Australia PR Points Check: How SkillSelect Scores Your EOI

For the skilled independent (subclass 189), skilled nominated (subclass 190) and skilled work regional (provisional) (subclass 491) visas, you must first submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be invited to apply. The points threshold you need to meet or exceed is 65, and points are awarded for factors including age, work experience, educational qualifications and English language proficiency. There is no official public tool that gives a guaranteed final score: SkillSelect will give you an indicative points score based on the information you enter, and meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation. You can calculate your potential points score with the department’s points calculator, but you should verify the final score against the requirements of the specific visa subclass you are applying for.

What the points test is for

The subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas are all points-based. This means that to be invited to apply for one of these visas, you need to meet or exceed the points threshold of 65. As you work through your EOI, you will be asked for information about your personal, educational and professional background, and this information contributes to your points score.

Points are awarded for factors such as age, work experience, educational qualifications and English language proficiency. The department’s points calculator lets you estimate your potential score before you submit an EOI, and when you complete your EOI, SkillSelect gives you an indicative points score based on the information you have entered.

It is important to note that even if you meet the minimum points threshold, there is no guarantee you will receive an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.

How to check your points

The department provides a points calculator that you can use to calculate your potential points score. You should use this before you submit an EOI, and it is also useful if you are unsure whether you meet the threshold.

If you do not meet the points score and you have a partner, use the points calculator to see if they will meet or exceed the minimum points threshold. If they do, the department suggests they submit an EOI as the primary applicant and include you as a family member.

When you complete your EOI in SkillSelect, the system will give you an indicative points score based on the information you have entered. This is not a final or guaranteed score, and it does not guarantee an invitation.

The EOI process step by step

Before you can be invited to apply for a subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa, you must submit an EOI. The process is as follows:

1. Start your EOI and save your personal information. The department will send you an email with your EOI ID and login details.
2. Add all required information, including the results of your English test and skills assessment as you receive them. Save your EOI at each step until it is complete.
3. Submit your completed EOI. If your circumstances change, you can update your EOI any time before receiving an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.
4. Receive an invitation to apply for a visa. If you are invited, you have 60 days from the date of the invitation to complete and submit a visa application online.
5. Complete your visa application and upload your documents through ImmiAccount. Make sure you get your application in on time so you do not miss out.

Before you begin: two checks to make

Before you start your EOI, the department advises you to check two things.

First, check that your occupation is on a skilled occupation list. The skilled occupation lists are the lists of occupations that are in high demand in Australia, and different skills lists apply to different visas.

Second, check that you will meet or exceed the points threshold of 65. As you work through your EOI, you will be asked for information about your personal, educational and professional background, and this information contributes to your points score.

English test points and the points test

English language proficiency is one of the factors that contributes to your points score. The department requires evidence of English language proficiency for some Australian visa applications, and it gets this evidence from several English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes.

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the department accepts test scores from the following tests, undertaken at a secure test centre:

• Cambridge C1 Advanced Test (C1 Advanced)
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General)
• International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic), including One Skill Retake (OSR)
• International English Language Testing System General Training (IELTS General Training), including One Skill Retake (OSR)
• LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic)
• Michigan English Test (MET), including Single Section Retake (SSR)
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)

For TOEFL iBT, you must select ‘Taking TOEFL for Australia’ when registering for your test to ensure your result is valid for Australian visa purposes. Results not registered under this pathway may not be accepted.

For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the department still accepts test scores from the following tests, up until certain timeframes, undertaken at a secure test centre:

• Cambridge English (CAE), also known as C1 Advanced
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS), including One Skill Retake (OSR)
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)

Test results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence of English proficiency for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, inclusive. This will depend on the visa.

The department does not accept evidence from English language tests that are delivered completely online, also known as ‘remote-proctored’ or ‘at-home’. Examples of online tests that are not accepted include CELPIP Online, IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital (taken at-home), OET@Home and TOEFL iBT – Home Edition.

You must check what level of English you need and what evidence you must provide for the visa you want to apply for. You can check this through the eligibility page of the relevant visa subclass.

What the points test does not guarantee

Meeting the minimum points threshold of 65 does not guarantee you will receive an invitation to apply for a skilled visa. The department states this explicitly. The points score is one part of the process, and the EOI is a prerequisite, not a guarantee of a visa.

You should also be aware that if you do not meet the points score and you have a partner, you can use the points calculator to see if they will meet or exceed the minimum points threshold. If they do, the department suggests they submit an EOI as the primary applicant and include you as a family member.

What to do next and what to verify

Before you submit an EOI, use the department’s points calculator to estimate your potential points score. Then check that your occupation is on the skilled occupation list for the visa you are applying for, and confirm that you meet or exceed the points threshold of 65.

You should verify the following on the official pages:

• Your occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• Your English test is one of the approved tests and was taken at a secure test centre, not online.
• Your English test result is still valid for the visa subclass you are applying for.
• The required English test scores for your visa subclass, which you can find on the eligibility page of the relevant visa.

The points calculator and the SkillSelect EOI are the official ways to check your points. The indicative score SkillSelect gives you is based on the information you enter, and it is not a guarantee of an invitation. If you are unsure about any part of the process, check the eligibility page of the relevant visa subclass before you submit your EOI.