Free planning tool · Subclass 189 / 190 / 491
Australian skilled migration points calculator 2026
Calculate your points test score for Australian skilled visas (subclass 189 Independent, 190 State Nominated, 491 Regional Provisional). Adjustable for state nomination, regional sponsorship and partner skills. Updated against Department of Home Affairs Schedule 6D points table.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Australia’s skilled migration points test covers age, English, work experience, qualifications, Australian study and several bonus categories.
- ✓Minimum to pass is 65 points; competitive cut-off for 189 invitations in 2024–26 has run 90+ for most professional occupations.
- ✓Largest single-category boosts: age (30 points at 25–32), Superior English (20 points), 10+ years skilled employment (15+5 points).
- ✓Smaller but useful boosts: Australian study (5), specialist education (10), regional study (5), partner skills (5–10), professional year (5), state nomination (5–15).
- ✓Points are assessed at the time of invitation, not EOI lodgement. Plan for changes in your score (age cliff, English re-test expiry, employment milestones) while in the queue.
Worked example
28-year-old software engineer with Bachelor’s degree (4 years), 5 years overseas skilled employment, Superior English (IELTS 8+ each band), single, no Australian study, no state nomination = 30 (age) + 20 (English) + 10 (employment overseas) + 15 (degree) + 10 (single) = 85 points. Competitive for 189; needs an Australian study top-up (5 pts) or regional study (5 pts) or professional year (5 pts) or state nomination (5 pts for 190) to reach the 90+ competitive cut-off.
Calculator
Score yourself
Select the option in each category that matches your situation. Your live total appears at the bottom. Calculation is client-side only – no data leaves your browser.
Interpretation
What your score means
| Score | 189 outlook | 190 outlook | 491 outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| <65 | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible |
| 65–74 | Unlikely | Possible for state-list occupations | Competitive |
| 75–84 | Borderline (nurses, teachers) | Strong | Strong |
| 85–94 | Competitive | Very strong | Very strong |
| 95+ | Very strong | Almost certain | Almost certain |
Indicative outlook based on SkillSelect invitation round results 2024–2025. Cut-offs vary by occupation and round; check current round data on the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect page.
Common questions
Points calculator – common questions
How many points do I need to get an Australian skilled visa?
The published minimum is 65 points for subclasses 189, 190 and 491. In practice, invitations are issued from the top of the queue down, and current competitive cut-offs are 90+ for 189 (most professional occupations), 75+ for 190 (with the state nomination 5-point bonus) and 75+ for 491 (with the 15-point regional bonus).
Is the points calculator on this page official?
No. This is an independent guide based on the points test rules published by the Department of Home Affairs in Migration Regulations Schedule 6D. The official calculator is on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Use this calculator for planning, but always confirm your final score against the Department’s tool before lodging an EOI.
Do my points lock in when I lodge an EOI?
No. Points are assessed at time of invitation, not at EOI lodgement. If your age changes (e.g. you cross 33 or 40) while in the queue, your invitation-stage points drop. Conversely, gaining Australian work experience or improving English while in the queue can lift your score.
Can I add my partner’s skills to my points?
Yes. Partner skills add 5–10 points depending on partner’s English, skills assessment status and age. Single applicants and Australian citizen / PR partners attract 10 points (no skills assessment required). Skilled partners with positive skills assessment in the same list add 10 points. Competent English partner without skills assessment adds 5 points.
Is regional study worth claiming?
Yes – 5 points for completing at least 2 academic years of study in a designated regional area. This is independent of the Australian Study Requirement (which gives 5 points). Many regional university graduates score 10 points from study alone (5 Australian study + 5 regional).
What is the partner-skills competent English boost?
5 points for a partner with Competent English. This requires the partner to provide IELTS (or equivalent) at 6 each band, sat within the last 3 years. No skills assessment is required for this 5-point bonus; the partner-skills 10-point bonus is separate and does require a skills assessment.
Source
Where these point values come from
Every point allocation in this calculator is drawn from Migration Regulations 1994 Schedule 6D and the Department of Home Affairs published points test summary. The official points calculator is at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. This page is independent reference and planning content; final scores must be confirmed against the official tool before EOI lodgement.