Australian Skilled Migration Points Calculator
Calculate your PR points for visa 189, 190, and 491. See if your score is competitive based on real 2025 invitation rounds. Includes top improvement actions for your specific profile.
Age is assessed at the time you receive your invitation, not when you submit your EOI. If your birthday would drop you to a lower bracket before invitation, factor that in.
Every individual IELTS band must meet the minimum. IELTS scores unchanged post-Aug 2025. PTE has new component-specific thresholds from Aug 7 2025. One weak band fails the test regardless of overall score.
Claim your single highest qualification. Multiple degrees do not stack. A Nigerian BSc from a recognised university qualifies for 15 points.
Must be post-qualification, at least 20 hrs/week, paid, in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related one.
Combined overseas + Australian work experience is capped at 20 points total. The calculator applies this cap automatically.
For partner skills points: all three conditions (positive skills assessment + under 45 + Competent English) must be simultaneously met.
Do not tick both 190 and 491 nominations. They are separate visa pathways. Tick the one that applies to your planned visa.
Your score appears here
Fill in the fields on the left. Your score, competitiveness level, and improvement actions update instantly.
How the Points Calculator Works
The Australian skilled migration points test scores you across six main factors plus bonus items. The total determines whether you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and how competitive your position is in the SkillSelect pool. The formula:
+ min(OverseasWork + AustWork, 20)
+ Partner + ProfYear + NAATI + RegionalStudy + Nomination
The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points. But 65 is just the entry floor. In the November 2025 invitation round, 10,000 subclass 189 invitations were issued with cutoffs ranging from 65 points for trades roles to 110+ for some competitive professional occupations. For engineering, ICT, and business roles, 85 to 95+ was the realistic floor.
2025-26 Invitation Round Data: What Scores Are Actually Competitive?
The August and November 2025 SkillSelect rounds give the best current picture. Based on actual invitation data:
| Occupation Group | Typical 189 Cutoff | 491 Cutoff Range | Competition Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction trades (carpenters, plumbers, electricians) | 65 to 75 | 65 to 95 | Moderate (genuine shortage) |
| Healthcare (nurses, allied health, pharmacists) | 75 to 85 | 65 to 80 | High but accessible |
| Education (teachers, early childhood) | 80 to 90 | 70 to 85 | High |
| Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical) | 85 to 95 | 75 to 90 | Very high |
| ICT (software engineers, analysts, cyber) | 90 to 100+ | 80 to 95 | Extremely competitive |
| Accounting, finance, marketing | 90 to 110+ | 85 to 100+ | Saturated, very high |
| Science, research, niche technical | 65 to 100 (varies widely) | 65 to 95 | Occupation-specific |
Based on SkillSelect August 2025 and November 2025 invitation rounds. Cutoffs change each round depending on EOI pool volume and government planning priorities.
The Highest-Return Score Improvements for Nigerian Applicants
Most Nigerian applicants score well on qualifications and work experience but are stuck at Proficient English (IELTS 7) rather than Superior (IELTS 8). That single gap costs 10 points. Here is a ranked list of improvements by return on effort:
1. English: Proficient to Superior (IELTS 7 to 8) = +10 points. Retake one IELTS band if needed using One Skill Retake.
2. Partner skills assessment: If your spouse has a qualifying occupation, +5 difference (10 vs 5 for single).
3. Professional Year: +5 points AND Australian work experience simultaneously.
4. Regional nomination (491): +15 points instantly via state nomination.
5. NAATI credential: +5 points; achievable for Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa speakers with language training.
6. Additional Australian work experience: each bracket crossed = +5 to +10 points.
Why 65 Points Is Not Enough for Most Nigerians
The 65-point minimum allows you to submit an EOI. It does not mean you will receive an invitation. For nurses, the typical 189 cutoff is 75 to 85. For software engineers, it is 90 to 100+. The gap between “eligible” and “competitive” is the real planning challenge.
The 190 state-nominated and 491 regional pathways have lower effective cutoffs because the state nomination adds 5 or 15 bonus points on top. A software engineer at 80 base points who cannot get a 189 invitation at 95 can receive a 190 state nomination in a state that is actively seeking ICT professionals, with an effective score of 85 after the +5 nomination bonus.
Realistic Scenarios for Nigerian Applicants
Scenario 1: Nurse, 29, IELTS 7, BSc, 4 yrs overseas, single
Age (30) + English (10) + Qual (15) + Overseas work 3-4 yrs (5) + Single (5) = 65 points. At 65 she can submit an EOI but is at the floor for most nursing occupations. Her highest-return next steps: resit IELTS targeting 8 in each band (+10 to 75), or get her spouse a skills assessment (+5 to 70 if not single). At 75 she is competitive for state nomination in most states. At 80+ she becomes competitive for the 189 independent pathway for nursing.
Scenario 2: Software engineer, 28, IELTS 8, BSc, 6 yrs overseas, single
Age (30) + English (20) + Qual (15) + Overseas work 5-7 yrs (10) + Single (5) = 80 points. Good foundation. But ICT roles require 90+ for most 189 rounds. His improvement path: partner skills assessment (+5 to 85 if spouse qualifies), Professional Year (+5 to 85 or 90), or consider state nomination (SA, QLD, TAS) where ICT 190 or 491 invitations occur at lower effective scores. At 85 base + 5 state = 90 effective, which is realistic for several state-nominated ICT pathways.
Scenario 3: Civil engineer, 36, IELTS 7, PhD, 9 yrs overseas, married with child
Age (25) + English (10) + Qual (20, PhD) + Overseas work capped at 15 (combined cap 20, no AU experience) + Partner no assessment (0) = 70 points. His key improvements: Superior English (+10 to 80); partner skills assessment (+5 difference if spouse qualifies and is not on visa = 75 total with partner assessment vs 70 without). At 80 he is competitive for engineering in several states, particularly WA and QLD where civil engineering demand is high. Regional 491 would add +15 for an effective 95.
