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Expert Australia PR Points Calculator
An interactive, expert-guided platform for 189, 190 & 491 visas.
Estimation only, not migration advice. Logic aligned to the Department of Home Affairs points tables and English-language requirements as read on 2026-09-04, and to the skilled occupation lists in LIN 19/051 (compilation of 2026-03-28).
Explore Example Scenarios
Points Preview:10
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Core Details
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English
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Education
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Employment
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Partner
Core Applicant Details
Critical Foundations
- Points Test Date: This is the single most important date. Your age, work experience, and credential validity are all locked in and assessed at this point-in-time. Usually this is the date you receive an invitation to apply.
- Nominated Occupation: Must be on the relevant skilled occupation list for your chosen visa subclass (e.g., visa 189 requires an occupation on the MLTSSL).
- Skills Assessment: You must hold a valid (not expired) skills assessment from the relevant authority for your occupation. Most are valid for 3 years.
- 'Skilled From' Date: Crucial date set by your assessing authority. Any work experience before this date will not be awarded points.
Total Points Score
10
Below 65 points minimum
Gating & Eligibility Checks
Occupation on List
❌ Not Met
Skills Assessment
❌ Not Met
Issue date not provided.
Competent English
❌ Not Met
Points Breakdown
Age
0English Language
0Skilled Employment
0Qualifications
0Australian Study Requirement
0Regional Study
0Specialist Education
0Professional Year
0NAATI CCL
0Single or Citizen/PR Partner
10Nomination / Sponsorship
0The 2026 Guide to Australia's Skilled Migration Points Test
This expert guide provides crucial insights into the Australian PR points system, helping you understand the nuances beyond the numbers to maximize your score.
The EOI & Invitation Process
Achieving 65 points doesn't guarantee an invitation. It simply makes you eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The Department of Home Affairs then runs periodic "invitation rounds," selecting candidates with the highest points from the EOI pool for specific occupations. This is why aiming for the highest possible score is critical. Your EOI is valid for two years, and you can update it anytime your circumstances change (e.g., you gain more work experience or a higher English score).
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Incorrect 'Skilled From' Date: Many applicants mistakenly claim points for all their work experience. Only experience gained after the date your assessing authority deems you skilled is eligible. Miscalculating this is a common reason for visa refusal.
- Expired Credentials: Your skills assessment and English test result must both be less than 3 years old at the time of invitation.
- Partner Occupation Not on Your Visa's List: A skilled partner's occupation must be on a list applicable to your visa. For a 189 that is the MLTSSL only, so a partner with an STSOL occupation gives 5 points (Competent English), not 10. For a 190 either list works.
- Wrong English Table: Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 are scored against new per-component thresholds that differ from the old ones (PTE Academic Superior is 69/70/85/88, not 79 across the board). At-home or online test editions are not accepted at all.
- Insufficient Documentation: Every point you claim must be backed by concrete evidence. Payslips, reference letters, and bank statements must be clear, consistent, and meet the department's strict requirements.
State Nomination Deep Dive
State and Territory governments have their own occupation lists and additional criteria. A nomination from a state can be a powerful advantage, providing 5 points (190 visa) or 15 points (491 visa) and giving you access to a much broader range of occupations than the 189 visa. States often prioritize candidates who are already living and working in that state, have specific skills in demand, or have close family ties there. Securing a state nomination requires a separate application process directly with the state government body.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points are required for Australian PR in 2026?
The minimum score to be invited for a Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) or Skilled Work Regional (491) visa is 65 points (Department of Home Affairs points tables, last updated June-July 2026). Invitations go to the highest-ranked Expressions of Interest within the places available for an occupation, so the score actually needed in a round is usually higher and varies by occupation and round. Your invitation states the score you must then prove.
Did the points test change in 2026? Is a new points test coming?
The points test itself (Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations) is unchanged in 2026 and is what this calculator applies. What did change is the English evidence: from 7 August 2025 Home Affairs revised the approved tests and score thresholds (see the next question). Separately, the Australian Government's Budget 2026-27 states it is reforming the permanent migration points test to select better educated, higher-skilled and younger migrants, following the Department's 2024 review of the points test. No new test has been legislated as of September 2026; until one commences, the current test applies. This page will be updated when the Department publishes the new rules.
What changed for English tests on 7 August 2025?
Home Affairs replaced its English score tables. For a test taken on or after 7 August 2025 the approved tests are IELTS (Academic or General Training), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT (registered under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia'), OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and MET, each with its own per-component thresholds (for example PTE Academic Superior is now 69 listening, 70 reading, 85 writing, 88 speaking). A result from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 is assessed against the earlier table and can be used until 6 August 2028, still subject to the 3-year rule. Fully online (at-home / remote-proctored) tests are not accepted.
What is the difference between visas 189, 190, and 491?
