If you are below 18 or over the age of 45 years, you will not qualify for the points tested general skilled visas – Subclass 189, 190 or 491.

For tests taken on or after 07 Aug 2025:
Competent English:

• Passport from the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, or New Zealand
• IELTS Academic / General: 6+ in each component
• OET: B in each component
• PTE Academic: 50+ in each component (Note: Writing – 51, Speaking – 54)
• TOEFL iBT: 16 Listening, 16 Reading, 19 Writing, 19 Speaking
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 163 Listening/Reading, 170 Writing, 179 Speaking
• CELPIP General: 7 in each component
• LanguageCert Academic: 57 Listening, 60 Reading, 64 Writing, 70 Speaking
• MET: 56 Listening, 55 Reading, 57 Writing, 48 Speaking

Proficient English:

• IELTS Academic / General: 7+ in each component
• OET: B in each component
• PTE Academic: 65+ in each component (Note: Writing – 69, Speaking – 76)
• TOEFL iBT: 22 Listening, 22 Reading, 26 Writing, 24 Speaking
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 175 Listening, 179 Reading, 193 Writing, 194
  Speaking
• CELPIP General: 9 Listening, 8 Reading, 10 Writing, 8 Speaking
• LanguageCert Academic: 67 Listening, 71 Reading, 78 Writing, 82 Speaking
• MET: 61 Listening, 63 Reading, 74 Writing, 59 Speaking

Superior English:

• IELTS Academic / General: 8+ in each component
• OET: A in each component
• PTE Academic: 79+ in each component (Note: Writing = 85, Speaking = 88)
• TOEFL iBT: 28 Listening, 29 Reading, 30 Writing, 26 Speaking
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 186 Listening, 190 Reading, 210 Writing, 208
  Speaking
• CELPIP General: 10+ in each component
• LanguageCert Academic: 80 Listening, 83 Reading, 89 Writing, 89 Speaking
• MET: Listening excluded, 400 Reading, 420 Writing, 400 Speaking

For tests taken before 06 Aug 2025 valid till 06 Aug 2028:
Competent English:

• Passport from UK, USA, Ireland, Canada or NZ; or
• IELTS: 6+ in each component; or
• OET: B pass in each component; or
• PTE Academic: 50+ in each component; or
• Cambridge (CAE): 169+ in each component; or
• TOEFL iBT: 12 in Listening, 13 Reading, 21 Writing, 18 Speaking

Proficient English:

• IELTS: 7+ in each component; or
• OET: B pass in each component; or
• PTE Academic: 65+ in each component; or
• Cambridge (CAE): 185+ in each component; or
• TOEFL iBT: 24 in Listening, 24 Reading, 27 Writing, 23 Speaking

Superior English:

• IELTS: 8+ in each component; or
• OET: A pass in each component; or
• PTE Academic: 79+ in each component; or
• Cambridge (CAE): 200+ in each component; or
• TOEFL iBT: 28 in Listening, 29 Reading, 30 Writing, 26 Speaking

Skilled employment in the last 10 years – outside Australia

Skilled employment in the last 10 years – in Australia

You can only claim skilled employment points if:

• in the 10 years before you are invited to apply you were employed in your nominated occupation and/or a closely related occupation for the relevant periods set out in the table. You are considered employed if you perform at least 20 hours of paid work per week (this may be adjusted for shift or fly-in-fly-out workers). Closely-related occupations must be:
  • in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
  • consistent with a career advancement pathway or
  • determined by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation.

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only. You must have successfully completed the qualification.

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.

Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You are not able to claim points for a doctorate – that is Doctor of Philosophy, PhD – unless you have successfully completed this type of qualification. You will receive points for your highest qualification only. To claim these points, you must have completed and already received the qualification. The authority undertaking your skills assessment will determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.

You can claim 5 points for meeting the Australian study requirement. To claim these points, you must have completed either:

• a single qualification that requires at least 2 academic years study, or
• more than 1 qualification that results in a total of at least 2 academic years study.

You must have completed your study in Australia in a total of no less than 16 calendar months, while you held a visa authorising you to study.

Your course, or courses, must be on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and instruction must be completed in English.

You can claim 10 points if you have a Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years to in a relevant field. The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

• biological sciences
• chemical sciences
• earth sciences
• mathematical sciences
• natural and physical sciences
• other natural and physical sciences
• physics and astronomy
• computer science
• information systems
• information technology
• other information technology
• 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.

To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

You can claim 5 points if you been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above for interpreting or translating in a language they offer accreditation in by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

You can claim 5 points for studying in regional Australia if:

• you meet the Australian study requirement.
• you have lived and studied in a designated regional area in Australia.
• the study was not undertaken by distance education.

Below are the postcodes of all areas in Australia that are considered regional or low population growth metropolitan areas, when applying for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) and Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887).

You can claim 5 points for completing a Professional year in Australia, if it was:

• in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering.
• completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa.
• in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.
• completed over a period of at least 12 months.
• provided by one of these organizations:
  
  • 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.

You can claim 15 points for nomination or sponsorship if:

• you were invited to apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) because you were nominated and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn that nomination, OR
• you are being sponsored for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) by a family member and the Minister has accepted that sponsorship.

You can claim 5 points for nomination if:

• you were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled – Nominated) visa and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination.