Australia PR Points Calculator
Add up your skilled-migration points for subclass 189, 190, and 491. Enter age, PTE English, work experience, study, partner status, and NAATI — and see your total against the 65-point pass mark, live.
65 is only the floor to be invitable. In the 13 Nov 2025 round, cut-offs ran 65–100 by occupation — most professional occupations needed 85+. Use this tool to find where the cheapest points hide for Nepali applicants.
Quick answer: how many points do I need for Australian PR?
The pass mark for the skilled-migration points test (subclass 189, 190, 491) is 65 points — but that is only the floor to be invitable, not a guarantee. In the 13 November 2025 invitation round, cut-offs ran from 65 (some trades) to 100 (some medical specialists), with most professional occupations needing 85+. The biggest single lever for most Nepali applicants is English: Superior PTE (Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, Speaking 88) is worth 20 points versus 10 for Proficient — usually the cheapest 10 points on the table.
Calculate your Australia PR points
Answer each section — your total updates live against the 65-point minimum. Based on the Home Affairs points table for subclass 189, 190, and 491.
English language
+0 ptsBand: Competent (+0 pts)
Skilled employment
+0 ptsLast 10 years, 20+ hrs/week, nominated or closely related occupation. Combined employment points are capped at 20.
Claim your highest qualification only.
55 points
Below the 65-point floor — you cannot be invited yet.
- 189
- 55
- 190
- 60
- 491
- 70
Reaching Superior English (L69/R70/W85/S88) adds +10 points — usually the cheapest points on the table.
An invitation may require a score above 65. EOI valid 2 years; 60-day non-extendable window after invitation; every claim must be evidenced at visa application. Source: Home Affairs points table (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), verified 11 June 2026.
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The components Home Affairs uses for subclass 189, 190, and 491. All three streams share the same rows; only the nomination bonus differs.
| Component | Points |
|---|---|
| Age 25–32 (max age band) | 30 (18–24 & 33–39: 25 · 40–44: 15 · 45+: ineligible) |
| Superior English (L69/R70/W85/S88) | 20 (Proficient L58/R59/W69/S76: 10 · Competent: 0) |
| Overseas skilled employment (last 10 yrs) | 5 / 10 / 15 (3–5 / 5–8 / 8+ yrs) |
| Australian skilled employment | 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 (1–3 / 3–5 / 5–8 / 8+ yrs) |
| Combined employment cap | 20 (overseas + Australian capped at 20) |
| Highest qualification | 20 Doctorate · 15 Bachelor+ · 10 AU diploma/trade or recognised award |
| Specialist education (AU research Masters/PhD, STEM/ICT) | 10 |
| Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia | 5 (requires the Australian study requirement) |
| Professional Year (Accounting/ICT/Engineering) | 5 |
| NAATI community language ★ | 5 (Nepali qualifies) |
| Partner skills / partner Competent English | 10 (skilled partner or single/AU partner) · 5 (partner Competent English) |
| Nomination bonus | 189: 0 · 190: +5 · 491: +15 |
| Pass mark | 65 (floor to be invitable — not a guarantee) |
Source: Home Affairs points table (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), verified 11 June 2026. Every claim must be evidenced at visa application; always confirm against the official points table before lodging.
How the points test works
Australia's skilled-migration visas — subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) — are points-tested. You score points across age, English, work experience, qualifications, study, partner status, and a few extras, and the total decides whether you can be invited. The pass mark is 65 points, but 65 only makes you invitable — it is not a guarantee. Home Affairs invites the highest scorers first, occupation by occupation.
You start by submitting a free Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. It is valid for 2 years. If you are invited, you have a 60-day, non-extendable window to lodge the visa application, and every points claim must then be evidenced. The three streams share the same component rows; the difference is the nomination bonus: 189 adds 0, 190 adds 5, and 491 adds 15. So the same profile reaches a higher total under 491 — at the cost of a provisional, region-tied visa that converts to permanent residency via subclass 191 after 3 years.
For full pathway context — occupation lists, skills assessment authorities, and stream-by-stream detail — see the PTE for Australia hub, or the dedicated 189, 190, and 491 pages.
Where the points hide for Nepali applicants
NAATI CCL Nepali (+5). A NAATI credentialled community language is worth 5 points, and Nepali is an available CCL language. It is the single most overlooked +5 for Nepali applicants — a one-off test, no ongoing requirement, and points that stay with your EOI. If you are a native Nepali speaker, this is close to free points.
Partner Competent English (+5). If you have a partner as a co-applicant, they only need PTE Competent English (Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54) to add 5 points — far easier than the Superior level you might be chasing for yourself. If your partner has a skills assessment, Competent English, and is under 45, you get 10 instead.
The employment cap. Overseas and Australian skilled employment are scored separately, but the combined total is capped at 20 points. If you already have 15 from overseas work, an extra Australian year may not move your score — so a Nepali applicant is often better off lifting English to Superior (+10) than chasing one more year of experience that the cap may swallow.
English is the cheapest lever. Moving from Proficient to Superior PTE is +10 points, and it is the one component a coach can directly help you move — fast. That is why most of our Australia-bound students focus the points game on English first.
Australia PR points: common questions
What is the minimum points score for Australian PR?
The pass mark for the skilled-migration points test (subclass 189, 190, and 491) is 65 points. But 65 is only the floor to be invitable — it does not guarantee an invitation. In the 13 November 2025 round, cut-offs ran from 65 (general electricians) up to 100 (some medical specialists), with most professional occupations needing 85+.
Is 65 points enough to get invited?
Rarely, for professional occupations. 65 lets you lodge an Expression of Interest, but in the 13 November 2025 round most professional occupations needed 85+ to be invited; registered nurses and secondary school teachers cleared at 75; only some trades (e.g. general electricians) went as low as 65. Treat 65 as the entry ticket, not the finish line — aim well above it.
How do I add 10 points to my Australia PR score fastest?
For most Nepali applicants, English is the cheapest lever. Moving from Proficient (L58/R59/W69/S76, +10) to Superior PTE English (L69/R70/W85/S88, +20) adds 10 points and is usually faster and cheaper than gaining years of work experience or another degree. A NAATI credentialled community language is another +5 — Nepali is an available CCL language, and it is the most overlooked +5 for Nepali applicants.
Does the 491 visa’s +15 make it easier?
Yes, on points. Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) adds 15 nomination points versus 0 for subclass 189 and 5 for subclass 190, so the same profile reaches a much higher total under 491. The trade-off is that 491 is a provisional visa tied to a designated regional area; you transition to permanent residency via subclass 191 after holding it for at least 3 years.
How long is my Expression of Interest (EOI) valid?
A SkillSelect EOI is valid for 2 years and is free to submit. If you receive an invitation, you have a 60-day, non-extendable window to apply for the visa. Every points claim in your EOI must be evidenced at the visa application stage.
Is there an income requirement to move from 491 to 191 permanent residency?
No. There is no minimum income requirement for the subclass 491 → 191 pathway. The old AUD 53,900 minimum income threshold was removed. Instead, you must hold the 491 for at least 3 years and provide Australian Taxation Office (ATO) notices of assessment for 3 of the 5 income years of your eligible visa.
Keep going
Short on points? English is the fastest +10.
Moving from Proficient to Superior PTE (L69/R70/W85/S88) adds 10 points — usually the cheapest points on the table, and the one lever a coach can move. 1-on-1 mentorship with Smriti Simkhada (90/90 PTE Academic). Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane evening slots, time-zone flexible.