About SkillSelect and the points test
SkillSelect is the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) online platform where prospective skilled migrants lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a permanent or provisional skilled visa. Three visa subclasses use the same points test: 189 (Skilled Independent, no nomination), 190 (Skilled Nominated, state or territory nominates you), and 491 (Skilled Work Regional, provisional 5-year visa with regional residence obligation). The points test sums across age, English, education, skilled work experience, partner skills, Australian study, regional bonuses, Professional Year and NAATI accreditation. The legislated minimum is 65 points but real invitations require much more.
How the points test works
- Each input maps to a fixed point value from the DOHA points table. Categories do not overlap (you pick one age band, one English band, one education band, and so on).
- Both overseas and Australian work experience can score at the same time, capped at 15 (overseas) and 20 (Australian).
- Partner points are exclusive: either you score for a skilled partner, an English-only partner, no partner (single), or zero.
- Australian study is one bonus, regional study is a one-time stacking bonus on top, and specialist education (STEM Masters/PhD) is a separate bonus that can stack with all of the above.
- The nomination bonus only counts if you select 190 or 491 as your subclass. 189 receives no nomination bonus.
- 65 is the pass mark but invitations only go to the highest-scoring EOIs in each occupation. Engineers and software developers typically need 95 to 105 to be invited.
Typical 2026 invitation cutoffs by occupation (189)
The Department of Home Affairs runs invitation rounds approximately monthly. Cutoffs depend on the occupation ceiling and how many EOIs are in the pool above the pass mark. Below are 2025-26 mid-range estimates for popular MLTSSL occupations on subclass 189.
| Occupation (ANZSCO) | Typical 189 cutoff | 190 nomination | 491 regional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (261313) | 95-105 | 85-95 | 75-85 |
| Accountant General (221111) | 90-100 | 80-90 | 70-80 |
| Civil Engineer (233211) | 85-95 | 75-85 | 65-75 |
| Registered Nurse (254412) | 80-90 | 70-80 | 65-75 |
| Secondary School Teacher (241411) | 70-85 | 65-80 | 65-70 |
| Chef (351311) | 65-75 | 65-70 | 65 |
Cutoffs do not represent the legislated pass mark of 65. They reflect the lowest-scoring EOI actually invited in recent rounds. State nomination cutoffs vary by state - NSW and Victoria are typically the most competitive.
Worked example: software engineer aiming for 189 invitation
This is a common profile - an offshore software engineer aged 30 with 5 years experience, applying for 189 from overseas.
- Age 30: 30 points (top band 25-32).
- Proficient English (IELTS 7): 10 points. Push to Superior English (IELTS 8) for 20 points.
- Bachelor of Engineering: 15 points.
- 5 years overseas software experience: 10 points.
- 0 years Australian experience: 0 points.
- Skilled partner (under 45, IELTS 6, positive ACS): 10 points.
- Subtotal with Proficient English: 75 points. Below 95-105 cutoff for Software Engineer.
- With Superior English (+10): 85 points. Still short.
- Add Professional Year (+5) and NAATI CCL (+5): 95 points. Borderline 189.
- Switch to 190 state nomination (+5): 100 points. Likely invitation.
- Or 491 regional (+15): 110 points. Very strong - high chance of regional invitation.
The 8 highest-yield boosts ranked
| Boost | Points | Effort / time |
|---|---|---|
| Regional nomination (491) | +15 | Apply to a regional state body; 3-year residence obligation after grant. |
| Superior English (IELTS 8) | +20 vs Competent, +10 vs Proficient | Re-sit test; usually 1-3 months of practice for native-level candidates. |
| Australian work experience (5+ years) | +15 to +20 | Long path - requires existing work visa (482, 485, 407). |
| STEM Masters or PhD (Australian) | +10 | 2-4 years study; stacks with Australian study (+5) and regional study (+5). |
| Partner skill (assess your spouse) | +10 (skilled) or +5 (English only) | Skills assessment + IELTS for partner; 3-6 months. |
| State nomination (190) | +5 | Apply to state nomination scheme; check state-specific list. |
| Professional Year (PY) | +5 | 12-month program in IT, accounting or engineering after Australian study. |
| NAATI CCL test | +5 | ~3 hour test in your community language; preparation 2-3 months. |
Sequencing the boosts
For most overseas candidates the practical sequence is:
- Step 1: get Proficient or Superior English. Cheapest, fastest boost. Test fees are around A$400 and you can re-sit.
- Step 2: assess your partner. Skills assessment + IELTS combined cost ~A$1,500 for +10. Best value bonus that does not require relocation.
- Step 3: take NAATI CCL if you have a strong community language. +5 for a few hundred dollars.
- Step 4: apply for state nomination (190). +5 without relocation if you can satisfy state criteria.
