Skilled Visa Points Assessment Chart: This chart is used for evaluating applications for several skilled migration visas, including:

1. Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
2. Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
3. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 Visa

To qualify for any of these visas, you need a minimum of 65 points. Having more points increases your chances of being invited to apply for a visa.

Points criteria are assessed at the time of invitation

Points are given based on various criteria listed below.

When you are asked to apply for the visa, you must demonstrate that you meet or exceed the point total you claimed in your Expression of Interest.

Age

 

Age Range	Points
At least 18 but less than 25 years	25
At least 25 but less than 33 years	30
At least 33 but less than 40 years	25
At least 40 but less than 45 years	15

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS

 

English Language Proficiency	Points
Competent English	0
Proficient English	10
Superior English	20

 

SKILLED EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Category	Criteria	Points
Overseas Skilled Employment (outside Australia)	Less than 3 years	0
	At least 3 but less than 5 years	5
	At least 5 but less than 8 years	10
	At least 8 years	15
Australian Skilled Employment (in Australia)	Less than 1 year	0
	At least 1 but less than 3 years	5
	At least 3 but less than 5 years	10
	At least 5 but less than 8 years	15
	At least 8 years	20
Special Qualifications	Professional Year in Australia	5
Regional Employment	Work in regional Australia	5
Partner Skills	Partner skills qualifications	5-10

 

To earn points for employment in the skilled visa application process, your work must meet certain criteria. Firstly, it should be in the occupation you have nominated, or in one that is closely related to it. The relevant work experience should be within the 10 years leading up to your visa application invitation.

For work done in Australia, it’s necessary to have been on a valid substantive visa or on a Bridging A or B visa, and you must have adhered to the conditions of that visa to qualify for points.

Employment, in this context, is defined as being engaged in a job for pay for at least 20 hours per week.

To be considered “closely related,” your occupation should either:

1. Fall within the same ANZSCO Unit Group of your nominated occupation,
2. Align with your career progression, or
3. Be acknowledged by an assessing authority as closely related to your nominated occupation as part of your skills assessment.

It’s important to note that there is a limit to the points you can earn for employment experience in the points test. The maximum is 20 points, meaning any score beyond 20 for employment experience will still only contribute 20 points to your total.

 

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Here is the recreated table for Educational Qualifications, detailing the points awarded for different levels of educational achievement:

Requirement	Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor’s qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution.	10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation.	10

 

In the points-based migration process, points are allocated based on your highest educational qualification.

Qualification Recognition: Your qualifications are assessed to see if they match the Australian standards for the relevant field. This assessment is done by an authority associated with your chosen occupation, as mentioned in the list of eligible skilled occupations. You need to have this recognition by the time you are invited to apply for the visa.

Doctorate (PhD) Criteria: Points for a doctoral degree are awarded only if you have a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Points cannot be claimed for other qualifications that allow the use of the title ‘Doctor’, such as for general practitioners, dentists, or veterinarians.

 

Enhanced Criteria for Specialist Educational Qualifications

When applying for skilled migration, additional points are allocated for advanced academic achievements in specific fields. A key criterion is the completion of a research-based Master’s or Doctoral degree from an institution in Australia. This degree must encompass a significant component (at least two years) in a specialized area of study. Successful candidates are awarded 10 points.

The qualifying fields of study for these degrees are categorized into three broad sectors:

Science and Technology Fields

This includes areas like Physics, Astronomy, various branches of Biology and Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and other specialized natural and physical sciences.

Engineering Disciplines

Eligible areas cover a wide range, including but not limited to Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, and Maritime Engineering, as well as niche fields like Geomatics and Process Engineering.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Qualifications in Computer Science, Information Systems, and various branches of IT and related studies fall under this category.

It’s important to note that this requirement is specifically tailored for those who have advanced their education in these distinct fields. The intention is to encourage applicants with specialized, high-level expertise and research capabilities in areas that are critical to innovation and technological advancement.

Australian Study Requirement

To meet this requirement and gain 5 points, you should have completed at least one degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that aligns with the Australian study requirement.

Professional Year in Australia

For this category, completion of a Professional Year in Australia earns you 5 points. The conditions are:

• Your Professional Year must be in Accounting, ICT/Computing, or Engineering.
• It should be related to your nominated occupation or a closely associated field.
• The duration of the Professional Year must be at least 12 months.
• It must be completed in Australia within four years before your visa application.
• The program should be provided by organizations like the Australian Computer Society, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Institute of Public Accountants, or Engineers Australia.

Credentialled Community Language

Earning 5 points under this criterion requires accreditation in a community language at the paraprofessional level or above. This can be a certification for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in Regional Australia

To qualify for 5 points, you must have a degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution, obtained while residing and studying in a regional area. The qualification must meet the Australian study requirement, be achieved in a designated regional area without using distance education.

Partner Skills

Points are awarded based on your partner’s qualifications if they are also applying for the same visa and are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The criteria include:

• 10 points if your partner is under 45, has competent English, has a nominated skilled occupation on the skilled occupation list, and has a suitable skills assessment (not for a Subclass 485 visa).
• 5 points if your partner has competent English.
• 10 points if you are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Nomination

• 5 points are awarded if you are invited to apply for a Subclass 190 visa (Skilled – Nominated) and the nomination by the State or Territory government is still valid.
• 15 points are awarded for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) if you are nominated by a State or Territory or sponsored by a family member, with the nomination or sponsorship still in effect.

 

Category	Requirement	Points
Australian Study Requirement	At least 1 degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian institution meeting the Australian study criteria.	5
Professional Year in Australia	Completion of a Professional Year in Accounting, ICT/Computing, or Engineering in Australia.	5
Credentialled Community Language	Accredited qualification in a community language at paraprofessional level or above.	5
Study in Regional Australia	A degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian institution obtained in regional Australia.	5
Partner Skills – Partner qualifications	Partner under 45 with relevant skills and English, applying for the same visa.	10
Partner Skills – Partner with competent English	Partner is also an applicant for the same visa and has competent English.	5
Partner Skills – Single or partner is Australian resident/citizen	Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.	10
Nomination – Subclass 190 visa	Invited for a Subclass 190 visa with a valid nomination by a State or Territory.	5
Nomination – Subclass 491 visa (Nominated or Sponsored)	Invited for a Subclass 491 visa, with a valid nomination or sponsorship.	15