The Australian points test (SkillSelect) is the foundation of Australia's skilled migration system. It applies to the main independent visa streams (Subclass 189, 190, and 491) and determines your rank in the pool. Higher scores are invited to apply first.
Minimum threshold: 65 points
You need at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. Submitting an EOI at 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. In practice, recent invitation rounds for Subclass 189 (independent, no sponsor) have cut off at 85–95 points due to competition. Subclass 190 (state-nominated) and 491 (regional) often invite at lower scores.
The points table in full
Age
| Age at time of invitation | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–24 | 25 |
| 25–32 | 30 (maximum) |
| 33–39 | 25 |
| 40–44 | 15 |
| 45 and over | Not eligible |
For Israeli applicants: Age is one of the most impactful factors. Applicants aged 25–32 score the maximum 30 points. At 33–39, you score 25 (5 fewer). At 40+, the score drops to 15 or you become ineligible. If you're approaching an age boundary, the timing of your invitation matters significantly.
English language ability
| Level | Test requirement | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Competent English | IELTS 6.0+ in all bands | 0 (minimum to apply) |
| Proficient English | IELTS 7.0+ in all bands | 10 |
| Superior English | IELTS 8.0+ in all bands | 20 |
For Israeli applicants: Most educated Israeli professionals can achieve Proficient (7.0+) with preparation. Superior (8.0+) is harder but adds 10 more points. This is one of the easiest areas to improve through preparation and retesting.
Skilled employment experience
Overseas (outside Australia)
| Years of experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3–4 years | 5 |
| 5–7 years | 10 |
| 8 years or more | 15 |
Experience must be in the same occupation or closely related to the occupation nominated in your visa.
Australian
| Years of experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1–2 years | 5 |
| 3–4 years | 10 |
| 5–7 years | 15 |
| 8 years or more | 20 |
Australian work experience is worth significantly more than overseas experience.
Educational qualifications
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate (PhD), Australian institution | 20 |
| Doctorate (PhD), other institution recognized by Australia | 20 |
| Bachelor's degree, bachelor honours, master's degree | 15 |
| Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
Israeli degrees: Israeli bachelor's and master's degrees from major Israeli universities (Technion, Tel Aviv, Hebrew University, Ben-Gurion, Bar-Ilan, Haifa) are assessed as equivalent to Australian bachelor's/master's degrees, typically earning 15 points.
Australian study requirement
| Study | Points |
|---|---|
| At least 2 academic years of study resulting in an eligible Australian degree | 5 |
| At least 1 academic year of study in regional Australia resulting in an eligible degree | 5 |
Specialist education qualification
| Points | |
|---|---|
| Degree in STEM, ICT, or a science field | 10 |
Australian professional year
| Points | |
|---|---|
| Completed a Professional Year in Australia in accounting, computing, or engineering | 5 |
Credentialled community language
| Points | |
|---|---|
| NAATI certification in a language other than English | 5 |
Hebrew NAATI: NAATI offers credentialing for Hebrew translators. Israeli applicants who pass the NAATI credentialling exam earn 5 extra points. This is a realistic way to add points.
Partner skills
| Points | |
|---|---|
| Partner/spouse has skills assessed and Competent English | 10 |
| Partner/spouse is an Australian citizen or PR | 10 |
| Applicant has no accompanying partner | 10 |
Note: If your partner has a positive skills assessment and meets the English requirement, you get 10 points. If you are applying without a partner, you also get 10 points. If your partner accompanies you but does not have a skills assessment, you get 0 points.
State/territory nomination (Subclass 190)
Getting nominated by a state or territory government adds 5 points and restricts you to live and work in that state for the first 2 years.
Regional migration (Subclass 491)
Nomination by a state/territory for regional areas adds 15 points in the Subclass 491 points test.
Typical Israeli applicant score calculation
30-year-old Israeli with:
- Master's degree in CS from Technion
- 8 years of software engineering experience
- IELTS 7.5 (Proficient)
- NAATI Hebrew certification
- No accompanying partner
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age (30) | 30 |
| English (Proficient) | 10 |
| Overseas experience (8 yrs) | 15 |
| Education (Master's) | 15 |
| STEM degree bonus | 10 |
| NAATI Hebrew | 5 |
| No partner | 10 |
| Total | 95 |
95 points would be competitive for recent Subclass 189 rounds (cutoffs of 85–95).
This content is for informational purposes only.