Points Test
Skilled migration points calculator
The 189, 190, and 491 visas are points tested. Calculate your score against the current legislated categories, then read what the number actually means: 65 points is the floor to lodge an Expression of Interest, and invitations are decided well above it.
Skilled migration points calculator
Select each category and your score updates instantly. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
This calculator is general information, not legal advice. Points are only awarded where the claim can be evidenced, and your assessed score may differ.
The full points table
Combined overseas and Australian employment is capped at 20 points. Every category is assessed at the time of invitation, not the time of lodgement.
Age (at invitation)
| 18 to 24 | 25 |
| 25 to 32 | 30 |
| 33 to 39 | 25 |
| 40 to 44 | 15 |
English
| Competent (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent) | 0 |
| Proficient (IELTS 7.0 each band) | 10 |
| Superior (IELTS 8.0 each band) | 20 |
Overseas skilled employment (last 10 years)
| 3 to under 5 years | 5 |
| 5 to under 8 years | 10 |
| 8 years or more | 15 |
Australian skilled employment (last 10 years)
| 1 to under 3 years | 5 |
| 3 to under 5 years | 10 |
| 5 to under 8 years | 15 |
| 8 years or more | 20 |
Qualifications
| Doctorate | 20 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 15 |
| Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
Additional points
| Australian STEM research masters or doctorate | 10 |
| Australian study requirement met | 5 |
| Australian study in a designated regional area | 5 |
| Credentialled community language (NAATI CCL) | 5 |
| Professional Year completed | 5 |
Partner
| Partner under 45 with a skills assessment and Competent English | 10 |
| Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Partner with Competent English only | 5 |
Nomination or sponsorship
| 190 state or territory nomination | 5 |
| 491 nomination or eligible family sponsorship | 15 |
65 points is the floor, not the target
Reaching 65 points earns the right to lodge an Expression of Interest, nothing more. Invitations are issued by points ranking within the Department's occupation prioritisation model, and cut-offs in competitive professional occupations regularly exceed 90 points under the 189. Ties are broken by date of effect, so a score completed early beats the same score completed late.
Two moves change most outcomes. The first is building points where they are cheapest: English results are worth up to 20 points on their own, partner claims up to 10, and a Professional Year or NAATI credential 5 each. The second is changing the denominator: 190 nomination adds 5 points and 491 nomination adds 15, which is frequently worth more than a year of additional employment.
The score that matters is the score you can evidence. We verify each claim, employment references, skills assessment validity, English expiry dates, partner documentation, before the Expression of Interest is lodged, because an overclaimed EOI is refused after invitation rather than corrected.
Have your score verified before you lodge
We assess your points against the evidence, your occupation's tier, and the realistic invitation cut-off, and advise whether the 189, 190, or 491 is the strategic pathway.
Book a consultationCommon questions
What is the minimum points score for skilled migration?
Is there a cap on employment points?
How do partner points work?
My calculator score is above 65. Will I be invited?
Can my score change after I lodge an Expression of Interest?
Are the calculator's points guaranteed?
Points categories reflect the Migration Regulations as at 15 August 2026. The points test is amended periodically; confirm current settings with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging an Expression of Interest. This page is general information, not legal advice.