Subclass 189 (Independent) · 190 (State Nominated) · 491 (Regional) · Updated July 2026
Use your age at the time you expect to receive an invitation (not today's date).
Based on your highest score in IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, or OET.
| Level | IELTS (each band) | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT | OET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent (0 pts) | 6.0 each | 50 each | L12, R13, W21, S18 | B each |
| Proficient (+10 pts) | 7.0 each | 65 each | L24, R24, W27, S23 | B each component |
| Superior (+20 pts) | 8.0 each | 79 each | L28, R29, W30, S26 | A or B each |
Work experience outside Australia in the last 10 years, in your nominated occupation or a closely related ANZSCO occupation.
Work experience in Australia in the last 10 years, in your nominated occupation or a closely related ANZSCO occupation.
Select your highest applicable qualification. Points are awarded for the highest level only.
Select all that apply to you.
Your spouse or de facto partner's skills and English ability at time of invitation.
If applying via subclass 190 or 491, a state/territory nomination adds bonus points automatically.
Points based on the Department of Home Affairs General Skilled Migration points test schedule. Verify your score at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before submitting an EOI.
Points Breakdown
Select your details to see what your score means for each visa.
This calculator is indicative only and based on the published points schedule from the Department of Home Affairs. Points are subject to change. Always verify with an MARA-registered migration agent before submitting an Expression of Interest.
You need at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect for any points-tested visa (189, 190, or 491). However, having 65 points does not guarantee an invitation — you are entered into a pool and invited based on your rank. For the 189 visa, recent invitation rounds have required 90–100+ points.
The 189 is a permanent visa with no nomination required — you live and work anywhere in Australia. The 190 is permanent but requires state or territory nomination and you must live in that state for 2 years. The 491 is a provisional (5-year) visa requiring nomination and requiring you to live and work in a regional area — after 3 years you can apply for permanent residence via subclass 191.
The Department of Home Affairs runs SkillSelect invitation rounds approximately every 2 months. Your EOI stays in the pool for up to 2 years. If not invited, you can update your EOI details (which resets your ranking date) or wait for the cutoff to drop.
Yes. You can update your EOI in SkillSelect at any time. Common ways to add points: gain more Australian work experience, improve your English score to Superior, complete a Professional Year, or gain state/territory nomination (adding 5 or 15 points). Note: updating some details resets your EOI ranking date.
Yes — you must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing body before submitting an EOI. For IT professionals this is ACS, for engineers Engineers Australia, for accountants CPA/CAANZ/IPA, for nurses AHPRA, etc. The assessment confirms your qualifications and experience match an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
There is no fixed cutoff — it depends on your occupation and how many applicants are in the pool. As of 2025–26, most 189 invitations in competitive occupations (software engineers, accountants) require 90–100 points. Some less-competitive occupations have lower cutoffs. Check the DIBP SkillSelect invitation round results for your specific ANZSCO code.