Australia PR points calculator 2026: points table and example

To be invited for Australia's main skilled PR visas, subclass 189, 190 or 491, you need at least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test. Points come from your age, English, skilled work, qualifications and a few extras, and a state nomination adds 5 points for the 190 or 15 points for the 491. The table below is the one Home Affairs publishes as of October 2026, followed by a worked example for a typical applicant from Pakistan.

How the points test works

You start by lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The system gives you an indicative points score based on your claims. To be invited for the 189, 190 or 491, the main requirements at the time of invitation are:

• age under 45
• at least Competent English
• a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation, obtained in the 3 years before the invitation
• a score of at least 65 points

Home Affairs says that if you score enough points and there are places for your occupation, it might invite you. Your invitation letter states the score you must prove, which can be higher than 65. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application, and you must be able to prove every claim. Home Affairs also offers an official points calculator on its website, which is the safest place to test your numbers.

Australia PR points table 2026, line by line

This table combines the official points tables for subclasses 189, 190 and 491. Apart from the nomination line, the factors are the same for all three.

Two rules catch many applicants. First, work only counts if it is in your nominated occupation or a closely related one, at 20 hours a week or more. Second, even if your overseas and Australian work add up to more than 20, you receive a maximum of 20 points for employment.

Australia PR age points and English scores

Age points peak at 30 for ages 25 to 32 and drop to 15 from age 40. If you turn 45 after lodging your EOI but before an invitation, you will not be invited, so timing matters for applicants in their early forties.

English is usually the fastest way to add points. These are the scores Home Affairs lists for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025:

Home Affairs accepts IELTS results that include One Skill Retake for eligible visas, but it does not accept tests delivered fully online, such as IELTS Online. For current prices, see our IELTS fee in Pakistan guide.

Worked example: a typical profile from Pakistan

Example only: this is an invented profile, not a real client. Applicant A is 29, single, holds a four year bachelor degree in software engineering assessed as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree, and has 6 years of skilled work in Pakistan in the nominated occupation. Applicant A scored 7 in every IELTS component.

If Applicant A raised every IELTS component to 8 (Superior English) and passed the NAATI CCL test, the 189 total would rise to 90. If Applicant A were married and the partner were not applying with Competent English or skills, the 10 partner points would fall to 0.

A score above 65 is not a promise of an invitation. Invitations depend on rankings, the places available for each occupation and, for the 190 and 491, each state's own nomination criteria.

Ways to add points from Pakistan

• Improve your English. Moving from Proficient to Superior is worth 10 points.
• NAATI CCL. The Credentialed Community Language test checks community level communication between English and another language, and NAATI lists both Urdu and Punjabi. It is held online, costs AUD 814 for the 2026 to 2027 fee year, and you pass with 63 out of 90 and at least 29 in each dialogue. Credentials issued since 9 August 2022 are valid for five years. Our English test preparation covers CCL practice.
• State nomination. A 190 nomination adds 5 points and a 491 nomination adds 15, but each state sets its own occupation lists and criteria.
• Partner points. A partner with Competent English adds 5 points, or 10 with a suitable skills assessment.
• Study in Australia. An Australian qualification can add points for Australian study, regional study and a Professional Year. See study in Australia and our guide to the cost of studying in Australia for Pakistani students.

Your score is only part of the picture: occupation choice, skills assessment and state criteria all decide whether you are invited. To check your points with someone who knows the process, speak to a Via Nova counsellor through our Australia PR guidance service.