The Skilled Migration Visa Points Test
Overview
The minimum score for each visa is 65 points to be eligible. The higher the points, the more likely it is that you will be invited to apply for a visa. At the time you are invited to apply for the visa, you must then show that you achieve the score specified in your Expression of Interest once you submit it.
Points are awarded on the basis of the factors which are listed below:
Age
Applicants under the age of 18 and over the age of 44 will not be eligible for General Skilled Migration.
25 points - At least 18 but less than 25 years old
30 points - At least 25 but less than 33 years old
25 points - At least 33 but less than 40 years old
15 points - At least 40 but less than 45 years old
English Language Skills
Applicants can also provide English proficiency with other tests such as PTE.
0 points - Competent English (minimum of IELTS 6 in all bands or equivalent PT score)
10 points - Proficient English (minimum of IELTS 7 in all bands or equivalent PTE score)
20 points - Superior English (minimum of IELTS 8 in all bands or equivalent PTE score)
Skilled Employment Experience
Overseas Skilled Employment (Outside Australia)
Work must be in the nominated occupation. To claim points for this overseas skilled employment, the assessing authority must be satisfied that the experience is relevant - criteria need to be checked.
Work must be in the last 10 years, post-qualification & a minimum of 20 hours per week (paid employment).
0 points - Less than 3 years employment experience
5 points - At least 3 years but less than 5 years employment experience
10 points - At least 5 years but less than 8 years employment experience
15 points - At least 8 years employment experience
Australian Skilled Employment (in Australia)
Work experience must be in the nominated occupation. To claim points, assessing authority must also be satisfied that the experience is relevant - criteria needs to be checked.
Work must also be in the last 10 years similar to overseas employment requirements and should be post-qualification for a minimum of 20 hours per week (paid employment).
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, which means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience, you can only be awarded 20 points.
0 points - Less than 1 year work experience in the nominated occupation
5 points - At least 1 year but less than 3 years work experience in the nominated occupation
10 points - At least 3 years but less than 5 years work experience in the nominated occupation
15 points - At least 5 years but less than 8 years work experience in the nominated occupation
20 points - At least 8 years work experience in the nominated occupation
Education Qualification
You can claim points for your highest level qualification.
The qualification must be deemed relevant to the nominated occupation by the assessing authority. Overseas graduate and doctoral degrees need to be recognized by the assessing authority as well.
Recognition of Qualification
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. You can not claim points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet, etc.)
Points for educational qualification:
20 points - Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution that is of a recognised standard
15 points - At least a Bachelor Degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification from another educational institution that is of a recognised standard
10 points - Diploma or Trade qualification from an Australian educational institution
10 points - Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation
Specialist Education Qualification
10 points - Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field
The post-graduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian educational 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
Biological sciences
Chemical sciences
Earth sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Natural and Physical Sciences
Other Natural and Physical Sciences
Physics and Astronomy
Information and Technology
Computer Science
Information Systems
Information Technology
Other Information Technology
Engineering and Related Technologies
Aerospace Engineering and Technology
Civil Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology
Engineering and Related Technologies
Geomatics Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering and Technology
Maritime Engineering and Technology
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Technology
Other Engineering and Related Technologies
Process and Resources Engineering
Australian Study Requirement
5 points - You must have at least one degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian education institution that meets the Australian study requirement.
Meet the Australian study requirement
Professional Year in Australia
At the time of invitation to apply, you must have a completed Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points, your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:
in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.
completed over a period of at least 12 months
completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa
provided by one of these organisations: the Australian Computer Society, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants), and Engineers Australia.
5 points - Completion of a Professional Year in Australia
Credentialled Community Language
To be credentialed 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.
5 points - Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialed community language
Study in Regional Australia
To be eligible for the award of points, your educational qualification:
Must meet the Australian study requirement
Have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
Not include study undertaken by distance education
Requirement:
5 points - You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of Regional Australia
Partner Skills
10 points - Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria. For you to be eligible for the award of these points, your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:
were under 45 years old
Had competent English
Had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
Had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a subclass 485 visa.
5 points - Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English. For you to be eligible for the award of these points, your partner must not be an Australian PR or an Australian citizen.
10 points - You are single or your partner is an Australian Citizen or PR
Nomination
Requirement
5 points - You were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 and the nominating state or territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination
15 points - You were invited to apply for a Subclass 491 because you were nominated by a nominating state or territory government agency
15 points - You are sponsored for a Subclass 491 by a family member and the Minister has accepted the sponsorship
Accreditation
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