The Australian PR points test, explained: the 65-point floor and what counts

The points test is the gate for Australia’s main General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas: the subclass 189 Skilled Independent, the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated, and the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional). You lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, it ranks you by score, and the higher-scoring candidates get invited to apply.

The 65-point floor — and why the real cut-off is higher

To be invited for a 189, 190 or 491, you need a minimum of 65 points. That is the floor to be in the pool at all.

The floor is not the bar that gets you invited. Invitation rounds are competitive: the department invites from the top down, so the effective cut-off in any given round is usually well above 65, and it varies by occupation and by visa. A score of exactly 65 rarely earns an invitation in a contested occupation. Treat 65 as the entry ticket, not the pass mark. Check the published invitation rounds to see where real cut-offs have landed.

What the points test counts

Your score is built from several factors. The exact values are set out in the official points table; these are the factors that move it:

• Age. The largest single block. The most points go to applicants in the 25–32 bracket, tapering off above and below it. Points stop entirely from age 45.
• English language ability. Scored in bands — Competent, Proficient and Superior — with more points for higher demonstrated proficiency. Competent English is the entry requirement; Proficient and Superior add points on top.
• Skilled employment experience. Counted separately for experience in Australia and outside Australia, each banded by years. The two can be combined up to a cap.
• Educational qualifications. Points for a doctorate, a bachelor degree, or a diploma/trade qualification, with more for higher levels.
• Australian study requirement. Points for a qualification obtained while studying in Australia that meets the two-year study rule.
• Specialist education. Additional points for a master’s or doctorate from an Australian institution in certain science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields.
• Partner skills. Points if your partner meets age, English and skills-assessment conditions — or if you have no partner, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Accredited community language. Points for NAATI credentialling as a translator or interpreter.
• Professional Year. Points for completing an approved Professional Year programme in Australia.

The points that depend on the visa

Two factors are tied to the visa stream, not to you alone:

• State or territory nomination (190): +5 points. A state or territory must nominate you, which generally means your occupation is on that jurisdiction’s list and you meet its conditions.
• Regional sponsorship (491): +15 points. The largest top-up in the table, for a 491 sponsored by a state/territory or by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area.

These are why two people with identical backgrounds can sit at different scores: the 190 and 491 carry nomination points the 189 does not.

The score is occupation-agnostic — but your occupation still gates you

This is the part that trips people up. The points table itself does not care what your occupation is — age, English and experience score the same whether you are a nurse or a software engineer.

Your occupation matters at a different gate. To lodge an EOI for a GSM visa you need:

1. A nominated occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for that visa (the 189 draws on the MLTSSL; 190 and 491 also use state lists). Check the live skill occupation list.
2. A positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for that occupation, valid at the time you are invited.

No points are awarded for the occupation, but without the right code on the right list and a passing assessment, the points are moot. The score gets you ranked; the occupation gets you in the door.

Check before you rely on it

Point values, the age cut-offs, list membership and invitation cut-offs all change. The official figures live in the points table, and the points calculator lets you estimate your own score. Always confirm the current numbers there before acting on anything here.

To find your ANZSCO code and the list it sits on, browse the occupation index. If you are unsure which code fits your background, the CV matcher at app.anzscofinder.com shows your closest matches with a confidence score.

For advice on whether a points-tested pathway is right for your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. We find codes and show sources. We do not give migration advice.