Do you dream of calling Australia home? Securing permanent residency (PR) in Australia may seem daunting, but with the right Australia PR points score, your goal of living Down Under can become a reality. Calculating your eligibility points is the first step on the path to Australian permanent residence.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the Australia PR points system, including:
- What is the Australia PR points calculator?
- How points are allocated for skills, work experience, age, English ability, and other factors
- Minimum points required for popular PR visas like Subclass 189 and 190
- Tips to maximize your points score
- Common mistakes to avoid
Follow along to understand the Australia PR points system and assess your eligibility today!
What is the Australia PR Points Calculator?
The Australia PR points calculator, also known as the skilled migration points test, determines eligibility for the main skilled PR visa subclasses 189 and 190. Developed by the Australian government, the PR points system objectively ranks applicants based on attributes deemed valuable to the Australian economy and society.
Factors like work experience, English language ability, education, age, and partner skills can all contribute to an applicant’s overall Australia PR points score. The higher the points score, the better the chances of securing an invite to apply for permanent residency.
Here’s a quick overview of the main components assessed in the Australia PR points calculator:
- Age – You can claim points based on your age at time of application, with more points awarded the younger you are.
- English Ability – Points are awarded based on English test scores from exams like the PTE or IELTS. Higher test scores equal more points.
- Skilled Employment – Recent skilled work experience in your nominated occupation can contribute significant points.
- Education – Points are awarded for completed qualifications, with more points for higher degrees like a Masters or PhD.
- Partner Skills – Applicants can claim additional points for skilled partners.
- Professional Year – Completing an Australian professional year in your field can add 5 points.
- Regional Studies – Applicants who studied full time in regional Australia may claim 5 points.
- State Nomination – Applicants nominated by a participating Australian state/territory receive 5 or 10 points depending on the subclass.
Let’s explore the points system further to understand how applicants can maximize their Australia PR score.
Skilled Migration Points Calculator: How PR Points Are Allocated
The skilled migration points calculator follows a comprehensive 100-point system for ranking PR applicants. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how points are allocated across the different eligibility factors:
Age
For age, the maximum 30 points are awarded as follows:
- 18-24 years old: 30 points
- 25-32 years old: 30 points
- 33-39 years old: 25 points
- 40-44 years old: 15 points
- 45-54 years old: 0 points
Your age is assessed at the time you are invited to apply for the visa. The system favors younger applicants likely to contribute to the workforce long-term.
English Language Ability
For English, 20 points are awarded for ‘superior’ ability, 10 points for ‘proficient’ ability, and 0 points for ‘competent’ ability, based on the following test score standards:
PTE Academic:
- Superior: 65+ (20 points)
- Proficient: 58-64 (10 points)
- Competent: 50-57 (0 points)
IELTS Academic:
- Superior: 8+ (20 points)
- Proficient: 7 (10 points)
- Competent: 6 (0 points)
To claim points, test results must be from the last 3 years at time of invitation. Higher English ability signals better employability and integration into Australian society.
Skilled Employment
For skilled employment, 20 points are awarded for at least 3 years experience in your nominated skilled occupation. More experienced applicants can claim extra points:
- At least 5 years: 15 points
- At least 8 years: 20 points
- At least 10 years: 25 points
Recent work experience must be highly relevant to your intended occupation in Australia. This demonstrates skill transferability and labor market demand.
Education Qualifications
For education, 15 points are awarded for a suitable Bachelor’s degree from an Australian university or other recognized institution. More points are available for higher qualifications:
- Bachelor Degree: 15 points
- Master’s Degree: 20 points
- Doctoral Degree: 25 points
In some cases, applicants can also claim 10 points for an Australian diploma or trade qualification. Points for qualifications assess academic success and professional skills training relevant to the Australian economy.
Partner Skill Qualifications
Applicants with a skilled spouse or de facto partner can claim additional points based on their partner’s English, education, age, and skilled employment. A partner’s qualifications must also be assessed as suitable for migration. This assesses the economic potential of the family unit.
Professional Year in Australia
For applicants in select occupations like accounting and IT, completion of a professional year program while in Australia on a temporary visa can contribute 5 points. This demonstrates Australian work experience and professional development.
Regional Australia Study Requirement
International graduates from regional Australian universities can claim 5 points if they lived in a regional area for at least 2 academic years while earning their qualification. This supports skilled migration to regional communities.
