A points-based system is used to assess a person’s eligibility for permanent residency in Australia. In order to apply for Australian permanent residency in 2022, you will need 65 points. Keep in mind that while 65 points is the minimum score required to be eligible, the better your eligibility score, the more likely you are to be invited to apply for permanent residency in Australia. Scoring 80 to 85 points will increase your chances of receiving an invitation to migrate to Australia.
What factors go into determining eligibility points?
The 65 points required are determined by a variety of factors, including:
Criteria | Maximum Points |
Criteria 1 – Age | 30 |
Criteria 2 – Proficiency in the English Language | 20 |
Criteria 3 – Employment outside Australia | 15 |
Criteria 4 – Employment in Australia | 20 |
Criteria 5 – Educational Qualifications | 20 |
Criteria 6 – Studied in Australia | 05 |
Criteria 7 – Niche education skills | 05 |
Criteria 8 – Partner Skills | 10 |
Criteria 9 – Others | 15 |
Criteria 1 – Age
Maximum points that can be attained – 30
Age | Points |
18 to 24 years | 25 |
25 to 32 years | 30 |
33 to 39 years | 25 |
40 to 44 years | 15 |
Do keep in mind that candidates that are 45 years or above cannot apply under the SkillSelect program.
Criteria 2 – Proficiency in the English Language
Maximum points that can be attained – 20
English Language Proficiency | Points |
Superior – IELTS 8 or more per band in each of the categories (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) | 20 |
Proficient – IELTS 7 or more per band in each of the 4 categories (LRWS) | 10 |
Competent – IELTS 6 or more per band in each of the 4 categories (LRWS) | 0 |
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 –
- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign language, internet-based test)
- CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
- PTE (Pearson Tests of English)
- OET (Occupational English Test)
Criteria 3 – Employment Outside Australia
Maximum points that can be attained – 15
For this, the skilled occupation must be listed under any of the Skilled Occupation Lists, such as – the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
Points are given regardless of the work experience being in Australia or elsewhere.
Work experience as a skilled worker in years [in previous 10 years] | Points |
Less than 3 years | 0 |
3 to 4 years | 5 |
5 to 7 years | 10 |
8 to 10 years | 15 |
Criteria 4 – Employment in Australia
Maximum points that can be attained – 20
Work experience as a skilled worker in years [in previous 10 years] | Points |
Less than 1 year | 0 |
1 to 2 years | 5 |
3 to 4 years | 10 |
5 to 7 years | 15 |
8 to 10 years | 20 |
Criteria 5 – Educational Qualifications
Maximum points that can be attained – 20
Educational Qualification | Points |
Doctorate | 20 |
Bachelor’s/Master’s degree | 15 |
Australian diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
Awards or qualifications that are recognized by authority assessing the skilled occupation | 10 |
Criteria 6 – Studied in Australia
Maximum points that can be attained – 05
Australian study requirement | Points |
At least 1 diploma/degree or trade qualification from any Australian educational institution meeting Australian study requirement | 5 |
Criteria 7 – Niche education skills
Maximum points that can be attained – 05
Specialist education qualification | Points |
Master’s by research or Doctorate from Australian educational institution. At least two academic years in a relevant field must be included. | 5 |
Criteria 8 – Partner Skills
Maximum points that can be attained – 10
Your spouse or de facto partner must also have filed for this visa and meet the age, skill, and English requirements in order for you to receive 10 points for Partner Skills.
If your de facto partner or spouse is also an applicant and speaks English well, you will receive an additional 5 points.
You gain ten points for being single. You gain an extra ten points if your partner is an Australian permanent resident or a citizen.
Points | |
Single (Not married) | 10 |
Partner is an Australian Citizen or PR holder | 10 |
Spouse/partner has competence in the English language along with Positive Skill Assessment | 10 |
Spouse has competence in English, no Skill Assessment | 5 |
Criteria 9 – Others
Maximum points that can be attained – 15
Others | Points |
Be “credentialled in a community language” | 5 |
Study either in regional Australia or a metropolitan area with a low population growth meeting Australian study requirement | 5 |
Professional year in Australia | 5 |
Possessing a State Nomination (190 visa) | 5 |
While 65 points is the minimum points needed to be eligible for permanent residency, you will be competing against thousands of other applicants who may have a higher score. So, to improve your chance of getting an invitation to apply for PR visa, you must try to score the maximum points.
Check your eligibility – Australia Immigration Points Calculator
You will receive an invitation to apply much earlier if you have the required points in the Australia points calculator. Within 5-8 months of applying, you should expect to receive your PR.
The best technique to obtain permanent residency in Australia is always determined by the visa system you wish to apply for. Each immigration program has its own set of eligibility criteria, terms, and selection criteria.
Furthermore, the government determines the levels of migration and the number of spaces available under each migration program.
Recent trends
The Skill Select rounds in 2021 saw the score requirement go up to 90 points especially for the Subclass 189 visa.
Here are the minimum points scores for which invitations were given for subclass 189 and 491 (family sponsored).
Visa subclass | Minimum points for Jul 21 | Minimum points for Oct 21 |
Subclass 189 | 80 | 90 |
Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) | 65 | 80 |
While a score of 65 points will greatly increase your chances of getting a PR visa, you should not assume this score is good enough. You should be able to score more points to improve your chances.
How many points are required for Australia PR in 2022?
Posted on December 2, 2021