It’s no secret that Australia is a top destination for immigrants. It’s the land of koalas, kangaroos, golden beaches, and beautiful cities, making it appealing to those who are looking for a fresh start.

If you are considering migrating to Australia, one of the first things you will need to do is determine if you meet the requirements for permanent residency, otherwise known as PR. One way to determine your eligibility is by calculating your PR points. Understanding how to calculate your points for PR in Australia can be a daunting task—but it does not have to be!

In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about PR points in Australia: what they are, how they are calculated, and how to maximize them.

We will also provide some helpful tips on what needs to be done before applying so that you can increase your chances of being approved!

Overview of the PR Point System in Australia

If you plan on applying for a Permanent Resident (PR) in Australia, one of the main things you’ll need to understand is how the PR point system works. The points are determined based on a variety of factors, and understanding how the point system works is vital to making sure your application is successful.

To calculate the points for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) in Australia, you will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Check if you meet the basic requirements

Age: You must be under 45 years old.

English Language Proficiency: You must prove your English language proficiency by taking an approved English language test (e.g., IELTS, PTE, TOEFL).

Skilled Occupation: Your occupation must be on the skilled occupation list (SOL) or consolidated sponsored occupation list (CSOL) in Australia.

Skills Assessment: You must have a positive skills assessment from a relevant assessing authority for your occupation.

Visa Application: You must apply for the appropriate visa category, such as a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491).

Step 2: Calculate your points

After you have met the basic requirements, you can calculate your points based on the following factors:

Age: You can score up to 30 points for your age. Applicants between the ages of 25 and 32 are given the most points.

English Language Proficiency: You can score up to 20 points for your English language proficiency.

Skilled Employment: You can score up to 20 points for your skilled employment in the past 10 years.

Qualifications: You can score up to 20 points for your highest qualification, which must be related to your nominated occupation.

Australian Study Requirement: You can score up to 5 points if you have completed at least two academic years of study in Australia.

Regional Study: You can score up to 5 points if you have completed a professional year or at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution and lived and studied in a regional area of Australia.

Partner Skills: If your partner meets the basic requirements and has competent English language proficiency, as well as a positive skills assessment in an occupation on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated occupation, you can earn up to 10 points.

Points Test: You must score the required number of points on the Australian immigration points test. The points test is used to assess your age, English language proficiency, work experience, qualifications and other factors that contribute to your ability to settle in Australia.

Step 3: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Once you have calculated your points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, which is the Australian government’s online system for managing skilled migration applications. Your EOI will be ranked based on your points and other factors, and you may be invited to apply for a visa if your score is high enough.

It’s important to note that the minimum score required to be invited to apply for a subclass 189 or 190 visa can vary depending on the occupation and demand for that occupation in Australia. Therefore, it’s important to keep track of the latest updates and changes to visa requirements and eligibility criteria.

The below sections describe the various scoring criteria:

Age Points: How They Are Calculated

When calculating your PR points, your age plays a significant role. The Australian government assigns a certain number of points depending on your age since they consider it as a key factor when assessing that you are likely to successfully settle in Australia.

Here’s how it works:

If you are between 18-24 years old, you will get 25 points.

If you’re between 25-32 years old, you will receive 30 points.

If you’re between 33-39 years old, you will receive 25 points.

If you’re between 40-44 years old, you will receive 15 points.

If you’re aged 45 and above, no points are allocated under these criteria.

It’s important to note that these age points are only a small part of the overall calculation for Australian PR –other factors, such as work experience and language proficiency, also play a factor in the total points required for permanent residency.

Education Points: How They Are Calculated

Getting points for your education is one of the most important parts of calculating PR points in Australia. After all, having a higher education can be a big plus for applications and can help you get more points for eligibility for permanent residency.

So how exactly does it work? Here is what you need to know about calculating your education points:

Achieve the highest qualification

According to the Points System, the most crucial factor when it comes to education points is achieving the highest possible qualification in your field. You can get anywhere from 25 to 40 points depending on what qualification you are able to get.

