Australia PR Points Calculator
Subclass 189 · 190 · 491 · Based on current DIBP points schedule · Not official
Select the option that matches your situation in each category. Your points total and visa pathway comparison update live below.
Age is assessed at time of invitation, not when you lodge your EOI.
Competent English is the minimum for eligibility. Superior English adds the most points of any single category.
Must be in your nominated ANZSCO occupation or a closely related one. Requires a positive skills assessment.
Australian work experience attracts higher points than overseas experience. Work done on a student visa does not count.
Qualification must be relevant to your nominated occupation and assessed by the relevant assessing authority.
A single applicant (unmarried) also gets 10 bonus points under this category.
Must be completed in Australia on a student visa. Online or offshore study does not qualify.
Only available if you also claimed Australian study (Step 7). Regional is defined by DIBP; excludes Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Requires NAATI credentialing in an eligible language. Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa are potentially eligible. Verify with NAATI.
Adds 5 points. This is the nomination bonus for 190. You cannot count both 190 and 491 nomination.
Adds 15 points. A significant boost. Subclass 491 is provisional (not immediate PR). You must not have selected a 190 nomination above.
How the Australia PR points test works
Australia’s skilled migration system uses a points-based selection system called SkillSelect. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) into a pool. DIBP then issues invitations to apply based on your points score, your occupation, and the visa subclass you are targeting. Higher scores get invited first.
The points schedule is fixed. Every applicant in the world is scored on the same scale:
Minimum to submit EOI: 65 points
Typical invitation threshold (189): 80 to 90+ points
Typical invitation threshold (190): 65 to 80 points
Typical invitation threshold (491): 65 to 75 points
The thresholds above are indicative based on recent rounds. They shift depending on how many EOIs are in the pool for each occupation and how many places are allocated in each program year.
Why Nigerians target Australian PR
Australia’s skilled migration programme actively seeks professionals in occupations that are in shortage. Information technology, engineering, nursing, accounting, and construction management consistently appear on the skilled occupation lists. These are fields where many Nigerian professionals, especially those who have studied abroad or worked in multinational companies, can build competitive scores.
Beyond the points test, Australia’s appeal for Nigerians includes the post-study work pathway (the Subclass 485 graduate visa), a functioning PR route that does not require employer sponsorship, and an English-speaking environment. The combination of a clear skills-based pathway and a large existing Nigerian-Australian diaspora makes it a realistic long-term destination.
The three skilled migration visa subclasses
Subclass 189: Skilled Independent
No employer or state sponsor required. You invite yourself by submitting an EOI and waiting to be invited based on your score. It grants permanent residency from grant date. It is the most competitive stream because everyone in the pool is competing without any nomination advantage. In recent rounds, competitive occupations have required 85 to 90+ points. Less competitive occupations can still see invitations at lower scores.
Subclass 190: Skilled Nominated
Requires a state or territory nomination. Nomination adds 5 points to your score. It is permanent from grant. Each state has its own occupation list and criteria. Some states have lower cut-offs than the 189 national pool. If your score is in the 65 to 80 range, targeting a state nomination is a more realistic pathway than the 189 independent stream.
Subclass 491: Skilled Regional (Provisional)
Requires a state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a regional area. Adds 15 points to your base score. It is a provisional visa, not immediate PR. You must live and work in a regional area for 3 years, then apply for the Subclass 191 (permanent regional) visa. If your base score is low (65 to 75), the 491 pathway with the 15-point nomination bonus can get you invited even while your 189 score is too low to compete.
