Points test self-check

Which points-tested visa?

189Skilled Independent190Skilled Nominated491Skilled Work Regional

Age (at invitation)

At least 18 but less than 25 years25 pointsAt least 25 but less than 33 years30 pointsAt least 33 but less than 40 years25 pointsAt least 40 but less than 45 years15 points45 or overNot eligible

You must be under 45 when invited.

English language skills

Competent English0 pointsProficient English10 pointsSuperior English20 pointsNot claimed0 points

Competent English is the minimum requirement. Use the English helper below to match test scores.

Overseas skilled employment (outside Australia)

Less than 3 years0 pointsAt least 3 but less than 5 years5 pointsAt least 5 but less than 8 years10 pointsAt least 8 years15 pointsNot claimed0 points

Employment in your nominated or a closely related skilled occupation, in the 10 years before invitation, for at least 20 hours a week.

Australian skilled employment (in Australia)

Less than 1 year0 pointsAt least 1 but less than 3 years5 pointsAt least 3 but less than 5 years10 pointsAt least 5 but less than 8 years15 pointsAt least 8 years20 pointsNot claimed0 points

In the 10 years before invitation, in your nominated or a closely related occupation, at least 20 hours a week, while holding a substantive visa or a Bridging A or B and complying with its conditions.

Combined employment cap: Overseas and Australian employment points combined are capped at 20. Even if the combined total is higher, only 20 points are awarded.

Educational qualifications (highest only)

A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution, or a Doctorate from another institution of a recognised standard20 pointsAt least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution, or at least a Bachelor qualification from another institution of a recognised standard15 pointsA diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution10 pointsA qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as suitable for that occupation10 pointsNot claimed0 points

Points for your highest qualification only. Doctorate points need a Doctor of Philosophy level qualification; titles such as general practitioner, dentist or vet do not count. Recognition must be held at invitation.

Specialist education qualificationA Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years of study in a relevant field 10 points

Relevant fields are listed science, technology, engineering, mathematics and specified ICT fields: natural and physical sciences, information technology, and engineering and related technologies (subfields listed on the Home Affairs page). Check the course on the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirementMeet the Australian study requirement 5 points

At least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Professional Year in AustraliaCompletion of a Professional Year in Australia 5 points

Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering; in your nominated or a closely related occupation; at least 12 months; completed in Australia in the 4 years (48 months) before invitation; provided by the Australian Computer Society, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Institute of Public Accountants or Engineers Australia. Completion date is the date on the official Record of Completion.

Credentialled community languageHold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5 points

Accredited at paraprofessional level or above, certified at certified provisional level or above, or a community language credential for interpreting or translating from NAATI.

Study in regional AustraliaAt least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification meeting the Australian study requirement, obtained while living and studying in a designated regional area 5 points

Must meet the Australian study requirement; studied at a campus in, and lived in, a designated regional area; distance education does not count.

Partner skills

Skilled partner: your spouse or de facto partner is also an applicant for this visa, is not an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and at invitation was under 45, had competent English, nominated an occupation on the same list as yours and had a suitable skills assessment (not one for a 485)10 pointsYour spouse or de facto partner is also an applicant for this visa, is not an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and has competent English5 pointsYou are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident10 pointsNot claimed0 points

Choose one option.

Nomination or sponsorship

Choose a visa to see its nomination points.

Total from your answers

Published pass mark: 65

Choose your answers to see a points estimate.

Breakdown
Factor	Answer	Points

0 pointsChoose your answersSee breakdown

English helper

Choose your test and enter your score for each part. The helper maps the scores to competent, proficient or superior English using the Home Affairs equivalence table. It changes nothing in the self-check unless you press “Use this level”.

Score needed in each of the 4 test components, at least. Test must be taken in the 3 years before the visa application (depending on the visa). Tests delivered completely online (remote-proctored or at-home) are not accepted, for example CELPIP Online, IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital taken at home, OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa (Table 2 below). Competent English can also be shown by citizenship and a valid passport of Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.

Before you read anything into the total

Points are one requirement among many. Points-tested visas also depend on your occupation, a suitable skills assessment, your age at invitation, competent English, invitation rounds and, for 190 and 491, state or territory criteria.
Reaching 65 does not mean you will be invited.

Sixty-five is the minimum to be invited. Your Expression of Interest gets an indicative score; if invited, the invitation states the score you must meet at assessment, which may be higher than 65 depending on your claims. Most criteria must be met at the time of invitation. Invitations go to the highest-ranked Expressions of Interest, so many people are invited only at higher scores.

Points are assessed at the time of invitation, except the single or partner item, which is not assessed at invitation and can change if your marital status changes during processing.

Points test redesign: Announced, not in force

The 2026-27 Budget (May 2026) said the permanent points test will be reformed, and on 17 September 2026 the Minister said the points test had been redone. No new table, pass mark or start date has been published. The Home Affairs points table pages read on 22 October 2026 show the current table.

Sources

Information checked 22 October 2026.

Immi Worldwide

For advice about your own situation, Immi Worldwide refers you to Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130, of The Immigration Worldwide Pty Ltd. Immi Worldwide does not give immigration assistance.

Ask for a referral to Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130 Ask for a call back about a referral

Points test self-check.