Last updated: April 2026
If you are targeting the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, the first thing to understand is that this is not a direct application process. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Australia’s skilled migration program through SkillSelect, receive a score based on the points test, and wait for an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The minimum score to lodge an EOI is 65 points, but 65 is the entry threshold, not the invitation threshold. Actual cut-offs in recent rounds have been significantly higher, varying by occupation and round size.
This guide breaks down every scoring category in the Subclass 189 points test, shows you exactly how to calculate your total, and explains what your score actually means for your chances of receiving an invitation. A full worked example is included after the calculation section.
How the Subclass 189 Points System Works
The Subclass 189 visa operates through Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) points-tested stream. Once you submit your EOI in SkillSelect, DHA ranks all active EOIs by points score. When an invitation round opens for your nominated occupation, DHA invites the highest-scoring applicants first, down to a cut-off score for that round. Applicants below the cut-off stay in the pool and may receive invitations in future rounds.
One detail that catches many applicants off guard: your points score is calculated at the time you receive an invitation, not when you submit your EOI. If your circumstances change, for example, you cross into a different age bracket or complete additional qualifications, your score is recalculated at the point of invitation. This works in your favour if you are actively improving your profile, but it can also work against you if your age moves you into a lower bracket while you wait.
What the November 2025 Invitation Round Tells Us
In the November 2025 Subclass 189 invitation round, DHA issued 10,000 invitations, one of the largest single-round releases in recent years. A large round does not mean a lower bar. Cut-off scores still vary by occupation, and high-demand fields continue to see cut-offs well above 65. The round size matters less than the cut-off for your specific nominated occupation. Check the SkillSelect invitation rounds results on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for occupation-level data on recent rounds.
How Points Are Calculated: Category by Category
The Subclass 189 points test has five core scoring categories, published by DHA on the Subclass 189 points table on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Work through each one against your own profile to build your total.
Age
Points are awarded based on your age at the time you receive your invitation to apply, not your age when you submit your EOI. The highest-scoring window is 25 to 32 years old.
| Age at Invitation | Points |
|---|---|
| 18 to 24 years | 25 |
| 25 to 32 years | 30 |
| 33 to 39 years | 25 |
| 40 to 44 years | 15 |
| 45 years and over | 0 |
If you are currently 32 and your EOI is sitting in the pool, be aware that crossing into the 33 to 39 bracket drops your score by 5 points. Timing your EOI submission with your age bracket in mind is one of the most commonly overlooked planning steps.
English Proficiency
English points are awarded across three levels: Competent, Proficient, and Superior. Accepted tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, and OET. For the full list of accepted tests and score equivalencies, see RACC’s guide on English test requirements for skilled migration.
| English Level | IELTS Score (all four bands) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Competent English | 6.0 | 0 |
| Proficient English | 7.0 | +10 |
| Superior English | 8.0 | +20 |
Achieving Superior English adds 20 points to your total. That is the single largest discretionary gain available to most applicants, worth more than a decade of additional overseas work experience.
Skilled Work Experience
Points for work experience are split between employment outside Australia and employment inside Australia. You can score in both categories simultaneously if you have worked in both locations in your nominated occupation.
Overseas work experience (outside Australia):
| Years of Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3 to 4 years | 5 |
| 5 to 7 years | 10 |
| 8 to 9 years | 15 |
| 10 years or more | 20 |
Australian work experience:
| Years of Experience in Australia | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 years | 5 |
| 3 to 4 years | 10 |
| 5 to 7 years | 15 |
| 8 to 9 years | 20 |
Work experience only counts if it falls within your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation, and must have occurred within the 10 years before your invitation date. Experience that predates that window, or that falls outside your nominated ANZSCO code, does not contribute to your score.
Educational Qualifications
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate (PhD) | 20 |
| Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree | 15 |
| Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
Your qualification must be recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) or its overseas equivalent, and must be relevant to your nominated occupation. Recognition is determined by your skills assessment authority, such as VETASSESS, Engineers Australia, or ACS, not by DHA directly.
Bonus Points Most Applicants Miss
Beyond the five core categories, the points test includes additional bonus points that a significant number of applicants fail to count when estimating their score. In a competitive round, 5 to 15 bonus points can be the difference between an invitation and another year in the pool. For a full strategy guide, see RACC’s article on how to gain extra points for PR eligibility in Australia.
Australian Study Requirement (+5 points)
If you completed at least two years of study at an Australian institution registered under CRICOS, you earn 5 additional points. The study must have been conducted in Australia (not by distance or offshore delivery), and the qualification must be at bachelor level or above.
Professional Year (+5 points)
Completing an approved Professional Year program in Australia adds 5 points. The program must be at least 12 months long and must have been completed within the 4 years before you receive your invitation. Professional Year is available for accountants, engineers, and IT professionals. If you are currently working in Australia and have not yet completed a Professional Year, this is worth investigating before you submit your EOI.
Partner Skills (+10 points)
If your partner is under 45 years old, has Competent English or above, holds a nominated skilled occupation, and has a positive skills assessment for that occupation, you receive 10 additional points. If you are a single applicant, or your partner holds Australian or New Zealand citizenship, you also receive 10 points under the same criterion.
Community Language: NAATI CCL (+5 points)
Holding a NAATI Credentialled Community Language (CCL) credential adds 5 points. This is available for a range of languages including Indonesian, and the qualification is generally achievable in 3 to 6 months of preparation, one of the most time-efficient bonus points available.
Want to know exactly where your profile sits before submitting your EOI? RACC Indonesia’s consultants can calculate your score, identify gaps, and recommend the fastest path to a competitive total. Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia.
Worked Example: Calculating a Real Applicant Profile
The following example applies every scoring category above to a single real-world profile to show how the total builds up in practice.
Profile: Reza, 28 years old | Electrician (ANZSCO 341111) | IELTS 7.0 in all bands | 5 years of overseas work experience | Bachelor’s degree | Single applicant
| Scoring Category | Detail | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 28 years old (25 to 32 bracket) | 30 |
| English proficiency | IELTS 7.0 — Proficient English | +10 |
| Overseas work experience | 5 to 7 years | +10 |
| Educational qualification | Bachelor’s degree | +15 |
| Relationship status | Single applicant | +10 |
| TOTAL | 75 points |
Reza’s score of 75 points is 10 points above the minimum EOI threshold. For many occupations this is a viable starting position. Whether Reza receives an invitation depends on the cut-off score for Electricians (ANZSCO 341111) in the specific round his EOI is active.
One practical observation: if Reza obtained a NAATI CCL credential, his score would reach 80 points, a meaningful jump that places him ahead of most 75-point EOIs in any round where the cut-off sits between 75 and 80. That is 5 extra points for roughly 3 to 6 months of language test preparation, and it is exactly the kind of strategic step most applicants skip.
What Your Total Score Means for Your Invitation
Your points total sets your queue position within your nominated occupation’s pool. DHA invites applicants in descending order of score within each occupation, each round. The table below is a general guide based on published SkillSelect invitation rounds results; actual outcomes depend on your specific occupation.
| Points Score | General Invitation Outlook |
|---|---|
| 65 to 70 | Eligible to submit EOI; invitation unlikely for most high-demand occupations |
| 70 to 79 | Competitive for occupations with smaller EOI pools |
| 80 to 84 | Competitive across most occupations; wait time varies by round |
| 85 to 89 | Strong position; invited in most rounds for most nominated occupations |
| 90 and above | High priority; typically invited within one to two rounds |
Two applicants with the same score can face very different waiting times if they have nominated different occupations. An occupation with a large EOI pool and a smaller DHA allocation can produce cut-offs above 85, even for otherwise well-qualified applicants. Before submitting your EOI, check recent round data for your specific ANZSCO code. To understand the full eligibility picture before calculating your score, see RACC’s guide on who qualifies for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa.
How RACC Indonesia Can Help You
Calculating your points on paper and calculating them correctly for your specific profile are two different things. Skills assessment outcomes, English test validity windows, work experience counting rules, and the ANZSCO classification of your role all affect your final score in ways that are easy to misread without expert review.
RACC Indonesia’s consultants are MARA-registered migration agents who specialise in the Subclass 189 and General Skilled Migration pathways. RACC can verify your points score, identify bonus categories you may have missed, advise on whether your profile is ready to submit an EOI now, and map out the steps that would improve your invitation timing if your current score falls short.
Important: The information in this article reflects DHA’s published points table and is general in nature. Individual scores depend on specific circumstances, skills assessment outcomes, and visa conditions at the time of application. Speak with a registered migration agent for advice tailored to your situation.
Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia to have your Subclass 189 points calculated by a registered expert.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many points do you need for the Subclass 189 visa?
The minimum score to submit an Expression of Interest for the Subclass 189 visa is 65 points, per immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. However, 65 points is the eligibility floor, not the invitation threshold. Actual invitation cut-offs in recent rounds have ranged from 65 to over 90, depending on the occupation and the number of competing EOIs in the pool for that round.
What is the cut-off score for the 189 invitation round?
There is no single fixed cut-off for the Subclass 189 visa. DHA sets occupation-specific cut-offs each round based on the active EOI pool. The November 2025 round issued 10,000 invitations across multiple occupations, with cut-offs varying by field. Check the SkillSelect invitation rounds page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for occupation-level results from recent rounds.
How do I calculate my English proficiency points for the 189 visa?
English points on the Subclass 189 points test are awarded at three levels: 0 points for Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in all bands), 10 points for Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 in all bands), and 20 points for Superior English (IELTS 8.0 in all bands). Accepted tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, and OET.
Can I increase my Subclass 189 points after submitting my EOI?
Yes. Your score is calculated at the time of invitation, not when you submit your EOI. If your circumstances improve, for example, you complete a Professional Year, achieve a higher English score, or gain additional work experience, you can update your EOI in SkillSelect to reflect the new total. Updating your EOI does not reset your position in the pool.
Does my partner’s skills give me extra points on the 189 visa?
Yes. If your partner is under 45, has Competent English or above, holds a nominated skilled occupation, and has a positive skills assessment, you receive 10 additional points under the partner skills category. Single applicants and those whose partner is an Australian or New Zealand citizen also receive 10 points under the same criterion; the outcome is the same regardless of relationship status.
How often does Australia hold Subclass 189 invitation rounds?
DHA holds Subclass 189 invitation rounds regularly throughout the migration year, which runs from July to June. Round frequency and size vary. The November 2025 round issued 10,000 invitations. Full round results, including invitation numbers and the lowest score invited per occupation, are published on the SkillSelect invitation rounds page at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au after each round closes.
