Australia's General Skilled Migration program is one of the most transparent PR pathways in the world: score enough points, get invited, lodge your visa. But "enough points" is where most applicants get confused. Here is how it actually works.
The three visas that use the points test
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) — no sponsor needed, live anywhere in Australia
- Subclass 190 (State Nominated) — a state nominates you for +5 points; you commit to that state
- Subclass 491 (Regional) — +15 points, but you live and work in regional Australia for three years before transitioning to PR
The pass mark is 65 — but that is not the invite mark
You need 65 points to be eligible, but invitations go to the highest-ranked candidates in each occupation. Popular occupations like software engineering or accounting often need 85 to 95 points for a 189 invitation, while state programs and regional visas invite at much lower scores.
Where the points come from
- Age: maximum 30 points at ages 25–32
- English: 0 for Competent, 10 for Proficient (IELTS 7s), 20 for Superior (IELTS 8s)
- Skilled employment: up to 20 points combined for overseas and Australian experience
- Education: 15 for a bachelor's or master's, 20 for a PhD
- Bonuses: Australian study, regional study, Professional Year, NAATI community language, partner skills
The two fastest ways to add points
First, English: going from Proficient to Superior adds 10 points and is the cheapest, fastest improvement available. Second, state nomination: the 190 adds 5 points, and the 491 adds 15 — and both dramatically improve your odds because you compete in a state pool rather than the national one.
Skills assessment comes first
Before you can claim a single point, your occupation must be on a skilled occupation list and you must pass a skills assessment with the relevant authority (ACS for IT, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, and so on). Start this early — assessments take weeks to months.
Estimate your score in three minutes
Our free calculator at /tools/pr-calculator covers the full points grid for 189, 190, and 491. Run your numbers, see your gaps, and if you are within reach of 65+, book a consultation — we will help you plan the skills assessment, English strategy, and state nomination approach.