Skilled Migration Points Calculator
Every factor in the points test for the subclass 189, 190 and 491, taken straight from Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations — with a running total and a breakdown showing exactly where each point comes from.
Your points
Updates as you answer
How that total is made up
- Age at the time of invitation6D12
- +30
- Partner skills and English6D112
- +10
This tool provides general information only, based on rules current as at 18 September 2026. It is not legal or migration advice and does not account for your full circumstances — your points score may change once the details of your situation are taken into account. Speak with our team before relying on this points score. Nothing you enter here is sent to us or stored — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Source: Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 6D (checked 18 September 2026).
Your score is a starting point — let's map your actual options
A points total does not tell you which visa to pursue, whether your occupation is on the right list, which states are nominating in your field, or what would lift your score fastest. That is a conversation, and it is one worth having before you lodge an expression of interest rather than after.
How the points test works
The points test is set out in Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations 1994. It is a fixed table, not a discretionary assessment — each factor scores a set number of points, and the Department applies the table as written. Every value in this calculator is taken from that Schedule, with the item number shown against each factor so you can check it.
Your score is assessed at the time of invitation, which is not the same as the day you lodge an expression of interest. Ageing out of a band, or reaching a work anniversary, between those two dates changes your score.
The cap most calculators miss
Part 6D.5 caps your combined overseas and Australian skilled employment points at 20. Someone with eight years overseas and eight years in Australia would score 15 and 20 respectively — 35 points — but the Regulations allow 20 for the combination, and nothing under either Part separately.
This is a common omission in online calculators, and it is the most likely reason a score here is lower than one you have seen elsewhere. Where the cap applies, this tool says so and shows you what the uncapped figure would have been.
What we can and cannot tell you
This calculator reports a score. It does not recommend a visa. Advising on which pathway to pursue is immigration assistance, which is regulated in Australia and can only be given by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner — and it depends on your occupation, your skills assessment, state nomination settings and your circumstances, none of which a form can weigh.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for a skilled visa?
You need at least 65 points to be invited to lodge an expression of interest, but the score that actually receives an invitation is usually well above that and varies by occupation and by round. Because it moves constantly we do not publish a cut-off — a stated threshold would be wrong for some occupations the day it was published.
Why is my score lower here than on another points calculator?
The most common reason is the employment aggregation cap. Part 6D.5 of Schedule 6D caps your combined overseas and Australian skilled employment points at 20, and a number of calculators omit it — so someone with, say, eight years overseas and eight in Australia is shown 35 points of experience when the Regulations allow 20. This calculator applies the cap and tells you when it has.
Do I get points if I don't have a partner?
Yes — 10 points, the same as for a fully skilled partner. Having no spouse or de facto partner, or having one who is already an Australian citizen or permanent resident, both score 10 points under item 6D112. Only an applicant with a partner who does not meet the skilled or English criteria scores less.
When are my points assessed?
At the time you are invited to apply, not when you submit your expression of interest and not today. This matters: crossing into a new age band or passing a work anniversary between lodging your expression of interest and receiving an invitation changes your score, in either direction.
Does competent English score points?
No. Competent English is the minimum requirement to apply at all — it scores zero. Points begin at proficient English, which scores 10, with superior English scoring 20. Improving your English band is often the single fastest way to raise a score.