The Australian PR points test, explained
Settledin Team6 min readThe Australian PR points test scores skilled visa applicants on age, English, work experience, qualifications and other factors. The pass mark is 65, which lets you lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. Invitations then go to the highest ranked people in each occupation, and in the June 2026 round many were issued above 65.
This guide walks through every category for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas, and the categories people often overlook.
How do I calculate my EOI points?
You claim points in your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The Department of Home Affairs then invites people from the pool, highest points first within each occupation. Our guide to what each SkillSelect EOI status means explains what happens to an EOI along the way. When two people have the same points, the one who reached that score first ranks ahead.
Three official rules matter here:
- You must hold every point on the day you are invited. Not the day you lodged the EOI, and not the day you expect to be invited. If a test result or skills assessment expires before then, those points disappear.
- Your points can go down while you wait. Turning 33 or 40 moves you into a lower age band. Your EOI updates automatically and your rank changes with it.
- You need evidence for every claim. If you are invited and later cannot prove a claim, your visa can be refused.
What is the 2026 PR points table?
This is the official table from the Department of Home Affairs, the same for all three visas apart from nomination points.
| Category | What counts | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age at the time of invitation | 18 to 24 | 25 |
| 25 to 32 | 30 | |
| 33 to 39 | 25 | |
| 40 to 44 | 15 | |
| English | Competent | 0 |
| Proficient | 10 | |
| Superior | 20 | |
| Skilled work outside Australia in the last 10 years | 3 to 4 years | 5 |
| 5 to 7 years | 10 | |
| 8 years or more | 15 | |
| Skilled work in Australia in the last 10 years | 1 to 2 years | 5 |
| 3 to 4 years | 10 | |
| 5 to 7 years | 15 | |
| 8 years or more | 20 | |
| Qualifications | Doctorate | 20 |
| Bachelor or Masters degree | 15 | |
| Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia | 10 | |
| Award or qualification recognised by your assessing authority | 10 | |
| Specialist education | Masters by research or doctorate from an Australian institution in a STEM field | 10 |
| Australian study | At least 2 academic years of study in Australia | 5 |
| Regional study | Living and studying in regional Australia | 5 |
| Professional Year | Completed in Australia in the 4 years before invitation | 5 |
| Credentialed community language | NAATI accredited or certified | 5 |
| Partner | Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Partner has a skills assessment and Competent English | 10 | |
| Partner has Competent English only | 5 | |
| Nomination | State or territory nomination (subclass 190) | 5 |
| State nomination or family sponsorship for a regional visa (subclass 491) | 15 |
You must be under 45 when you are invited, and the pass mark is 65 points. The two work experience rows together are capped at 20 points.
Where extra points can come from
English is the biggest lever
Moving from Competent to Superior English is worth 20 points, the largest single step in the table. Many people sit an English test more than once.
The scores needed changed for tests taken from 7 August 2025 (English language requirements). You need the minimum in every part of the test. For the two most common tests:
| Test | Proficient (10 points) | Superior (20 points) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 7 in each part | 8 in each part |
| PTE Academic | Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 69, Speaking 76 | Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, Speaking 88 |
TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET, LanguageCert Academic, Michigan MET and CELPIP General are also accepted, each with its own scores. At home online tests are not. The test must have been taken in the 3 years before the invitation.
Your partner can add up to 10
If you are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you get 10 points. If not, your partner can still add points:
- 10 points if they are under 45, have Competent English, and have a positive skills assessment in an occupation on the same skilled list as yours.
- 5 points if they have Competent English only.
Skilled lists differ by visa, so the same partner can be worth 10 points for a 190 or 491 and only 5 for a 189.
Small categories add up
Professional Year, a NAATI community language credential and regional study are 5 points each. Together they can add 10 or 15 points. A Professional Year is only offered for some occupations.
Nomination changes the maths
A 189 gets no nomination points. A 190 adds 5 and a 491 adds 15. Each state and territory sets its own nomination criteria and numbers, and nomination usually comes with a commitment to live and work in that state.
Things that can reduce your points
- Birthdays. Turning 33 drops you from 30 to 25. Turning 40 drops you to 15.
- The 20 point experience cap. Overseas and Australian experience together cannot go above 20. Years beyond the cap add no points.
- When your experience starts counting. Some assessing authorities only count experience after a certain date. Your skills assessment letter says which years count.
- Expiry dates. English results and skills assessments both have validity periods, and points only count if they are valid on the day of invitation.
189, 190 or 491: what the points mean for each
| 189 | 190 | 491 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination points | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Who invites you | Home Affairs, from the national pool | A state or territory | A state or territory, or an eligible relative sponsors you |
| Visa type | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional, 5 years, with a pathway to permanent residence |
| Places in 2026–27 (planning levels) | 21,090 | 35,500 | Part of 14,110 regional places |
| Main applicant charge from 1 July 2026 (visa pricing) | $6,135 | $6,140 | $6,140 |
The 189 has no nomination points, so its invitations rely on points alone. In the round on 4 June 2026, 10,000 people were invited for the 189. The lowest scores invited ranged from 65 for some occupations, mostly trades, up to 100. Home Affairs does not publish a guaranteed cut-off, and results change from round to round (invitation rounds). How the 2026–27 places are split is covered in Australia's 2026–27 Migration Program.
Round data as of the 4 June 2026 round.
There have been no 189 rounds so far in the 2026–27 program year. Home Affairs expects the next one by 31 October 2026 (notice updated 1 October 2026).
Is the points test changing?
A redesign has been announced but has not started. Home Affairs reviewed the points test in 2024, and the May 2026 Budget said it will be redesigned to favour younger, better educated and higher skilled applicants. In September 2026 the Minister for Home Affairs said the new test had been worked through with Treasury, and that housing trades would score the same as a university qualification under it.
No start date has been announced and the law has not changed. The table above is the one in force today. We cover what has been proposed in what could change in the points test.
Where do my points sit against other EOIs?
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table, shows each category separately for 189, 190 and 491, and flags points above the experience cap. You can also see historic SkillSelect EOI data for your occupation.
See where your points would rank
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Australian points test?
65 points. It lets you lodge an EOI. Invitations are usually issued at higher scores, especially for the 189.
Do I lose points if I have a birthday while waiting?
Yes, if the birthday moves you into a lower age band. Your EOI updates automatically.
How many points is Superior English worth?
20 points, compared with 10 for Proficient and 0 for Competent.
Can a partner's skills add points if they are in a different occupation?
Yes, if their occupation is on the same skilled list as the applicant's for that visa. Lists differ by visa, so the answer can be different for a 189 and a 190.
What scores were invited in the last 189 round?
In the 4 June 2026 round, the lowest scores invited ranged from 65 for some occupations, mostly trades, up to 100. Home Affairs does not publish a guaranteed cut-off.
Is the points test changing in 2026?
A redesign has been announced but has no start date, and the current table still applies.
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs rules and data. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register. Points, English scores, planning levels and charges were checked against the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Regulations on 3 October 2026.