Every points-tested route to Australian permanent residence starts with the same score. Knowing exactly how that score is built, and which points you can still add, is what separates a realistic plan from a long wait in the pool. This guide sets out every category, works through three Indian applicant profiles, and shows where the extra points usually come from.
By Meeras Resource | Published 21 October 2026 | Last reviewed 21 October 2026
Key Takeaways
- The pass mark for the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas is 65 points. It allows you to submit an Expression of Interest. It does not predict an invitation.
- Age, English, skilled employment and qualifications usually make up most of an applicant’s score. Age peaks at 30 points between 25 and 32.
- English is the largest points swing you can control: Superior English adds 20 points, Proficient adds 10 and Competent adds none.
- State nomination adds 5 points for the 190, and regional nomination or family sponsorship adds 15 points for the 491.
- The Government has confirmed a reform of the points test, but as of 17 October 2026 no start date or new point values have been published. The current table still applies.
The short answer
To reach 65 points, most Indian applicants combine age points, a bachelor’s degree worth 15 points and some assessed work experience, then close the gap with a higher English score. To reach 80 or 90, the usual levers are Superior English, more years of skilled employment, partner points and state or regional nomination. Points are counted at the time you are invited, so your age, test results and experience on that date are what matter.
This guide supports our main article on Australia PR from India, which explains the routes these points apply to.
The Australian points table, category by category
| Category | Criterion | Points |
| Age | 18 to 24 | 25 |
| Age | 25 to 32 | 30 |
| Age | 33 to 39 | 25 |
| Age | 40 to 44 | 15 |
| English | Competent | 0 |
| English | Proficient | 10 |
| English | Superior | 20 |
| Skilled employment outside Australia (last 10 years) | 3 to 4 years / 5 to 7 years / 8 or more years | 5 / 10 / 15 |
| Skilled employment in Australia (last 10 years) | 1 to 2 years / 3 to 4 years / 5 to 7 years / 8 or more years | 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 |
| Combined employment cap | Overseas and Australian employment together | Maximum 20 |
| Qualifications | Doctorate | 20 |
| Qualifications | Bachelor’s or master’s degree | 15 |
| Qualifications | Diploma or trade qualification, or an award recognised by your assessing authority | 10 |
| Specialist education | Master’s by research or doctorate from an Australian institution in an eligible field | 10 |
| Australian study requirement | At least two years of study in Australia | 5 |
| Regional study | Study in a designated regional area of Australia | 5 |
| Professional Year | Completed in Australia in an eligible field | 5 |
| Credentialled community language | Accredited by NAATI | 5 |
| Partner | Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Partner | Partner has a positive skills assessment, Competent English and is under 45 | 10 |
| Partner | Partner has Competent English only | 5 |
| Nomination | State or territory nomination for the subclass 190 | 5 |
| Nomination | Regional nomination or eligible family sponsorship for the subclass 491 | 15 |
A master’s degree from India earns the same 15 points as a bachelor’s degree. Only a doctorate earns 20. Many applicants assume a postgraduate degree adds extra points and plan around a score they do not have.
Three worked examples
The examples below use typical Indian applicant profiles. Employment points assume the assessing authority accepts the years as skilled, which is not always the case, as explained further down.
Example 1: software engineer, age 29, single
| Category | Detail | Points |
| Age | 29 | 30 |
| English | Proficient | 10 |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree | 15 |
| Overseas employment | 5 years assessed as skilled | 10 |
| Partner | Single | 10 |
| Total | 75 |
Moving from Proficient to Superior English takes this profile to 85 for the subclass 189, 90 with state nomination for the 190, or 100 with regional nomination for the 491.
Example 2: civil engineer, age 35, married
| Category | Detail | Points |
| Age | 35 | 25 |
| English | Proficient | 10 |
| Qualification | Master’s degree | 15 |
| Overseas employment | 4 years assessed as skilled | 5 |
| Partner | Partner with Competent English | 5 |
| Total | 60 |
At 60 this applicant cannot yet submit an Expression of Interest. State nomination for the 190 would add 5 points and reach 65, and regional nomination for the 491 would add 15 points and reach 75. Superior English would add another 10 points on any route. One more year of assessed experience, taking the total to five years, would add another 5.
Example 3: accountant, age 26, married to a skilled partner
| Category | Detail | Points |
| Age | 26 | 30 |
| English | Superior | 20 |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree | 15 |
| Overseas employment | 3 years assessed as skilled | 5 |
| Partner | Partner with a positive skills assessment and Competent English | 10 |
| Total | 80 |
This profile reaches 80 for the 189 and 85 for the 190. Accounting is a high-demand occupation, so the invitation score can still sit above this. Checking recent invitation results for the occupation is essential before relying on any total.