The 189 (Skilled Independent) needs no nomination and grants permanent residence; your occupation must be on the MLTSSL. The 190 (Skilled Nominated) needs a State or Territory nomination, gives 5 points, grants permanent residence, and uses the MLTSSL and STSOL. The 491 (Skilled Work Regional) is a 5-year provisional visa for designated regional areas, gives 15 points for a State/Territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, and leads to permanent residence (subclass 191). A State-nominated 491 uses the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL; a family-sponsored 491 is limited to the MLTSSL.
How is skilled employment experience calculated for points?
Points are awarded for employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation, for at least 20 hours a week for remuneration, in the 10 years before you are invited, and only from the date your assessing authority deems you skilled. Australian employment also requires that you held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or B visa and complied with its conditions. Overseas: 3-<5 years 5, 5-<8 years 10, 8+ years 15. Australian: 1-<3 years 5, 3-<5 years 10, 5-<8 years 15, 8+ years 20. The combined maximum is 20 points.
Can I claim points for my partner?
Yes, one of three items. 10 points if you are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. 10 points for a skilled partner: an applicant for the same visa who is not a citizen/PR and who, at invitation, was under 45, had Competent English, nominated an occupation on a list applicable to your visa (not necessarily the same list as yours), and held a suitable skills assessment that was not obtained for a Subclass 485 visa. 5 points if your partner (same visa, not a citizen/PR) had Competent English at invitation.
Which English test is the easiest?
There is no 'easiest' test; it depends on your strengths. IELTS is the most widely taken. PTE Academic is computer-based and scored by machine. TOEFL iBT must be registered under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' to count. Compare the per-component thresholds for your intended level in the calculator's English step before choosing, because since 7 August 2025 the thresholds differ by component for most tests.
Does a Professional Year guarantee a job or PR?
No. A Professional Year in Accounting, ICT or Engineering gives 5 points if completed in Australia in the 4 years before invitation, and it adds Australian workplace experience and a professional network. It does not guarantee a job or a visa, and its work-placement component cannot also be claimed as skilled employment.
About the Author
Managing Director, EEC
has reviewed and verified the guide and the logic used in this calculator. A study abroad industry veteran and lead AI strategist and systems architect, Amit has 28+ years of experience in Australian GS frameworks, Group of Eight university admissions, visa processes and immigration updates. His oversight ensures that the information and logic you see here are accurate, practical and aligned with current policy. Last aligned to the Department of Home Affairs sources on 4 September 2026.
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Visa Subclass Data Comparison
| Feature | Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Type | Permanent Residency | Permanent Residency | Provisional (5 years) |
| Nomination Bonus | 0 | +5 | +15 |
| Sponsorship | None (Independent) | State/Territory Govt. | State/Territory or Family |
| Occupation List | MLTSSL | MLTSSL or STSOL | MLTSSL, STSOL, or Regional |
| Location Constraint | None | 2-year commitment to state | Live/work in regional area |
Methodology & Data Source
Every point value, threshold and occupation list in this tool is transcribed from an official Australian Government source, read on 4 September 2026. The current points test (Schedule 6D, Migration Regulations 1994) applies; the Budget 2026-27 announced a reform of the points test, but no new test has commenced.
- Points table, subclass 189 (Home Affairs, last updated 11 June 2026); 190 and 491 (16 July 2026).
- Competent, Proficient and Superior English score tables (Home Affairs; tests before and from 7 August 2025).
- LIN 19/051 (Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019, Compilation No. 5, 28 March 2026: MLTSSL (212), STSOL (214), ROL (77) and which list applies to each visa.
- Budget 2026-27, Productivity: "reforming the permanent migration points test"; Review of the points test (Home Affairs).
Last Data Verification: 4 September 2026.
Definitional Glossary
- EOI (Expression of Interest)
- A declaration submitted to the Department of Home Affairs by a prospective applicant, outlining their claims against the points test for a skilled visa. It is not a visa application but a prerequisite for receiving an invitation to apply.
- MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List)
- A list of skilled occupations determined by the Australian government to be in medium to long-term demand. Occupations on this list are eligible for a wider range of skilled visas, including the subclass 189.
- STSOL (Short-term Skilled Occupation List)
- A list of skilled occupations in short-term demand. Occupations on this list are eligible for the State-nominated 190 and 491 visas, not the independent 189 visa.
- ROL (Regional Occupation List)
- Occupations available only to a subclass 491 applicant nominated by a State or Territory government agency (77 occupations in LIN 19/051, compilation of 28 March 2026).
- ASR (Australian Study Requirement)
- A requirement for claiming study-related points, involving completion of at least two years (92 CRICOS weeks) of study in Australia, completed in no less than 16 months.
- ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations)
- A system used to classify all occupations and jobs in the Australian and New Zealand labor markets. Each skilled occupation has a unique ANZSCO code.