Important updates to our Australian emigration services
We have withdrawn our Australian emigration legal services as of April 2024 and are unable to assist with enquiries or advice about moving to Australia.
This information remains accessible to aid anyone wishing to make the move to Australia, however please note that this information was last updated in August 2023.
Emigrate to Australia is a London-based Australian emigration service who may be able to assist with any enquiries, however please note that we do not endorse any one provider’s services. They can be contacted on 020 7427 5290.
If you’re considering emigrating to Australia on a skilled migration visa, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the Australia Point System for Immigration. Acting as a potential hurdle for your dream move, it’s imperative you understand the requirements you need to meet in order to overcome it and get the right legal advice to avoid disappointment.
In this article, we’ll be covering what the point’s system features, where it’s applicable and what to do if you fail to pass.
What is the Australia Point System?
The Australian Point System for Immigration allows the government to assess the credibility of visa applications by measuring aspects of their personal profile.
As Australia has a strict immigration policy, this system ensures that those who apply to work in the country have the ability to boost the economy and be a positive impact.
Where is the point system applicable?
The Australia Point System is applicable to people who wish to migrate to Australia under the Skilled Migration Program. This includes:
- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 491)
For more information on these visa types, visit our blog on Skilled Migration Visas.
Alternatively, there are routes into Australia for work without having to go through the points system These include pathways like the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
To check if your occupation will need a point check, visit our blog on the Skilled Occupation List.
What does the point system include?
The Australian Point System awards points for various factors that are deemed important for the country’s economy. Factors are weighted and given points based on how effective they’ll be for the job.
These factors include:
Age brackets
Applicants are given a score based on their age at the time of their visa application. Points are given to ages as follows:
| Age bracket | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 25 |
| 25-32 | 30 |
| 33-39 | 25 |
| 40-44 | 15 |
| 45-49 | 0 |
English language skills
SkillSelect, the system that handles all visa applications, will require to you take one of the following English tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE)
- Cambridge English (CAE) (also known as C1 advanced)
- Occupational English Test (OET) – this is a test developed for health professionals
| English | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Superior English | 20 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Competent English | 0 |
| English language proficiency | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Superior (score of 8 or more) | 20 |
| Proficient (score of 7 or more) | 10 |
| Competent (score of 6 or more) | 0 |
Those from native English-speaking countries will not have to take an English language test. Also, those with a degree, equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher, from a University where English is the predominant language will not need to take the test.
Skilled work experience
The Australian Point System measures an applicant’s work experience from both inside and outside the country. The experience must be within a role on the Skilled Occupation List or be similar to one on the list.
| Length of skilled employment within Australia | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| 8 years | 20 |
| 5 years | 15 |
| 3 years | 10 |
| 1 year | 5 |
| Length of skilled employment outside Australia | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| 8 years | 15 |
| 5 years | 10 |
| 3 years | 5 |
Applicants receive points separately from work both inside and outside of Australia. However, the maximum number of points you can receive in total is 20.
Educational qualifications
For education, applicants receive points based on their highest qualification. Points are given as follows:
| Qualification level | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Doctorate | 20 |
| Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree | 10 |
| Australian Diploma | 10 |
| Award in assessment of the skilled occupation | 0 |
Education in Australia
The Australian Government must recognise said qualifications as comparable to Australian ones in order for them to receive points. Moreover, these qualifications must be in some way relatable to the applicant’s occupation.
Applications that have an Australian qualification from an institution within the country are eligible for points in the Australia Point System.
| Age bracket | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Any degree, diploma or qualification earned in Australia | 5 |
To be eligible, the course of study must have been at least two years in length.
Applicants are also eligible for an extra 5 points for meeting the two-year requirement whilst living in a regional Australia or low population growth metropolitan area.
Community language skills
Those with translator or interpreter skills in one of Australia’s designated community languages are also eligible for extra points.
| Language level | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Recognised translator/interpreter skills | 5 |
To be eligible, Australia’s National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) must approve or recognise the language.
Specialist education qualification
| Requirement | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Meet basic requirements | 10 |
The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least 2 academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:
Natural and physical sciences
- Biological sciences
- Chemical sciences
- Earth sciences
- Mathematical sciences
- Natural and physical sciences
- Other natural and physical sciences
- Physics and astronomy
Information technology
- Computer science
- Information systems
- Information technology
- Other information technology
Engineering and related technologies
- Aerospace engineering and technology
- Civil engineering
- Electrical and electronic engineering and technology
- Engineering and related technologies
- Geomatics engineering
- Manufacturing engineering and technology
- Maritime engineering and technology
- Mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
- Other engineering and related technologies
- Process and resources engineering
Australian study requirement
| Language level | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Recognised translator/interpreter skills | 5 |
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.
Professional year
| Professional year | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Completion of a Professional Year in Australia | 5 |
At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:
- In your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
- Completed over a period of at least 12 months
- Completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa*
- Provided by one of these organisations:
- The Australian Computer Society
- CPA Australia
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- The Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants)
- Engineers Australia
* Where a Professional Year program was completed, meaning finished, within the 48-month period prior to the time of invitation, you may be awarded 5 points. To avoid any doubt, you could have commenced the Professional Year at a time before the 48 months prior to invitation. The time you “completed” a Professional Year is the date listed on your official Record of Completion which is issued by the authorised body or Professional Year program delivery partner.
Spouse or partner skills and qualifications
If your spouse or partner is not an Australian resident or citizen, and they’re included on the visa application, their skills can grant your application points.
For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.
| Spouse or partner’s skills | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteriaFor you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:Were under 45 years oldHad competent EnglishHad nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupationHad a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa. | 10 |
| Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English.For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. | 5 |
| You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. | 5 |
In order for your spouse or partner’s skills to be eligible, they must meet the Australian General Skilled Migration basic requirements. These include age, language proficiency and occupation.
Nomination or sponsorship
Applicants can receive points in the Australia Point System for undergoing sponsorship by an Australian State or Territory government.
| Professional year | Points awarded |
|---|---|
| Nominated under State Migration Plan for a Skilled Nominated or Sponsored Visa (Provisional) (subclass 491) application | 15 |
| Nominated under State Migration Plan for a Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) application | 5 |
This only applies to Skilled Nominated Visas (subclass 190) and Skilled Nominated or Sponsored Visa (Provisional) (subclass 491).
How many points do I need to pass?
The number of points you’ll need to obtain for a visa depends on the route you’re taking.
For example, applicants for the Skilled Independent Visa must score 65 points minimum to pass the points test. However, this number can increase as the year goes by as visa spaces become more limited, reaching heights of 85 points.
The Australian Government also restricts the number of entries for each role to avoid certain occupations taking up most of the yearly limit. This means that point requirements are generally higher for more prestigious jobs such as engineers and auditors, reaching heights of up to 90 points.
Ensure you consult a professional immigration solicitor so that you understand what prerequisites you’ll have to meet before applying for a visa.
What should I do if I fail the test?
If you fail to achieve the required points, you may want to consider alternative visa options, such as employer-sponsored visas, family visas, or student visas. Alternatively, you may be able to reapply for a skilled visa after improving your score, gaining more work experience or qualifications.
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