Where extra points usually come from
- English. Moving from Proficient to Superior adds 10 points, and from Competent to Proficient adds 10 more. For most applicants this is the fastest gain. See the exact scores you need in our guide to the PTE score for Australia PR.
- Nomination. State nomination adds 5 points and regional nomination adds 15. Our comparison of the 189 vs 190 vs 491 visa explains what each nomination commits you to.
- Partner points. A partner who obtains a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation, has Competent English and is under 45 adds 10 points. A partner with Competent English alone adds 5.
- Experience thresholds. Points rise at 3, 5 and 8 years of overseas skilled employment. If you are a few months short of the next band, waiting can add 5 points.
- Community language. A NAATI credentialled community language test can add 5 points for applicants fluent in an eligible language.
Why your employment points may be lower than you expect
Employment only counts if your assessing authority accepts it as skilled and closely related to your nominated occupation. Some authorities treat part of your early career as the period needed to reach a skilled level, and count only experience after that date. Your skills assessment outcome letter states which period is accepted, and that date, not your own count, is what you should use when claiming points.
Reference letters also matter. A letter that confirms dates but does not describe duties can lead to a period being discounted. Our guide to preparing documents that hold up explains how to build that evidence.
Points test reform: what is confirmed
The 2026-27 Budget confirmed that the Government will reform the points test, and the Minister for Home Affairs has said the redesign has been completed with Treasury, including giving housing trades points equivalent to a university qualification. As of 17 October 2026, no start date and no new point values have been published, and parts of the reform depend on legislation. Until a change is formally announced, the table above is the one that applies.
For applicants close to an age threshold, this matters. Waiting for a reform that has no confirmed date can cost 5 or more age points, which are the one category you cannot recover.
Common mistakes when calculating Australia PR points
- Claiming a master’s degree as extra points. It earns 15, the same as a bachelor’s degree.
- Counting all employment, not assessed employment. Use the dates in your skills assessment outcome.
- Forgetting the 20-point employment cap. Overseas and Australian employment together cannot exceed 20 points.
- Ignoring the age date. Age is measured at invitation. Turning 33 or 40 while waiting in the pool reduces your score.
- Treating 65 as the target. It is the minimum. Our comparison of skilled migration points systems explains why Australia’s ranked queue rewards scores well above the pass mark.
How Meeras Resource supports points assessment
We calculate your score using the evidence your assessing authority is likely to accept, not the most optimistic reading of your profile. We identify which points are still available to you, whether through English, partner points, nomination or timing, and we tell you which route your score is realistic for. Where 65 points is not reachable on any route, we say so and look at alternatives before any fee is spent on assessments.
We provide consultancy, documentation and preparation support. Invitations and visa decisions rest solely with the Department of Home Affairs and the relevant state or territory. Our Australia page outlines the routes we advise on, and you can request a profile evaluation through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for Australia PR?
The pass mark is 65 points for the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. It allows you to submit an Expression of Interest. Invitations go to the highest-ranked applicants in each occupation, so the score that earns an invitation is often higher than 65.
How many points does a master’s degree give for Australia PR?
A master’s degree earns 15 points, the same as a bachelor’s degree. A doctorate earns 20 points. A master’s by research or doctorate from an Australian institution in an eligible field can add a further 10 points for specialist education.
How many points do I get for PTE or IELTS?
Competent English earns 0 points, Proficient English earns 10 points and Superior English earns 20 points. The exact test scores needed for each level depend on the test and the date it was taken.
Do I get points for my spouse?
Yes. A partner with a positive skills assessment, Competent English and under 45 adds 10 points. A partner with Competent English only adds 5 points. Single applicants, and applicants whose partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, receive 10 points.
Has the Australian points test changed in 2026?
A reform has been confirmed, but as of 17 October 2026 no start date or new point values have been published. The current points table still applies until a change is formally announced.
About Meeras Resource
Meeras Resource Pvt. Ltd. is a career and immigration consultancy established in 2022 and based at 913, 9th Floor, Hemkunt Chambers, 89 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019. We advise individuals on overseas study, work and migration routes, and we support them through eligibility assessment, documentation, application preparation and interview preparation. Our guidance is grounded in the published rules of the issuing authorities, and we tell clients what those rules mean for their specific profile, including when a route is not open to them.
