You can receive up to 30 points based on the age you were on the day you were invited to apply. The table below sets out the points available.
You can receive up to 20 points based on your English language ability.
You must be able to demonstrate that you have met the Competent English requirement at time of visa invitation for all Points Tested visas.
You are also eligible to receive points for proficient or superior English language ability.
As specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship the only language tests that can be currently used to demonstrate English language ability for a Points Based Skilled Migration visa is the:
There are two IELTS tests—an academic test and a general training test. You need to take only the general test unless otherwise advised by your skills assessing authority.
The IELTS band score for the four components must be demonstrated in one IELTS test. The deparment will not accept separate IELTS tests for each component.
IELTS examinations are available worldwide and more information is available on website.
The Occupational English Test (OET) is a language test for health practitioners who have qualified to practice in one country and wish to gain provisional registration to practice their profession in another which has an English-speaking context.
If you are a health practitioner, you have the option of providing results from an OET or IELTS test as evidence of your English language ability.
OET examinations are available worldwide and more information is available on their website.
The table below sets out the points available for each language level and the evidence you must provide with your application.
You must provide one of the following:
You must provide one of the following:
You must provide one of the following:
You can receive up to 20 points for having had a combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment in the last 10 years at the time you are invited to apply.
To receive these points, you must have worked at least 20 hours of paid work per week and in your nominated skilled occupation, or a closely related occupation. This applies to employment in and/or outside Australia.
The relevant authority that assessed your skills may also provide an opinion on your skilled employment experience. The department will consider this opinion when awarding points.
When determining whether your skilled employment is closely related to your nominated occupation, the department will refer to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations.
The tables below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.
You can receive up to 20 points based on your educational qualifications at the time you were invited to apply.
Points can be awarded for only one of your recognised qualifications. For example, if you have completed a Bachelor degree and a Doctorate degree, you can receive points for the Doctorate degree only.
To receive points for a Masters degree, you must also have a Bachelor degree, or the Masters degree must be considered as at least comparable to Bachelor level at Australian standards.
The authority that conducts your skills assessment will determine whether any qualifications earned outside Australia are of a standard that is comparable to the relevant Australian qualification.
You may be able to receive points for a qualification that is not related to your nominated occupation. If the authority that conducts your skills assessment cannot give you an opinion about this qualification, contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application. The documents you provide to the department will be the same documents you provide to the assessing authority.
You should check with your assessing authority about documents that have to be provided to them to enable them to provide an opinion about qualifications and/or skilled employment. You must provide the department with copies of all the documents that you provide to assessing authorities.
You can receive 5 points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement. This means you have been awarded one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications through a course or courses taken at an Australian educational institution.
Your course or courses must:
Two academic years of study is defined as 92 weeks of study in a course or courses registered by CRICOS. CRICOS determines a standard duration (number of weeks) for each course.
You can take longer to complete course work, but you will be credited with the number of weeks that CRICOS determines as a standard duration. For example, if it takes you 92 weeks to successfully complete a course that CRICOS says should take 78 weeks, you will receive credit for 78 weeks only.
If you are given credit for prior learning, you may be exempt from taking a relevant course. An exempted course cannot be counted towards the Australian study requirement. Credit cannot be counted on the basis of study undertaken either overseas or within Australia in a non- CRICOS registered course.
If you fall short of the 92 weeks of study because of an exemption, you have several options. You can:
The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.
Points evidence required
You must provide evidence you completed the course of courses. This evidence must be:
You can receive five points for credentialled community language at the time you are invited to apply. Credentialled community language is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
You can receive five points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement to have lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area at the time you are invited to apply.
There is a list of postcodes that define regional and low population growth metropolitan areas of Australia.
You must provide evidence that you lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area. This evidence can be items such as:
You can receive five points if your partner meets requirements at the time you are invited to apply relating to:
You cannot receive these points if your partner is not included on your visa application, or if they are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
You must provide evidence that your partner meets the requirements. This evidence must be:
You can receive five points for having completed a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply.
Your Professional Year course must have been in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. The course must have lasted for a period totalling at least 12 months.
Qualifying Professional Year courses are offered by:
