Points calculator
The complete points test for the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas - every Schedule 6D factor, scored live. 65 points is the pass mark; in the latest 189 invitation round most occupations needed 80 or more.
Nomination or sponsorship points apply once a state, territory or eligible family member nominates or sponsors you.
PTE, TOEFL and other tests need a different score for each skill, and PTE scores changed for tests taken from 7 August 2025. See the score table.
Only work in your nominated (or a closely related) occupation counts, at least 20 hours a week, in the 10 years before you are invited.
Combined overseas and Australian work points are capped at 20 under Schedule 6D - the cap has been applied to your score.
The 10 points also apply to a qualification or award your skills assessing authority recognises as suitable for your occupation. Only your highest qualification counts.
Partner points need your partner to be applying for the same visa. The skills option also needs a skills assessment (not one made for a 485) in an occupation on the same list as yours.
You must be under 45 when invited to apply for a 189, 190 or 491 visa. Alternative pathways may exist - employer-sponsored, family or other options. Book advice on alternatives.
Meets the 65-point pass mark
- Nomination / sponsorship 0
- Age 30
- English 10
- Skilled work (max 20) 0
- Qualification 15
- Partner 10
- Additional factors 0
Checked on 7 October 2026 against Schedule 6D (Migration Regulations 1994) and the Home Affairs points tables. General information only - not legal advice. Confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Understanding the
GSM points system
Age thresholds
Maximum points (30) are awarded from age 25 to under 33, measured when you are invited. You must be under 45 when invited; turning 45 after the invitation does not stop you applying, but turning 45 before it does. Employer-sponsored and family pathways may remain open.
English proficiency
Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band) is the minimum for these visas and scores 0 points. Proficient (IELTS 7) adds 10; Superior (IELTS 8) adds 20 - often the single largest lever in a candidate’s control. Other tests use different scores for each skill - see the table below.
Skilled employment - the 20-point cap
Only skilled work in your nominated occupation (or a closely related one), at least 20 hours a week, within the 10 years before invitation counts. Australian work must have been done while holding a substantive visa or a Bridging A or B visa and complying with its conditions. Overseas experience earns up to 15 points and Australian experience up to 20, but the combined total is capped at 20. This calculator applies the cap automatically.
Reform outlook
On 17 September 2026 the Home Affairs Minister said the points test had been redone in consultation with Treasury, and that on implementation people skilled in the housing trades would receive the same points as a university qualification. No start date or new points table has been published, so the current table still applies. Separately, the Opposition’s 6 October 2026 migration policy proposes prioritising applicants on income, age, English and full-time work - a proposal only. See what the Coalition’s plan could mean for your visa.
Bonus points (boosters)
Masters by research or Doctorate from an Australian institution in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified ICT - at least 2 academic years of study.
The Australian study requirement means at least 2 academic years of registered study, over at least 16 months, taught in English, while in Australia on a visa that allows study. Completing that study while living and studying in designated regional Australia earns 5 more.
An interpreting or translating credential from NAATI at the required level, including a credentialled community language result.
A 12-month Professional Year in accounting, ICT or engineering, in your nominated or a closely related occupation, completed in Australia within the 4 years before invitation.
Nomination & sponsorship (190/491)
Nomination adds points automatically - and changes which invitation process applies to you:
- • Subclass 190 State/Territory nomination: +5 points (permanent)
- • Subclass 491 State or family sponsorship: +15 points (provisional, regional)
State nomination is competitive in its own right - each state runs its own criteria and fees. We advise on state strategy as part of a skilled migration plan.
Seeking Victorian nomination? Victoria ranks 190 and 491 Registrations of Interest with its own Victorian Points Test (VPT), separate from the Home Affairs points test this calculator applies.
English test scores
Minimum score in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
| Test | Competent (0 pts) | Proficient (10 pts) | Superior (20 pts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6 each | 7 each | 8 each |
| PTE Academic L / R / W / S | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 |
| TOEFL iBT L / R / W / S | 16 / 16 / 19 / 19 | 22 / 22 / 26 / 24 | 26 / 27 / 30 / 28 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced L / R / W / S | 163 / 163 / 170 / 179 | 175 / 179 / 193 / 194 | 186 / 190 / 210 / 208 |
| OET L / R / W / S | 290 / 310 / 290 / 330 | 350 / 360 / 380 / 360 | 390 / 400 / 420 / 400 |
CELPIP General, the Michigan English Test and LANGUAGECERT Academic are also accepted, with their own scores. For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 the older scores apply - for example PTE Academic 50, 65 and 79 in each skill - and a result can count for up to 3 years, depending on the visa.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, points tables for the subclass 189, subclass 190 and subclass 491.
- Department of Home Affairs, Competent, Proficient and Superior English.
- Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect invitation rounds.
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 6D and regulation 1.15F (Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026).
- The Hon Tony Burke MP, Speech - National Press Club, 17 September 2026.
This tool applies Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations 1994 as in force at 7 October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice, and does not assess occupation lists, skills assessments or state criteria. For a full eligibility review, see our skilled migration practice or book a consultation.