Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) program offers skilled workers a pathway to permanent residency without needing employer sponsorship. Instead, candidates compete based on a points system that rewards age, qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency.

For 2025-26, the Migration Program has been set at 185,000 places, with approximately 70% allocated to skilled migration. This guide explains how the points test works, which visa to choose, and how to maximise your chances of receiving an invitation.

Understanding the Three Points-Tested Visas

There are three main points-tested skilled visas. Each has different requirements and benefits:

Feature	189 Visa	190 Visa	491 Visa
Type	Permanent	Permanent	Provisional (5 years)
Sponsorship	None required	State/territory	State/territory or family
Bonus Points	None	+5 points	+15 points
Location	Anywhere in Australia	Nominating state (2 years)	Regional areas only
PR Pathway	Immediate	Immediate	Via 191 after 3 years

Subclass 189: Skilled Independent Visa

The most competitive option—no sponsorship required. You can live and work anywhere in Australia immediately as a permanent resident. However, you’ll need high points to receive an invitation, as you’re competing against the entire applicant pool.

Subclass 190: Skilled Nominated Visa

Requires nomination by a state or territory government. You receive an additional 5 points for the nomination, making it easier to reach competitive scores. In exchange, you commit to living in that state for at least 2 years.

Subclass 491: Skilled Work Regional Visa

A provisional visa for regional areas (anywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Gold Coast). You receive 15 bonus points. After living and working in regional Australia for 3 years, you can apply for the permanent Subclass 191 visa.

How the Points System Works

You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). However, in practice, competitive scores for most occupations are significantly higher—typically 80-95 points depending on your occupation.

Points Breakdown

Criteria	Points Available
Age	25-32: 30 pts | 18-24 or 33-39: 25 pts | 40-44: 15 pts
English Proficiency	Superior (IELTS 8+): 20 pts | Proficient (7+): 10 pts | Competent (6+): 0 pts
Overseas Work Experience	8+ yrs: 15 pts | 5-7 yrs: 10 pts | 3-4 yrs: 5 pts
Australian Work Experience	8+ yrs: 20 pts | 5-7 yrs: 15 pts | 3-4 yrs: 10 pts | 1-2 yrs: 5 pts
Education	PhD: 20 pts | Bachelor/Masters: 15 pts | Diploma/Trade: 10 pts
Australian Study	2+ years of Australian study: 5 pts
Regional Study	Study in regional Australia: 5 pts
NAATI/Community Language	Credentialed community language: 5 pts
Professional Year	Completed Professional Year program: 5 pts
Partner Skills	Skilled partner: 10 pts | Competent English partner: 5 pts | Single: 10 pts
State Nomination	190 visa: 5 pts | 491 visa: 15 pts

Important: The maximum combined points for overseas and Australian work experience is 20 points. You must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.

 

 

What Points Do You Actually Need?

While 65 points is the minimum to submit an EOI, recent invitation rounds show much higher thresholds. Here’s what we’ve seen in 2025:

August 2025 Invitation Round Results

The Department of Home Affairs issued 6,887 invitations for Subclass 189 and 150 for Subclass 491 (family stream). Key observations:

• Construction trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers): 65-70 points — strong demand due to housing shortage
• Healthcare (nurses, medical practitioners): 80-90 points — high demand but also high competition
• IT professionals (software engineers, analysts): 90+ points — extremely competitive
• Accountants: 95+ points — one of the most competitive occupations
• Specialist roles (actuaries, agricultural scientists): 90 points — limited quotas

Key Insight: Trades and construction occupations currently have the lowest points thresholds due to Australia’s housing crisis. If you’re in these fields, now is an excellent time to apply.

State Nomination Allocations 2025-26

Each state and territory receives a fixed number of nominations they can issue. For 2025-26, the total allocation is 20,350 places. Here’s how they’re distributed:

State/Territory	190 Places	491 Places
New South Wales	2,100	1,500
Victoria	2,700	700
Western Australia	2,000	1,400
Queensland	1,850	750
South Australia	1,500	900
Tasmania	1,200	650
Northern Territory	850	800
ACT	800	800

Note: Victoria and NSW have the highest 190 allocations but also the most competition. Queensland received a significant increase (116% more than 2024-25) and may offer good opportunities.

The Application Process: Step by Step

1. Skills Assessment: Obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. This confirms your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards.
2. English Test: Complete an approved English test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Cambridge). Aim for the highest score possible—superior English (IELTS 8+) adds 20 points.
3. Calculate Your Points: Use the official points calculator to determine your score. Be honest—overclaiming can result in visa refusal.
4. Submit EOI via SkillSelect: Lodge your Expression of Interest through the SkillSelect system, selecting the visa subclasses you’re interested in.
5. For 190/491 – Apply for State Nomination: Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through your chosen state’s portal. Each state has different requirements and priorities.
6. Wait for Invitation: The Department issues invitations periodically based on points scores and occupation ceilings.
7. Lodge Visa Application: Once invited, you have 60 days to submit your full visa application with all supporting documents.

Strategies to Maximise Your Points

Quick Wins

• Improve your English: Moving from Proficient (IELTS 7) to Superior (IELTS 8+) adds 10 points. This is often the easiest way to boost your score.
• NAATI certification: If you speak a community language, NAATI credentialing adds 5 points.
• Partner skills: If your partner has a skills assessment and competent English, claim 10 points. Even without a skills assessment, competent English adds 5 points. Being single also adds 10 points.

Longer-Term Strategies

• Study in Australia: Completing 2+ years of Australian study adds 5 points. Studying in a regional area adds another 5 points.
• Professional Year: A 12-month Professional Year program (available for accounting, IT, and engineering) adds 5 points.
• Gain Australian work experience: Australian experience is worth more points than overseas experience and is highly valued by state governments for nomination.
• Consider the 491 pathway: If you’re struggling to get a 189 or 190 invitation, the 491 regional visa adds 15 points and provides a clear pathway to PR.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overclaiming points: Only claim what you can prove. False claims can result in visa refusal and potential bans.
2. Wrong occupation selection: Your nominated occupation must match your actual qualifications and experience. Skills assessments for 485 visas are not acceptable for 189/190/491.
3. Not keeping EOI updated: Your EOI must reflect your current circumstances. Update it whenever your points change (new English score, work anniversary, etc.).
4. Missing the 60-day deadline: Once invited, you must lodge your visa application within 60 days—no extensions.
5. Ignoring state requirements: Each state has specific criteria. Victoria requires you to live there; NSW has specific occupation lists. Research thoroughly before applying.

Official Resources

Department of Home Affairs:

• SkillSelect: gov.au
• Points calculator: homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/points-table
• Invitation rounds: homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds

State Nomination Portals:

• NSW: gov.au/nsw-nomination
• Victoria: vic.gov.au
• Queensland: qld.gov.au
• Western Australia: wa.gov.au
• South Australia: sa.gov.au
• Tasmania: tas.gov.au

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Immigration law is complex and changes frequently. For advice specific to your situation, consult a registered migration agent. Verify agent registration at mara.gov.au.