Understanding The Skilled Visa Point Test
Australia uses a points-based system to assess eligibility for several skilled migration visas. Under the SkillSelect model, applicants submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), and those with the highest points may be invited by the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a visa. To qualify, candidates must meet the minimum points requirement and satisfy most eligibility criteria at the time of invitation.
How Points are Awarded
The points-based test applies to the following skilled visas:
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Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
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Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
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Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
To be eligible, you must achieve a minimum of 65 points. Points are assessed based on the claims made in your EOI and must be valid at the time of invitation. The higher your score, the better your chances of receiving an invitation.
Age
English language skills
English language skills
Skilled employment experience
Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)
Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)
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You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply.
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For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points.
Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week.
Closely-related occupations must be:
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in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
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consistent with a career advancement pathway or
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recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment
Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.
Educational qualifications
Recognition of your qualifications
The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.
Doctoral requirements (PhD)
You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).
Specialist education qualification
The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:
Natural and physical sciences
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biological sciences
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chemical sciences
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earth sciences
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mathematical sciences
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natural and physical sciences
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other natural and physical sciences
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physics and astronomy
Information technology
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computer science
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information systems
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information technology
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other information technology
Engineering and related technologies
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aerospace engineering and technology
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civil engineering
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electrical and electronic engineering and technology
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engineering and related technologies
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geomatics engineering
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manufacturing engineering and technology
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maritime engineering and technology
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mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
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other engineering and related technologies
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process and resources engineering.
Australian study requirement
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.
Professional Year in Australia
At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:
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in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
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completed over a period of at least 12 months
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completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa*
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provided by one of these organisations:
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the Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants)
* Where a Professional Year program was completed, meaning finished, within the 48 month period prior to the time of invitation, you may be awarded 5 points. To avoid any doubt, you could have commenced the Professional Year at a time before the 48 months prior to invitation. The time you “completed” a Professional Year is the date listed on your official Record of Completion which is issued by the authorised body or Professional Year program delivery partner.
Credentialled community language
To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Study in regional Australia
To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:
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must meet the Australian study requirement
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have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
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not include study undertaken by distance education
Partner skills
Nomination
You must be nominated to be invited to apply for this visa. Provided your nomination remains in effect, you may be eligible for the award of these points.
