Check your Eligibility
Australia uses a points-based system to determine a person’s eligibility to migrate to Australia. If you are a professional, you can migrate under the Australia Skilled Migration program.
Bear in mind that while 65 points is the minimum requirement for eligibility, the higher the score on the eligibility calculation, the more likely you are to be invited to apply for Australian permanent residency in order to immigrate to Australia.
The General Skilled Migration program uses a point-based system so that migrants with the right skills can be selected.
The applicant must have a minimum score of 65 points to apply for permanent residency. Let us look at how points are calculated under each category under the Australia points calculator:
Age: You will gain a maximum of 30 points if your age is between 25 to 32 years.
Age | Points |
18-24 years | 25 |
25-32 years | 30 |
33-39 years | 25 |
40-44 years | 15 |
English proficiency: A score of 8 bands in the IELTS exam can give you a maximum of 20 points under the Australia points calculator. However, the Australian immigration authorities allow applicants to take any of the English proficiency tests such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, etc. You can try for the required score in any of these tests.
Work experience: Skilled employment outside Australia with 8 to 10 years of experience counting back from the date of your request will give you 15 points, lesser years of experience means fewer points.
Skilled employment outside Australia | Points |
Less than 3 years | 0 |
3-4 years | 5 |
5-7 years | 10 |
8-10 years | 15 |
Skilled employment in Australia with 8 to 10 years of experience from the date of request will give you a maximum of 20 points under the Australia points calculator.
Skilled employment in Australia |
Points |
Less than 1 year | 0 |
1-2 years | 5 |
3-4 years | 10 |
5-7 years | 15 |
8-10 years | 20 |
Education: Points for the education criteria depends on the educational qualification under the Australia points calculator. Maximum points are given to a doctorate degree from an Australian university or a doctorate from a university outside Australia provided it is recognized by the Australian government.
Qualifications | Points |
A Doctorate degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia. | 20 |
A Bachelor (or Masters) degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia. | 15 |
Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia | 10 |
Any qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation. | 10 |
Niche skills such as Doctorate or master’s degree in Australia | 5 |
If your spouse is also an applicant for permanent residency you will be eligible for an additional five points to your SkillSelect Expression of Interest. To get these additional five points under the Australia points calculator, your spouse must meet the following requirements:
Should be less than 45 years of age
Should have the basic competent level scores in English
Job occupation code should appear in the same occupation list as the primary applicant list
Applicants can gain points on the following criteria for spouse qualification under the Australia points calculator. The table gives more details:
Spouse qualification | Points |
Spouse has a permanent residency or is an Australian citizen | 10 |
Spouse has competent English and has a Positive Skill Assessment | 10 |
Spouse has only competent English | 5 |
Other qualifications: You can gain points if you meet any of the following criteria.
Study in a regional area Accredited in community language Professional year in a skilled program in Australia State sponsorship (subclass 190) |
5 points 5 points 5 points 5 points |
While the IELTS or International English Language Testing System is the more common test of English that is usually taken for Australia, you can also appear for and submit test results for –