Skilled Migration Points Test Australia 2026: How to Maximise Your Score
Australia's skilled migration system uses a points-based framework to select applicants for independent and state/territory nominated skilled visas. Understanding exactly how points are allocated — and knowing where you can pick up additional points — is essential for maximising your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.
Overview: how the points test works
To lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect for a General Skilled Migration visa, you must score a minimum of 65 points. However, in practice, most invitations are issued to applicants well above the minimum — cutoff scores in the most popular occupation categories regularly reach 80–90 points or more.
The three main visa subclasses that use the points test are:
- Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent (no state nomination needed)
- Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated (requires state or territory nomination, which adds 5 points)
- Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (requires state/territory or family nomination in a regional area, which adds 15 points)
Points are awarded across six main categories: age, English language proficiency, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications, and specific bonus categories.
Points breakdown
Age
| Age at time of invitation | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–24 | 25 |
| 25–32 | 30 |
| 33–39 | 25 |
| 40–44 | 15 |
| 45 and over | 0 |
Age is the most time-sensitive factor. If you are 31 years old, you are at the peak bracket. Points drop significantly at 33 and drop to zero at 45. Acting while you are in a higher age bracket can significantly improve your overall score.
English language proficiency
| Level | Test score equivalent | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Competent English | IELTS 6 in each band | 0 |
| Proficient English | IELTS 7 in each band | 10 |
| Superior English | IELTS 8 in each band | 20 |
Competent English is the minimum threshold to lodge an EOI — it earns zero bonus points. Moving from Competent to Proficient is worth 10 points; Superior is worth 20 points. For many applicants, improving an English test score from 7 to 8 across all bands is the single most achievable way to gain points.
Overseas skilled employment (outside Australia)
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3–4 years | 5 |
| 5–7 years | 10 |
| 8 years or more | 15 |
Employment must be in a nominated skilled occupation. Only periods in the 10 years before the invitation are counted.
Australian skilled employment (inside Australia)
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1–2 years | 5 |
| 3–4 years | 10 |
| 5–7 years | 15 |
| 8 years or more | 20 |
Australian experience is weighted more heavily than overseas experience. If you are already working in Australia on a temporary visa (such as 482 or 485), each year you accumulate here is building toward higher points. Three years of Australian experience is worth 10 points — double what 3 years overseas would earn.
Educational qualifications
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate (PhD) from an Australian institution, or a PhD assessed as equivalent by a skills assessing authority | 20 |
| Bachelor degree, masters degree, or other qualification assessed at bachelor level or above | 15 |
| Diploma, trade qualification or other qualification at AQF level 4 | 10 |
| Award from an Australian educational institution or NOOSR-recognised institution | included in above |
Only qualifications assessed by a recognised assessing authority count. Your skills assessment (required for the EOI) will determine how your qualifications are classified.
Bonus points categories
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Specialist education qualification in STEM (Australian institution, master or doctorate level) | 10 |
| Australian study requirement (2 years study in regional Australia) | 5 |
| Partner skills (partner meets age, English, occupation requirements) | 5 |
| Single applicant, or partner is an Australian citizen/permanent resident with Competent English | 10 |
| State/territory nomination (190 visa) | 5 |
| Regional nomination (491 visa) | 15 |
| Community language accreditation | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia (professional year or community language) | 5 |
189 vs 190 vs 491: choosing the right visa
Subclass 189 (Independent): No nomination required, no obligation to live in a particular state. The most competitive visa — you rely entirely on your points score against the national pool. Typically requires the highest cutoff scores.
Subclass 190 (State Nominated): Requires a nomination from a state or territory government. In exchange, you receive 5 bonus points. You must commit to living and working in the nominating state for at least two years after the visa is granted. Some states have lower cutoff scores than the national 189 pool because they target specific occupations in demand in that state.
Subclass 491 (Regional): Requires nomination from a state/territory or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a designated regional area. Grants 15 bonus points — the highest of any single category. However, the 491 is a temporary visa (5 years), and you must live and work in a regional area. To obtain permanent residency, you later apply for the subclass 191.
Strategies to maximise your score
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Improve your English test score. Going from IELTS 7 to 8 in all bands adds 10 points. This is achievable with targeted preparation, particularly for the writing component.
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Build Australian work experience. If you are already in Australia on a temporary work visa, each additional year of experience in your nominated occupation counts. Three years in Australia is worth 10 points (vs 5 points for 3 years overseas).
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Consider state or regional nomination. If you are flexible about where you live, a 190 nomination adds 5 points and a 491 nomination adds 15 points — which can make the difference between receiving an invitation or waiting indefinitely.
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Check your partner's eligibility. If your partner meets the age, English, and occupation requirements for skilled migration, they add 5 points to your claim. If you are single (or your partner does not meet the requirements), you receive 10 points automatically.
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Act before your next birthday. If you are about to turn 33, 40, or 45, lodging your EOI before your birthday preserves the higher points tier.