How SkillSelect points work in 2026
The SkillSelect points test is the gateway to three Australian skilled migration visas. You score yourself against a fixed points table, lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, and the Department of Home Affairs invites the highest scorers in each occupation. The visas all share the same points test:
- 189 Skilled Independent - permanent, no nomination, the most competitive cutoffs.
- 190 Skilled Nominated - permanent, state or territory nominates you, +5 bonus.
- 491 Skilled Work Regional - 5-year provisional, regional nomination, +15 bonus, leads to 191 permanent visa after 3 years regional residence.
Pass mark is 65. Real invitations require much more for in-demand occupations. Below is the points table by category:
| Category | Max points | How to earn the max |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 | Age 25-32 at invitation |
| English | 20 | Superior English (IELTS 8 each band, or PTE 79) |
| Education | 20 | Doctorate from Australia or recognised international |
| Overseas skilled work | 15 | 8+ years in nominated occupation |
| Australian skilled work | 20 | 8+ years in nominated occupation in Australia |
| Partner / spouse | 10 | Skilled partner under 45 with Competent English; or single applicant |
| State or regional nomination | 15 | 491 regional (190 = +5) |
| Australian study requirement | 5 | 2 academic years CRICOS in Australia |
| Specialist education (STEM) | 10 | Australian Masters by research or PhD in STEM |
| Study in regional Australia | 5 | Course study in designated regional area |
| Professional Year (PY) | 5 | 12-month PY in IT, accounting or engineering after Australian study |
| NAATI CCL credential | 5 | Pass Credentialed Community Language test |
| Theoretical maximum | 160 | Categories do not all stack perfectly - real practical ceiling is ~130-140 |
Within each input category you can only score the highest applicable band. Bonus points (nomination, Australian study, STEM, regional study, PY, NAATI) stack on top of the input categories.
Real 2026 invitation cutoffs by occupation
The pass mark is 65 but the lowest-scoring EOI actually invited in any given round is the practical cutoff. These move month to month with demand. Below are 2025-2026 mid-range cutoffs from recent invitation rounds for popular MLTSSL occupations:
| Occupation (ANZSCO) | 189 cutoff | 190 state | 491 regional | Demand 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (261313) | 95-105 | 85-95 | 75-85 | Very high |
| Accountant General (221111) | 90-100 | 80-90 | 70-80 | High |
| Civil Engineer (233211) | 85-95 | 75-85 | 65-75 | High |
| Registered Nurse (254412) | 80-90 | 70-80 | 65-75 | Critical |
| Secondary Teacher (241411) | 75-85 | 65-80 | 65-70 | Critical |
| Chef (351311) | 65-75 | 65-70 | 65 | Moderate |
| Electrician (341111) | 65-75 | 65 | 65 | High |
| Aged Care Carer (423111) | not 189 | 65-72 | 65 | Critical |
Three takeaways. First, 189 Software, Accounting and Civil Engineer all need 85+ to compete - 65 alone goes nowhere. Second, the 491 regional bonus of 15 points moves nearly every occupation into the invitation zone. Third, critical-demand occupations like nursing, teaching and aged care invite at or near 65 - the pass mark is the practical cutoff for these.
The 8 boosts that move your score most, ranked
Here is each boost ranked by points yield, factoring in effort. Stack as many as possible - they all add up.
1. Superior English (IELTS 8): +20 points
The single biggest jump from one decision. Moving from Competent (IELTS 6) to Superior English (IELTS 8 in each band) is a +20 swing. Even moving from Proficient English (IELTS 7) to Superior is +10. Each band is one full IELTS point per skill - listening, reading, writing, speaking. Cost: ~A$400 per sitting. Re-sittable as often as you want. For native and near-native English speakers, 2-4 weeks of focused IELTS-format practice usually closes the gap. Highest yield boost relative to effort and money.
2. Australian skilled work experience: +5 to +20 points
Each tier matters: 1-2 years +5, 3-4 years +10, 5-7 years +15, 8+ years +20. Australian experience is worth more than overseas experience because it caps at 20 (overseas caps at 15) and counts directly toward Australian study requirements. The catch: you need an existing work visa to be in Australia (482 employer-sponsored, 485 graduate, 407 training). For offshore candidates this is a multi-year strategy. But once you are onshore, every additional year compounds.
