Australia Points Calculator 2020

Announced in April 2019, certain changes have been made in the Australian Skilled Migration visas.

As per the Explanatory Statement issued along with the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019, the proposed amendments will be revising the points system for subclass 491 visa as well as the existing General Skilled Migration visas [subclasses 189, 190, and 489].

Keeping in view the fact that the key purpose of the skilled migration program is to make immigration economically beneficial to Australia, points awarded are for attributes linked with the applicant’s ability to make the greatest economic contribution to Australia.

Changes with effect from November 16, 2019, include:

Perhaps the change that will directly affect many of the applicants is the allocation of 10 points to those applicants that do not have a spouse or de facto partner.  If you are planning on immigrating to Australia, being single will now fetch you more points.

Let us look at the Australian Points Table for 2020, applicable to the existing subclasses 190, 189, and 489 visas, as well as the new subclass 491 (commenced from November 16, 2019).

As per the Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs, the points calculation to determine the eligibility of a candidate for Australia skilled migration will be done as given below:

[Note. Do keep in mind that points criteria are assessed at the time of invitation.]

The individual breakdown of the points awarded in each of the criteria are:

1. Age:

 2. English Language Skills:

 3. Skilled employment [outside Australia]:

4. Skilled employment [in Australia]:

IMPORTANT:

• By “employed” is meant being engaged in an occupation for remuneration for a minimum of 20 hours in a week.
• To be able to claim points under the employment criteria, the employment must have been in the nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. Moreover, the applicant must have been employed for the relevant period as in the Table above, in the 10 years preceding the date that the applicant was invited to apply.
• There is a cap of a maximum of 20 combined points on the total to be awarded for employment. That is, even if an applicant scores more than 20 under the employment criteria, only 20 points will be awarded.
• For an occupation to be considered as closely-related, the occupation must be – in the same ANZSCO group; consistent with the applicant’s career advancement pathway; and recognized by an assessing authority that the occupation is indeed closely related to the applicant’s nominated occupation as per the skills assessment.

5. Educational qualifications:

IMPORTANT:

• Points are awarded for the highest qualification only.
• The assessing authority undertaking your skills assessment will decide if your qualification is comparable to the corresponding Australian qualification.
• If you hold a bachelor or above and your assessing authority has not commented on the qualification, you can contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice. The applicant will have to submit the advice given by VETASSESS along with the application as proof.
• Points for doctorate degree are only given for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and not for any other qualifications – dentist, general practitioner, or vet – that grant an individual the right to use the title of Doctor.

6. Specialist education qualification:

By “relevant field” here is implied in any of the fields of:

• geomatics engineering
• maritime engineering and technology
• computer science
• aerospace engineering and technology
• civil engineering
• electrical and electronic engineering and technology
• engineering and related technologies
• earth sciences
• manufacturing engineering and technology
• mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
• other engineering and related technologies
• process and resources engineering.
• information systems
• information technology
• other information technology
• biological sciences
• chemical sciences
• mathematical sciences
• natural and physical sciences
• other natural and physical sciences
• physics and astronomy

7. Australian study requirement:

To claim points under this criterion, the applicant must have at least 1 degree/diploma/trade qualification from any of the Australian educational institutions that meet the requirement for Australian study.

IMPORTANT:

• To meet the Australian study requirement, there should a minimum of 16 months of study in Australia.

8. Professional Year in Australia:

The applicant must have completed a professional year in Australia at the time of receiving the invitation to apply.

IMPORTANT:

To claim points, a professional year should be:

• In Accounting, ICT / Computing or Engineering
• Completed over a minimum 12 months duration
• Either in the nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
• Provided by any of the organizations – Engineers Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Australia Computer Society, CPA Australia, and the Institute of Public Accountants (earlier known as the National Institute of Accountants).

9. Credentialled community language:

For this, the applicant must have either:

• Certification at the certified provisional level or above,
• Accreditation at the paraprofessional level or above, or
• Credential in community language for translation or interpretation by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

10. Studied in Regional Australia:

IMPORTANT:

To claim points under this criterion, the applicant’s educational qualification must:

• Not be through distance education
• Meet the Australian study requirement
• Have been obtained while having lived in as well as studied at a campus in a designated regional area in Australia

11. Partner skills

IMPORTANT:

To claim points under this criterion, the spouse or de facto partner must:

• be an applicant for the same visa subclass.
• Not be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

12. Nomination or Sponsorship:

IMPORTANT: 

• The applicant cannot claim points unless nominated by a State or Territory.
• An applicant will have to score a total of 65 points to be eligible.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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