer counts. Your result must still be valid on the day you are invited.
- The wrong occupation code. Your EOI, skills assessment and nomination must all name the same occupation.
- Counting work twice. Overseas and Australian work together stop at 20 points.
- An expired EOI. Under Home Affairs policy, an EOI lasts up to two years in SkillSelect.
Required Documents
- Valid passport.
- English test results that are still valid at invitation.
- Skills assessment letter for your nominated occupation.
- Employment evidence such as references, contracts and payslips.
- Academic certificates and transcripts.
- Extra claims: NAATI credential, Professional Year certificate and partner documents, if you claim them.
Related Visa Pathways
- Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent, permanent, no nomination.
- Subclass 190 — State Nominated, permanent, 5 points.
- Subclass 491 — Skilled Regional, five-year provisional, 15 points.
- Subclass 191 — the permanent step after a 491.
- Expression of Interest (EOI) Guide — how SkillSelect works.
- English test requirements — the tests and levels.
Call it the Australia point test or the PR points table; the same rules apply to all three visas. Treat this page as a points test guide, not a decision on your case. All skilled pathways are on our skilled migration visas hub.
Skill Point Test Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum score to apply?
You need at least 65 points to be invited to apply for a 189, 190 or 491. That is the pass mark, and nomination points count towards it. Reaching 65 makes you eligible to be invited; it does not guarantee an invitation.
What score is competitive?
There is no fixed competitive score. For the 189, SkillSelect ranks EOIs by points within each occupation, under occupation ceilings. So the score that is invited changes by occupation and round. For a state-nominated 190 or 491, the state's own criteria matter as much as your points.
Does age affect my points?
Yes. You earn 25 points from 18 to 24 and 30 from 25 to 32. From 33 to 39 you earn 25, and from 40 to 44 you earn 15. From 45 you earn nothing and cannot be invited. Age is scored on the day you are invited.
Can I update my EOI?
Yes. You can update your Expression of Interest (EOI) any time before you receive an invitation. Add a new English result or more work experience as soon as you have it.
Do I need evidence for every claim?
Yes. The visa application must prove the score you were invited on. If it cannot, the application is refused. False or misleading information can also lead to a bar on future visas.
How many points for 3 years experience in Australia?
Three years of skilled work in Australia earns 10 points. It must be in your nominated or a closely related occupation, in the 10 years before invitation. Three years overseas earns 5 points.
Is 70 points enough for a 190 visa?
A score of 70 includes the 5 nomination points and clears the 65-point pass mark. For a 190, the state or territory decides whom it nominates, using its own criteria. Your occupation and ties to that state matter as much as the score.
Is 85 points enough for 190?
It clears the pass mark by 20 points, and it will help where a state ranks candidates. NSW, for example, ranks EOIs on factors including points, age and English. Points for NSW invitation are one part of that. Check the state nomination rules for your occupation.
What are the points needed for 190?
The points needed for 190 are the 65-point pass mark, including the 5 points the nomination adds. So you need 60 points from other factors before nomination.
Can I apply for a 491 with 50 points?
Yes, if a state or territory nominates you or an eligible relative sponsors you. The 491 adds 15 points, which takes 50 points to the 65-point pass mark.
Does part-time work count for points?
Only work of at least 20 hours a week counts as employment for points. It must be paid work in your nominated or a closely related occupation.
What is the Australia PR points table for 2026?
The points table on this page follows the Migration Regulations in force from 1 July 2026. Changes to the points test have been announced but are not yet in force. Our points test reform update tracks them.
Before You Lodge. Many applicants lose points on details like partner skills or regional study. A registered migration agent in Sydney can check your score before you lodge. Start with the free eligibility check.
Sources and last checked dates
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 6D (general points test) and regulation 1.15F (Australian study requirement), Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) read 22 September 2026 open ↗
- Migration Act 1958 — section 96 (the Minister sets the pass mark), Compilation No. 171, 4 June 2026 (C2026C00232) read 22 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), page last updated 11 June 2026 read 22 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect: Expression of interest, page last updated 14 January 2025 (65-point threshold; 60 days to apply after invitation) read 22 September 2026 open ↗
SkillSelect ranking and how long an EOI lasts are Home Affairs policy. Proposed changes to the points test are not in force. Confirm the current position before acting.