- Step 5: pivot to 491 regional if 190 is unavailable. +15 unlocks an invitation for most occupations.
- Long-term play: study a STEM Masters in regional Australia. Stacks +5 (Australian study) + +5 (regional study) + +10 (STEM specialist) + Australian experience after graduation = 25+ points over 2-3 years.
Common SkillSelect mistakes
- Claiming work experience that does not match your nominated occupation. Only work that maps to your ANZSCO duties counts. Generic IT roles do not all qualify as Software Engineer.
- Forgetting that age points drop at 33, 40 and 45. Your EOI score auto-recalculates; you can fall below cutoff without doing anything.
- Claiming partner skill points without their skills assessment. You need a positive assessment in their own ANZSCO from the right authority - not just their degree.
- Counting Australian study before completion. The Australian study requirement needs 2 academic years of CRICOS study completed, not just enrolled.
- Picking the wrong state for 190. Each state's list is different. NSW may not nominate your occupation while Tasmania does.
- Submitting EOI before skills assessment. You can technically EOI without assessment but the lodged date for invitation calculations only counts once your details are accurate and the assessment is in.
The formula explained
The DOHA points test is a simple sum across nine independent categories:
Total = age_pts + english_pts + education_pts
+ overseas_work_pts (max 15)
+ australian_work_pts (max 20)
+ partner_pts
+ aus_study_pts + regional_study_pts + stem_phd_pts
+ professional_year_pts + naati_pts
+ nomination_bonus (190=+5, 491=+15, 189=0)
These rules come from the Migration Regulations 1994 (Schedule 6D) and the current DOHA points table. The pass mark of 65 has been stable for several years. The 491 regional bonus was originally 10 points when the visa launched in 2019 and was lifted to 15 points to drive uptake of regional migration; this remains the case through 2026.
To verify, plug in (age 25-32, Proficient English, Bachelor, 0-2 overseas, 0 Australian, single applicant, 189, no bonuses): the result should be 30 + 10 + 15 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 0 = 65 points - the legislated minimum.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum score to lodge an EOI?
The legislated minimum is 65 points across all three subclasses (189, 190 and 491). In practice 65 will sit in the pool indefinitely for engineering, IT and accounting occupations - invitations go to the highest scorers first. The 65 pass mark is mostly relevant for niche occupations like Chef or some trades where demand is balanced.
What is the age cap for SkillSelect?
You must be under 45 at the moment of invitation. Age 45 to 49 receives 0 age points and is generally ineligible for 189 and 190. Some employer-sponsored streams within 491 may consider applicants up to 50 with state agreement, but the standard EOI process treats 45 as the hard ceiling.
How does the Skilled Occupation List update?
The Department of Jobs publishes the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List), STSOL (Short-term) and ROL (Regional Occupation List) annually. Occupations move in and out based on labour market analysis. If your occupation is removed mid-EOI you can usually still complete the visa application based on the list at the time of skills assessment.
State nomination (190) vs independent (189)?
190 adds 5 points for state nomination and locks you to that state for 2 years. The state runs its own list and may add extra requirements (work experience there, family ties, English level above Competent). 189 is fully independent - no state obligation - but invitation cutoffs are higher. If your 189 score is borderline and the state is hiring, 190 is the smart move.
Regional 491 vs metro 189?
491 awards 15 points for regional nomination and is a 5-year provisional visa. You must live and work in a designated regional area for 3 years, earn above the regional income threshold, and then apply for permanent residency via subclass 191. Most of regional and rural Australia outside Sydney metro, Melbourne metro and Brisbane metro is regional. Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra also qualify as regional.
How do partner skill points work?
10 points if your partner is under 45, has Competent English (IELTS 6) and a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation. 5 points if your partner only has Competent English without a skills assessment. 10 points if you have no partner (single applicant). 0 if your partner is over 45 or below Competent English. Same-sex de facto partners qualify on the same basis.
How does the EOI process work end to end?
1) Obtain a positive skills assessment from your occupation's assessing authority (e.g. Engineers Australia, ACS, CPA). 2) Take an English test (IELTS, PTE or TOEFL) and confirm at least Competent. 3) Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect listing your claimed points. 4) Wait for invitation - either via independent invitation round (189), state nomination (190) or regional nomination (491). 5) Receive invitation to apply. 6) Submit the visa application with supporting evidence within 60 days. 7) Wait for grant - typically 6 to 14 months processing time.
When are invitation rounds in 2026?
The Department of Home Affairs typically runs 189 and 491 family-sponsored invitation rounds approximately monthly (timing varies). Each round publishes occupation cutoffs after invitations are issued. 190 and 491 state-nominated rounds run on each state's own schedule - some states do a single annual round, others run rolling rounds every 2 to 6 weeks. Check the DOHA website for the current schedule and last-round results.