Skilled Migration Points Calculator
Calculate your points for the 189, 190, and 491 visa subclasses. Free, instant, and based on the official scoring rules.
Age
English Language
Partner Skills
Overseas Skilled Employment
Australian Skilled Employment
Educational Qualification
Specialist Education
Australian Study
Professional Year
Community Language (NAATI)
Regional Study
Nomination / Sponsorship
Total Points
189
190
491
How the Australian points test works
Australia's General Skilled Migration program (visa subclasses 189, 190 and 491) uses a points test to rank candidates. You score points across a fixed set of factors — age, English language ability, skilled work experience inside and outside Australia, educational qualifications, and bonus items such as a Professional Year, a credentialled community language (NAATI), study in regional Australia, and your partner's skills. The calculator above adds these up the same way the Department of Home Affairs does.
Only your best-scoring option in each category counts, and some categories are mutually exclusive. Once you know your score you lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect; the department then invites the highest-ranked candidates in periodic invitation rounds.
65 points: the minimum vs the reality
You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an EOI — but 65 only makes you eligible, not invited. Because invitations go to the highest-ranked candidates first, the real cut-off in most popular occupations sits well above 65, and it moves from round to round. Check the live invitation rounds and your occupation's history to see what score is actually competitive right now.
189 vs 190 vs 491
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) is a permanent visa with no state or employer sponsorship. It adds zero nomination points — your base score is your score — so it is the most competitive of the three.
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) is permanent and requires nomination by a state or territory, which adds 5 points. In return you commit to living and working in the nominating state.
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) is a 5-year provisional visa requiring regional state nomination or eligible family sponsorship. It adds 15 points — the largest single boost in the test — and is a pathway to permanent residence via subclass 191. See state nominations for current requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need for Australian skilled migration?
The minimum is 65 points to lodge an Expression of Interest for a subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa. However, 65 only makes you eligible to be considered — actual invitations go to the highest-ranked candidates, so the competitive score is usually higher and varies by occupation and visa.
Is 65 points enough for a 189 visa?
Rarely. Subclass 189 adds no nomination points and invites strictly by score, so for most occupations the cut-off in recent rounds has been well above 65. Use the calculator to find your score, then check recent 189 round cut-offs for your occupation to see whether 65 is realistically competitive.
How are age points calculated?
Age points are 25 for ages 18–24, 30 for 25–32, 25 for 33–39, 15 for 40–44, and 0 for 45 and over. The official table phrases these as "at least 25 but less than 33", and so on. Your age is assessed on the date you are invited.
How many points do you get for English?
Competent English (around IELTS 6 / PTE 50 in each band) scores 0 points, Proficient English (IELTS 7 / PTE 65) scores 10 points, and Superior English (IELTS 8 / PTE 79) scores 20 points. Competent English is the minimum required to apply; points are awarded only for Proficient and Superior.
What's the difference between subclass 189, 190 and 491?
Subclass 189 is permanent with no sponsorship and adds 0 points. Subclass 190 is permanent, requires state or territory nomination and adds 5 points. Subclass 491 is a 5-year regional provisional visa, requires regional nomination or family sponsorship, and adds 15 points — the largest boost — leading to permanent residence via subclass 191.
Do partner skills give you points?
Yes. You get 10 points if your partner is also an applicant, is under 45, has competent English and a positive skills assessment in a relevant occupation; 5 points if your partner has competent English only; and 10 points if you are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
How can I increase my points score?
Common ways to add points: improve your English to Proficient (+10) or Superior (+20), gain more years of skilled work experience, complete a Professional Year (+5), pass a NAATI credentialled community language test (+5), meet the Australian study or regional study requirements (+5 each), or obtain a state or territory (190, +5) or regional (491, +15) nomination.
Does this calculator guarantee an invitation?
No. The calculator estimates your points under the official rules, but meeting or exceeding 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. Invitations depend on your ranking against other candidates, your occupation, occupation ceilings, and how many invitations are issued each round.
How accurate is the calculator?
It uses the exact point values from the Department of Home Affairs points table (last updated September 2024). It is intended as a planning guide, not migration advice — your official points are determined by the department when you are invited and apply.
How often are invitation rounds, and where can I see the cut-offs?
SkillSelect invitation rounds are typically held periodically (often monthly) for subclasses 189, 190 and 491. You can track the latest round dates, point cut-offs and invitation volumes on ImmiTrend's invitation rounds and per-occupation pages, sourced from official SkillSelect data.
Official references
Reflects the official Department of Home Affairs points table, last updated September 2024.