Last updated: 1 April 2026

Australia PR Points Table: Full Breakdown

The Australian PR points test is the ranking mechanism that determines who receives an invitation to apply for a skilled visa. Every points-tested visa — the subclass 189, 190, and 491 — uses the same scoring framework. Your total score decides where you sit in the SkillSelect pool and whether the Department of Home Affairs invites you in any given round.

This page provides the complete points table with every scoring factor, the exact bands within each factor, and practical guidance on how each category works. Use this as your reference when calculating your score and planning your strategy.

Complete Australia PR Points Table

The following table shows every factor in the skilled migration points test, along with the points awarded for each band.

Age Points

Age is the first factor most applicants assess because it is fixed — you cannot change it, only plan around it.

The optimal age range is 25-32, which awards the maximum 30 points. The drop from 32 to 33 costs 5 points, and the drop from 39 to 40 costs 10 points. These transitions are significant — if you are approaching an age boundary, timing your EOI submission and invitation strategically can preserve points.

The age at time of invitation is what counts, not age at EOI submission. If you lodge your EOI at 32 but receive your invitation after turning 33, you receive 25 points instead of 30. For applicants near a boundary, consider whether additional time spent improving other factors (like English) will be offset by losing age points.

Applicants aged 45 and over are ineligible for points-tested skilled visas entirely. There are alternative pathways for over-45 applicants, including employer-sponsored visas and the Global Talent visa, but the points test is closed.

English Language Points

English proficiency is the factor with the highest return on effort for most applicants. The gap between Competent (0 points) and Superior (20 points) is the largest swing available through personal preparation.

Competent English is the minimum required to apply but adds zero points. Most competitive applicants aim for at least Proficient.

Proficient English adds 10 points and is achievable for most educated professionals with dedicated preparation. This single improvement can move an applicant from below the invitation threshold to within competitive range.

Superior English adds 20 points and represents the single largest points gain from any individual factor. Achieving Superior is difficult but transformative for your score. Many applicants find PTE Academic more achievable for high scores than IELTS, though this varies by individual.

English test results are valid for 3 years from the test date. You can sit the test multiple times and use your best result.

Skilled Employment Points

Work experience is assessed separately for overseas and Australian employment. You can claim points from both categories simultaneously.

Overseas Skilled Employment

Australian Skilled Employment

Australian work experience is weighted more heavily than overseas experience — 20 points maximum versus 15 — and the counting starts earlier (1 year versus 3 years). The employment must be in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation, verified through your skills assessment.

Only skilled employment counts. Time spent in roles that do not match your nominated ANZSCO code, or work performed before your qualifications were completed (in some assessment frameworks), may be excluded. Your assessing authority determines which periods of employment qualify.

Employment must be at least 20 hours per week to count as skilled employment for points purposes. Part-time work below this threshold does not accumulate.

Educational Qualification Points

The points test does not distinguish between a Bachelor degree and a Masters degree — both receive 15 points. The only qualification that receives more is a PhD at 20 points. This means undertaking a Masters purely for additional points is not effective unless it also contributes to your skills assessment outcome or specialist education points.

Qualifications must be recognised by the relevant Australian assessing authority. Overseas qualifications are assessed for equivalence to Australian standards. Not all qualifications from all institutions are automatically recognised — the assessment process determines this.

Australian Study Requirement

You receive 5 points if you have completed at least one degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian institution that meets the following criteria:

• Completed while physically present in Australia
• At least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of study
• Conducted in English
• Completed at CRICOS-registered institutions

This requirement can be met through a single qualification or a combination of qualifications that together total 2 academic years. The study must have been completed within the 6 years immediately before the date of your visa application.

Specialist Education Qualification

An additional 10 points are available for a Masters by research or PhD in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) from an Australian institution. This is separate from the general education points and can be claimed in addition to them.

The qualification must be from an Australian institution and must involve a substantial research component. Coursework Masters degrees in STEM fields do not qualify — the research component is the qualifying criterion.

NAATI Credentialled Community Language (CCL)

Passing the NAATI Credentialled Community Language (CCL) test adds 5 points. The test assesses your ability to interpret between English and another language at a community level. It does not require formal interpreter training.

Languages available for the CCL include Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and many others. For applicants who are fluent in a language other than English, this is one of the most accessible ways to add 5 points.