3. Regional 491 nomination: +15 points
The 491 regional nomination is the biggest single bonus available and the easiest path to invitation for borderline candidates. The trade-off: 5-year provisional visa, 3-year regional residence obligation before you can apply for permanent 191. Regional means most of Australia outside Sydney metro, Melbourne metro and Brisbane metro - including Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and almost all rural areas. If your 189 score is in the 75-85 range and your occupation is high-demand, 491 lifts you straight into invitation territory.
4. Partner skill points: +10
10 points if your partner is under 45, has Competent English (IELTS 6) and a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation. 5 points for English-only partner. 10 points for single applicant. Cost: ~A$1,500 (skills assessment + IELTS). Same-sex de facto partners qualify. Best move for couples - get both skills assessments early in the process.
5. Australian STEM Masters or PhD: +10
Specialist education in a STEM field at an Australian university, by research (Masters or PhD). Stacks with Australian study (+5) and regional study (+5) for a combined +20 from one degree if you study a STEM PhD at a regional university. Long-term play - 3 to 4 years. But the compound effect with Australian work experience after graduation can take you from 65 to 100+ points.
6. Proficient English (IELTS 7): +10
The fallback if Superior is out of reach. 7 in each band - listening, reading, writing, speaking. Many candidates clear Proficient first time and need 1-2 sittings for Superior. Same exam, same cost as Superior attempt.
7. State nomination 190: +5
Each state and territory publishes its own Skilled Occupation List with extra requirements (work experience in state, English level above Competent, family ties). NSW and Victoria are the most competitive. Tasmania, Northern Territory and South Australia are typically the most accessible. 2-year commitment to live in the nominating state.
8. NAATI CCL: +5
The NAATI Credentialed Community Language test certifies bilingual ability in 60+ community languages including Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog. ~3-hour test, ~A$800 fee. Most candidates need 2-3 months preparation if they are not actively bilingual in daily use. Stackable +5 with no other dependencies.
Worked example: offshore software engineer to 100 points
Start with a 30-year-old offshore software engineer, married, 5 years experience:
| Stage | Points gained | Running total | Time / cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 30 (band 25-32) | +30 | 30 | Free, but ages out at 33 |
| Bachelor degree | +15 | 45 | Already qualified |
| 5 years overseas experience | +10 | 55 | Already qualified |
| Competent English baseline (IELTS 6) | +0 | 55 | Mandatory minimum |
| Push to Proficient English (IELTS 7) | +10 | 65 | 1-3 months, A$400 |
| Push to Superior English (IELTS 8) | +10 | 75 | 2-3 more months, A$400 re-sit |
| Skilled partner (assess + IELTS) | +10 | 85 | 3-6 months, A$1,500 |
| NAATI CCL test | +5 | 90 | 2-3 months, A$800 |
| Switch to 190 state nomination | +5 | 95 | 2-month state assessment |
| OR switch to 491 regional instead | +15 (replaces 190) | 105 | 3-year regional residence |
From 65 pass mark to 95-105 invitation-competitive over 6-12 months and roughly A$3,000 in test fees plus partner assessment. The path requires zero relocation other than the eventual nomination commitment. Note that age points drop at 33: a 32-year-old today should aim to lodge their EOI before their 33rd birthday to preserve the 30-point age band.
5 common SkillSelect mistakes that cost points
- Claiming work experience that does not match your nominated occupation. Each ANZSCO has specific duty descriptors. A generic IT manager role does not automatically qualify as Software Engineer (261313). The assessing authority checks duties against ANZSCO before issuing a positive skills assessment. If the duties do not match, the experience does not count for points.
- Letting age points drop without re-submitting. Your EOI auto-recalculates each day. At 33 you drop from 30 to 25 points. At 40 you drop to 15. At 45 you drop to 0 and become ineligible for 189/190. Watch your birthday relative to your EOI submission date.
- Claiming partner points without partner skills assessment. The Department wants a positive assessment in your partner's ANZSCO from the correct assessing authority. A degree alone is not enough. Many EOIs fail at invitation review for this reason.
- Counting Australian study mid-degree. The Australian study requirement is 2 academic years of CRICOS-registered study completed at Australian institutions. Mid-degree does not count. Distance learning while offshore does not count. The 2 years must be physically completed in Australia.
- Picking the wrong state for 190 nomination. Each state's occupation list is different and updates throughout the year. NSW may not nominate your occupation while Tasmania does. Check each state's current list before lodging - some only invite candidates who already live in that state.
Run the points test for your situation
Use our 🇦🇺 Australia SkillSelect Points Calculator to score every category against the DOHA points table and see exactly which boosts close your gap to invitation.