Table of Truth: sample profiles and estimated scores
| Profile | Est. Points | Likely pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Age 28, IELTS 8.0+, 5 yrs overseas exp, Bachelor’s, single, no Australia exp | 80 | Competitive for 189 in some occupations; strong for 190 |
| Age 30, IELTS 7.0, 3 yrs overseas exp, Bachelor’s, skilled partner, Australian study | 80 | Solid 190 candidate; borderline 189 in many occupations |
| Age 35, IELTS 8.0+, 8 yrs overseas exp, PhD, single, 1 yr Australian work | 100 | Very competitive for 189 in most occupations |
| Age 26, IELTS 6.5 (Competent), 0 exp, Bachelor’s, single, no bonuses | 55 | Below EOI minimum. Needs English improvement and work experience first. |
| Age 29, IELTS 7.0, 2 yrs overseas exp, Bachelor’s, single, 491 nomination | 80 | Very competitive for 491; can aim for 190 while building experience |
Realistic scenarios for Nigerian applicants
Scenario 1: Software engineer, 4 years experience, Lagos to Sydney
Seun is 29, works as a software developer at a Lagos-based fintech. IELTS 7.5 in all bands (Proficient, 10 points). 4 years overseas experience (below the 5-year threshold, so 0 points for overseas work). Bachelor of Computer Science (15 points). Single (10 points). Age 29 (30 points). Total: 65 points. Seun cannot get an invitation at this score for Subclass 189. His best move is to either retake IELTS for Superior (adds 10 points), push his overseas experience past 5 years (adds 5 points), or apply for a 491 state nomination (adds 15 points). With IELTS 8.0+ and 5 years experience, Seun reaches 80 points and becomes competitive.
Scenario 2: Nurse, studied in Australia, regional location
Kemi is 27, completed her Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Wollongong (regional). IELTS 7.0 each band (Proficient, 10 points). 0 Australian work experience. 0 overseas work experience. Bachelor’s degree (15 points). Australian study (5 points). Regional study (5 points). Single (10 points). Age 27 (30 points). Total: 75 points. With a 190 state nomination (adds 5) she is at 80 and very competitive for nursing, which is on virtually every state nomination list. With a 491 nomination (adds 15) she is at 90 and extremely competitive.
Scenario 3: Accountant, spouse with skills, mid-career
Femi is 36, a CPA-qualified accountant with 9 years of experience in Nigeria. IELTS 8.0+ (Superior, 20 points). 9 years overseas work (15 points). Bachelor’s degree (15 points). Age 36 (25 points). Skilled partner with positive skills assessment and vocational English (10 points). Total base: 85 points. Femi is competitive for Subclass 189 in accounting, which typically sees invitations at 80 to 90 in most rounds. His score is strong but accounting is competitive. Adding a state nomination (190) brings him to 90 and makes him very likely to receive an invitation.
How to increase your points score
If your current score is below 65 or you want to improve before submitting an EOI, here are the highest-impact levers. Improving English from Proficient (10 points) to Superior (20 points) adds 10 points in one test. This is often the fastest and highest-return action for applicants already at IELTS 7.0. Accumulating overseas work experience to cross the 5-year or 8-year threshold adds 5 to 10 more points. Securing a 491 regional nomination adds 15 points and can transform a non-competitive score into a very competitive one. None of these are quick, but they are concrete and within your control.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum score for Australian PR?
The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points. To actually receive an invitation, you typically need 80+ for Subclass 189, 65 to 80 for Subclass 190 (depending on state and occupation), and 65 to 75 for Subclass 491. Invitation cut-offs are published after each round on the DIBP SkillSelect website.
How many points is a PhD worth in Australia PR?
A PhD or Doctorate is worth 20 points under the educational qualifications category. A Bachelor’s degree is worth 15 points and a diploma or trade qualification is worth 10. Only your highest relevant qualification counts.
Do community languages like Yoruba or Igbo qualify for points?
They may. The 5 bonus points for community language require NAATI credentialing in an eligible language. Yoruba and Igbo are listed as potentially eligible languages for NAATI credentialing. You need to check the current NAATI eligible languages list and undergo the credentialing test. It is a realistic bonus point for Nigerians who speak these languages fluently.
Does my skill assessment expire?
Most skills assessments are valid for 3 years. If your assessment expires before you receive an invitation, you may need to apply for reassessment. Submit your EOI while your assessment is still valid and monitor its expiry date closely.