State and Territory Nomination
Applicants nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency receive either 5 points (subclass 190) or 10 points (subclass 491) as recognition of labor market demand in that region. Each state has their own eligibility criteria.
So in summary, applicants can accumulate up to 100 points based on their age, language skills, qualifications, skilled work experience, partner attributes, Australian study, and state nomination status. But what’s the minimum pass mark for an Australia PR visa?
Minimum Points for Skilled PR Visas
While it’s possible to score the maximum 100 points, applicants only need 60 points for subclass 189 and 65 points for subclass 190 to pass the skilled migration points test.
The overall points target varies by visa category:
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): 60 points
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): 65 points
- Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): 65 points
Due to high competition for limited visa places, applicants require at least 75-80 points to receive an invitation to apply for subclasses 189 and 190 in popular occupations. Those without superior English or extensive skilled work experience really need to maximize points across all categories.
Let’s review some tips for passing the skilled migration points test with a competitive score.
How to Maximize Your Australia PR Points Score
With thorough preparation, you can put yourself in a strong position to achieve the highest possible points score:
- Improve English test scores: Invest time into studying for a high IELTS or PTE exam score to claim 20-30 points across the proficient and superior English bands.
- Research in-demand occupations: Target skilled occupations on the Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills List where visas are granted more regularly.
- Skill assessment: Confirm your skilled employment experience is eligible by completing a full skills assessment in your nominated occupation.
- Work towards regional study: International students should consider studying full-time at a regional campus to claim 5 bonus points.
- Further education: Where relevant, complete a Master’s degree or higher to gain extra points for qualifications.
- Professional year program: Graduates in fields like accounting should complete an Australian professional year to claim 5 additional points.
- Partner skills: Spouses with recognized occupations, English skills, and Australian qualifications can contribute crucial points.
- State nomination: Research which states sponsor your occupation then address their specific nomination criteria.
Gaining that extra 5-10 points could be all you need to achieve an invitations score for a Australia PR visa in today’s highly competitive system.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When calculating your Australia PR points, be sure to avoid these common pitfalls:
Overestimating English ability: Only claim points matched to your actual test score within the last 3 years.
Exaggerating work experience: All skilled employment claims must be backed up by evidence. Don’t overstate your actual duties.
Degree not recognized: Confirm your degree and institution are assessed as suitably comparable to Australian standards.
Irrelevant qualifications: Degrees must be closely related to your nominated skilled occupation.
Work experience too old: Claims are generally limited to jobs completed in the last 10 years. Significant career gaps can also reduce points.
Incorrect dates: Inconsistencies between dates in your skills assessment, resume, and EOI form can cause problems.
Partner’s points rejected: Ensure your partner completes their own skills assessment process where required.
Typos and errors: Carefully proofread your EOI and double check dates and other details.
With attention to detail, honest and accurate claims, and supporting evidence, you can avoid needless points deductions and achieve your best possible score.
Check Your Australia PR Eligibility Now
Determining your points score potential is a quick and easy process when you use the Australian government’s dedicated skillselect tool.
To estimate your points, simply navigate to the SkillSelect website and choose the Points Calculator tab. Here you can enter your personal details like age, education, work experience and more to generate an estimated points breakdown.
The system will automatically calculate and tally your points across the key categories. You’ll get an overall score out of 100 that gives a strong indication of your competitiveness for skilled PR visas.
Be sure to double check that your points claims are realistic and backed up by supporting evidence. The calculator only provides an estimate – when submitting an official EOI, all details will be verified against documentation.
Maximize your chances by using the Points Calculator early and often throughout your migration journey. As you boost your English, gain skilled work experience or pursue further study, you can check back periodically to see your points increasing over time.
If your points are lacking, the calculator will highlight areas that need improvement. You can then work towards strengthening specific factors to enhance your overall score.
A high score in the Australian skilled migration points test is fundamental to achieving permanent residency. But with strategic preparation, realistic claims and attention to detail, you can successfully calculate and maximize your points.
Use the automated PR points calculator regularly to assess your standing and work towards improving any shortcomings. If in doubt, consult an authorized migration agent for guidance in navigating the complex 100-point system and qualifying for a coveted PR visa.
Your dream of living and working permanently in Australia is within reach. Understanding the PR points system marks the important first step in starting your new life Down Under. With thorough assessment and planning, you can make those crucial points work for you.
So don’t delay – use the free Australian PR points calculator today to get a sense of your current competitiveness and eligibility. It could be your first step on the path to permanent residence in Australia!
