Australia PR Points Calculator (2026)
Work out your indicative score for the points-tested skilled visas — Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491). The pass mark to submit an Expression of Interest is 65 points, though in practice invitations usually go well above it. General information only, not migration advice: confirm your actual score against the Department of Home Affairs points table or with a MARA-registered agent before relying on it.
Get your score reviewed by a registered agent →
How the points test works
Points are awarded across six scored categories plus a set of one-off bonuses. You must claim at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect, and you must have a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant list before your claims mean anything.
65 is a floor, not a target. Invitation rounds are competitive and the effective cut-off for most occupations sits materially higher, so a score of exactly 65 is best read as "eligible to enter the pool", not "likely to be invited". Points are assessed as at the date of invitation, which matters if you are close to an age bracket or an experience threshold.
Points tables (2026 settings)
Age
| 18–24 years | 25 |
| 25–32 years | 30 |
| 33–39 years | 25 |
| 40–44 years | 15 |
| 45 years or older | 0 |
English language
| Competent (IELTS 6.0 each band) | 0 |
| Proficient (IELTS 7.0 each band) | 10 |
| Superior (IELTS 8.0 each band) | 20 |
Competent English is the entry requirement and scores nothing. Every band is set by your lowest section, so one weak component caps the whole claim. Moving Competent to Superior is worth 20 points — for most applicants the largest single lever still available, and the only input that can be retaken.
Skilled employment — overseas (last 10 years)
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3 years | 5 |
| 5 years | 10 |
| 8 years | 15 |
Skilled employment — in Australia
| None or under 1 year | 0 |
| 1 year | 5 |
| 3 years | 10 |
| 5 years | 15 |
| 8 years | 20 |
Both employment claims must be in your nominated occupation, or one closely related. Work outside it does not count, which is where a large share of over-claims come from.
Educational qualifications
| Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| Bachelor degree | 15 |
| PhD | 20 |
Partner skills
| Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or PR | 10 |
| Partner meets skills, age and English requirements | 10 |
| Partner has Competent English only | 5 |
| Partner meets none of these | 0 |
Bonus points
| State or territory nomination (190) | 5 |
| State nomination or family sponsorship (491) | 15 |
| Professional Year in Australia | 5 |
| 2+ years study in a regional area | 5 |
| NAATI credentialled community language | 5 |
The 190 and 491 bonuses are mutually exclusive — you are applying for one visa or the other, so you cannot add both.
Worked examples
A 29-year-old software engineer, Proficient English, 5 years overseas experience, bachelor degree, partner with Competent English. Age 30 + English 10 + overseas work 10 + education 15 + partner 5 = 70 points. Enough to enter the pool. Lifting English to Superior would add 10 more and materially change their position in a competitive round.
A 34-year-old accountant, Competent English, 3 years overseas experience, bachelor degree, single. Age 25 + English 0 + overseas work 5 + education 15 + single 10 = 55 points. Ten short of the floor. The realistic levers are English (up to +20), a Professional Year (+5), NAATI CCL (+5) or state nomination (+5 or +15).
A 41-year-old registered nurse, Superior English, 8 years overseas experience, bachelor degree, partner is an Australian PR. Age 15 + English 20 + overseas work 15 + education 15 + partner 10 = 75 points. Age is costing 15 points against the same person at 30, which is why timing matters near a bracket boundary.
If you are under 65 points
Say it plainly: below 65 you cannot submit an Expression of Interest at all. That is not a soft threshold and no agent can waive it. What can change is the score itself, and only four things realistically move it:
- English — up to 20 points, and the only category you can retake at will. This is where most gaps close. See what each English band is worth.
- State nomination — 5 points on a 190, or 15 on a 491, but each state runs its own occupation list and criteria.
- NAATI CCL — 5 points for a credentialled community language, independent of your English score. See how the NAATI points work.
- Experience and qualifications — real but slow, and they interact with age, which moves against you.
If none of those closes your gap, the honest answer is that the points-tested route may not be your pathway, and employer sponsorship or a different visa class is worth examining instead. That is a question for a registered agent, not a calculator.
Common questions
How many points do I need for Australian PR?
You need at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest for the 189, 190 or 491. That is the minimum to enter the pool, not the score that gets invited — invitation cut-offs for most occupations sit higher and move round to round.
Is 65 points enough to get an invitation?
Usually not on its own. 65 makes you eligible to lodge an EOI. Actual invitations are issued in ranked rounds, so the practical cut-off depends on your occupation and how many higher-scoring applicants are in the pool.
How many points is Superior English worth?
20 points, against 10 for Proficient and 0 for Competent. Your band is set by your lowest section score, so a single weak component caps the whole claim.
Do points differ between the 189, 190 and 491?
The scored categories are the same. The difference is the bonus: a 190 adds 5 points for state or territory nomination, and a 491 adds 15 for state nomination or eligible family sponsorship. You cannot claim both.
At what age do I stop getting points?
Points drop to zero at 45. The maximum of 30 points applies between 25 and 32, falling to 25 at 33-39 and 15 at 40-44. Age is assessed at the date of invitation, not the date you lodge your EOI.
Does work experience outside my nominated occupation count?
No. Skilled employment points only count for work in your nominated occupation or one closely related to it, at the required skill level. This is one of the most common sources of over-claimed points.
Is this calculator official?
No. It is a free indicative tool built from the published points table. It is general information, not migration advice, and it cannot account for your specific circumstances. Confirm your score with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered agent.