The test involves two dialogue segments where you interpret between English and your chosen language. Preparation resources are available through NAATI and third-party providers. The test fee is approximately AUD $800.

Professional Year in Australia

Completing an approved Professional Year program adds 5 points. Professional Year programs are available in three fields:

Each program includes formal coursework in Australian workplace practices and a supervised internship placement with an Australian employer. You must hold a valid visa with work rights to undertake a Professional Year.

Professional Year is only available in Australia and must be completed through a provider approved by the relevant assessing authority (CPA Australia, CAANZ, or IPA for accounting; ACS for IT; Engineers Australia for engineering).

Regional Study in Australia

An additional 5 points are available if your Australian study qualification was completed while you were living in a regional area of Australia. This is separate from the general Australian study requirement and can be claimed in addition to it.

The regional study must have been at an institution campus located in a regional area, and you must have lived in that regional area during the study period. The definition of “regional” for this purpose aligns with the designated regional area postcodes.

Partner Points

Your partner’s skills and status affect your points score in one of three ways.

This scoring means that being single is not a disadvantage in the points test — single applicants receive 10 points, the same as applicants with a highly skilled partner. The lowest score in this category (5 points) applies when your partner has English proficiency but no skills assessment.

If you have a partner who does not have competent English or a skills assessment, they contribute 0 partner points. This does not prevent you from applying, but it means you need to make up those points elsewhere.

State and Territory Nomination Points

Nomination points are automatic once your nomination is approved. For the subclass 190 State Nominated visa, you receive 5 points. For the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa, you receive 15 points — the largest single points factor available through nomination.

The subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa does not involve nomination, so applicants on this pathway rely entirely on their base profile to reach competitive scores.

How to Use This Table

Step 1: Calculate your base score. Add up points from age, English, work experience, education, and any bonus factors (Australian study, NAATI, Professional Year, regional study, partner). This is your base score before any nomination bonus.

Step 2: Compare against competitive scores. Check recent invitation round results for your occupation and target visa subclass. Our guide on points required for Australia PR includes occupation-specific cutoff data.

Step 3: Identify improvement opportunities. If your base score is below the competitive threshold, identify which factors you can improve. Our guide on how to improve your PR points covers 12 practical strategies.

Step 4: Submit your EOI. Once your score reaches at least 65 points (including any expected nomination bonus), submit your Expression of Interest through the SkillSelect EOI process.

Use the Australia PR points calculator for an interactive assessment of your score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum points score for Australia PR?

There is no official maximum score, as the total depends on which factors apply to your profile. The theoretical maximum combining all possible categories exceeds 130 points, but no single applicant can claim every factor simultaneously. In practice, the highest scores seen in invitation rounds are typically between 90 and 110 points.

How many points do you need for a 189 visa?

The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points. However, competitive invitation scores for the subclass 189 vary by occupation. Popular occupations like accounting or software engineering may require 80-90 points, while less competitive occupations may invite at 65-70. Check published invitation round results for your specific ANZSCO code.

Do you get points for a Masters degree?

Yes. A Masters degree from a recognised institution is awarded 15 points — the same as a Bachelor degree. A PhD receives 20 points. The points test does not differentiate between a Bachelor and Masters for scoring purposes, though a Masters may help with your skills assessment depending on your occupation and assessing authority.

Can you claim points for both overseas and Australian work experience?

Yes. The points test has separate categories for overseas skilled employment and Australian skilled employment. You can claim points from both, subject to the maximum in each category. Overseas experience is capped at 15 points (8-10 years) and Australian experience is capped at 20 points (8-10 years).

How are partner points calculated?

If your partner has a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the same skilled occupation list and competent English, you receive 10 points. If your partner has competent English but no skills assessment, you receive 5 points. If you are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or PR holder, you receive 10 points.

Do points for age decrease as you get older?

Yes. The maximum age points (30) are awarded to applicants aged 25-32. Points decrease in bands: 25 points for ages 33-39, 15 points for ages 40-44, and 25 points for ages 18-24. Applicants aged 45 and over receive zero age points and are ineligible for points-tested skilled visas.

Is 65 points enough to get an invitation?

65 points is the minimum to submit an EOI, but it is not sufficient for many occupations. Whether 65 points results in an invitation depends on your occupation and the current competitive landscape. Some lower-demand occupations do invite at 65, but high-demand fields typically require 70-90 or more. Check recent invitation round data for your occupation.