If you’ve been researching how to migrate to Australia as a skilled worker, you’ve likely come across the points test. It’s the backbone of Australia’s independent skilled migration system — and understanding how it works, and how to maximise your score, can be the difference between receiving an invitation quickly or waiting indefinitely.
What Is the Points-Based Skilled Migration System?
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Australia uses a points-based system to select skilled migrants for certain permanent visa subclasses. The two main visas under this system are:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled — Independent): No employer or state government needed. You’re assessed purely on merit against other applicants in your occupation.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated): Requires a nomination from a state or territory government. In return, you receive an additional 5 points, which can be decisive in competitive occupation categories.
Both visas grant permanent residency from day one — there’s no provisional period or transition requirement, unlike some other skilled visa pathways.
How Do You Apply? The SkillSelect Process
You don’t lodge a visa application directly. Instead, you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Department of Home Affairs’ SkillSelect online system. Think of it as a profile where you declare your skills, qualifications, and points. You’re then ranked against other applicants in your nominated occupation.
The Department periodically runs “invitation rounds” and invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for the actual visa. Being invited means you’ve been selected from the pool — you then have 60 days to lodge your formal visa application.
How Are Points Calculated?
The points test awards points across several categories. The minimum to even submit an EOI is 65 points, but in practice most occupations require significantly more to receive an invitation.
Age
The system favours applicants aged 25–32, who receive the maximum 30 points. Points decrease progressively with age, and applicants over 44 receive no points for age at all.
English Language Ability
- Competent English (IELTS 6 each band): minimum required, no bonus points
- Proficient English (IELTS 7 each band, or equivalent): 10 points
- Superior English (IELTS 8 each band, or equivalent): 20 points
English is one of the most impactful areas to improve — going from Competent to Superior adds 20 points, which is enormous in a competitive pool.
Skilled Employment Experience
Both Australian and overseas work experience in your nominated occupation earn points. Australian experience is weighted more heavily. Up to 20 points are available for employment, with more years earning more points.
Qualifications
A Doctorate from an Australian institution earns the most points. Bachelor’s degrees and above also score, as do Australian trade qualifications and vocational credentials assessed by a relevant authority.
Bonus Points
Several additional factors can add to your score:
- State or territory nomination (190 visa): +5 points
- Partner who is also a skilled applicant or has competent English: +10 points
- Study in regional Australia: +5 points
- NAATI-certified community language proficiency: +5 points
- Completed an Australian Professional Year program: +5 points
What Is a Skills Assessment and Why Does It Matter?
Before you can submit an EOI, you must obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority. For example, Engineers Australia assesses engineers, ACWA assesses social workers, and VETASSESS covers a broad range of professional and trade occupations.
The assessment confirms that your overseas qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards. This process can take several months and is often the first bottleneck applicants encounter. Start it as early as possible — don’t wait until you’re ready to lodge your EOI.
What Documents Will You Need?
Skills assessments and visa applications are document-heavy. Typically you’ll need:
- Academic transcripts and degree or diploma certificates
- Detailed employment references and statutory declarations
- Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate)
- English language test results
- Your skills assessment outcome letter
Any document not in English must be accompanied by a NAATI-certified translation — this is a non-negotiable requirement for both the assessing authority and the Department of Home Affairs. If you have overseas transcripts, qualification certificates, or employment letters in another language, all of these will need certified translations. Services like Translate by LodgeHQ provide NAATI-certified translations that are accepted by Australian assessing bodies and the Department.
How Competitive Are the Invitation Rounds?
Very — for many occupations. In recent years, invitations for popular occupations have gone to applicants scoring 90 or even higher. Simply reaching the minimum 65 points is not enough in most cases. Your strategy should be to build the highest possible score before submitting your EOI, not to lodge as soon as you hit the minimum.
Practical ways to improve your score before submitting:
- Sit for an English test and aim for Superior level (IELTS 8 each band)
- Accurately count all eligible years of skilled employment experience
- Pursue state nomination for the additional 5 points
- Consider completing a Professional Year program if you’re in accounting, engineering, or IT
Which Occupations Are Eligible?
Not every occupation qualifies for the 189 or 190. The 189 uses the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), while state governments maintain their own lists for 190 nominations. Occupation lists are updated periodically — an occupation not available six months ago may now be open, and vice versa. Check the Department of Home Affairs website regularly if your occupation has previously been unavailable.
Is the 190 Worth the Commitment?
For most applicants, yes. The extra 5 points can be decisive, particularly in competitive occupations. The trade-off is a genuine obligation to live and work in the nominating state for at least 2 years after receiving your visa. For many applicants — especially those flexible about location — this is a reasonable compromise for gaining permanent residency sooner.
The Bottom Line
The points-based system rewards preparation and patience. The applicants who succeed are typically those who planned well in advance — they maximised their English scores, completed their skills assessments early, gathered all required documentation (including certified translations of any overseas records), and submitted their EOI at a strategically optimum time.
If you’re considering the 189 or 190 pathway, a consultation with a registered migration agent can help you calculate your current score, identify where you can realistically gain more points, and assess whether the independent pathway is your best route or whether employer sponsorship or a regional pathway makes more sense for your situation.
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Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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