These qualifications must be recognized by an accredited institution and must meet the criteria set by the Points System in order to count towards your application. The points you can earn for your educational qualifications will depend on the level and relevance of your qualifications.

Here is a breakdown of the points you can earn for educational qualifications:

Doctorate degree: You can earn up to 20 points if you have completed a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate degree from another educational institution that is recognized by the Australian government.

Master’s or bachelor’s degree: You can earn up to 15 points if you have completed a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an Australian educational institution or from another educational institution outside Australia that is recognized by the Australian government.

Diploma or trade qualification: You can earn up to 10 points if you have completed a diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution or from another educational institution that is recognized by the Australian government.

Australian study requirement: If you have completed at least two years of study in Australia, you can earn an additional 5 points.

Specialized education qualification: You can earn up to 10 points if you have completed a specialized education qualification that is relevant to your nominated occupation and is listed on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL).

Work Experience Points: How They Are Calculated

Work experience can contribute to the points you can earn under the Australian points-based system for permanent residency. The points you can earn for your work experience will depend on the number of years you have worked in your nominated occupation and whether your work experience is considered a nominated skilled occupation or not. Here is how it works:

  1. Determine the candidate’s nominated occupation: This occupation must be on the relevant occupation list for the visa subclass the candidate is applying for.
  2. Determine the number of years of skilled work experiences the candidate has in their nominated occupation: Only skilled work experience is counted, meaning it must be at the same skill level as the nominated occupation and gained within the last 10 years.
  3. Assign points based on the number of years of skilled work experience:
  • Less than 3 years of skilled work experience: 0 points
  • Minimum 3 but less than 5 years of skilled work experience: 5 point
  • At least 5 but less than 8 years of skilled work experience: 10 point
  • 8 or more years of skilled work experience: 15 points

It’s worth noting that work experience points are only one component of the overall points system in SkillSelect. Candidates are also awarded points based on their age, English language proficiency, educational qualifications, and other factors. The total number of points a candidate has will determine their eligibility for a skilled migration visa.

English proficiency Points: How They are Calculated

English language proficiency can contribute to the points you can earn under the Australian points-based system for permanent residency. The points you can earn for your English proficiency will depend on the level of your English language skills.

Here is a breakdown of the points you can earn for English language proficiency:

  1. Competent English: If you can demonstrate competent English language proficiency, you get 0 points.
  2. Proficient English: If you can demonstrate proficient English language proficiency, you can earn up to 10 points. To be eligible for proficient English, you must score at least 7 on each of the four components of the IELTS or an equivalent score in another recognized English language test.
  3. Superior English: If you can demonstrate superior English language proficiency, you can earn up to 20 points. To be eligible for superior English, you must score at least 8 on each of the four components of the IELTS or an equivalent score in another recognized English language test.

Spouse Application Points: How They are Calculated

If you are applying for permanent residency in Australia as the primary applicant, your spouse or de facto partner can also be included in your visa application. Your spouse or de facto partner may also be eligible to earn additional points for your PR application based on their skills, qualifications, and other factors.

The points that your spouse can earn may vary depending on the occupation and skill level of their nominated occupation. The following are the different points that your spouse can earn under the points-based system:

  1. English language proficiency: If your spouse has competent English language proficiency, he or she can earn up to 5 points.
  2. Skilled employment: If your spouse has at least one year of skilled employment in Australia or overseas, he or she can earn up to 10 points.
  3. Education qualifications: If your spouse has completed a post-secondary qualification of at least a diploma level in a relevant field, he or she can earn up to 10 points.
  4. Australian study: If your spouse has completed at least two years of study in Australia, he or she can earn up to 5 points.
  5. Partner skill qualifications: If your spouse has a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated occupation, he or she can earn up to 10 points

Conclusion

In summary, understanding how to calculate PR points in Australia is a crucial component of the application process that should not be overlooked.

Your eligibility for an Australia PR visa is determined by points. DHA (Department of Home Affairs), the organization in charge of immigration, would consider candidates should score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible for an Australian visa.

The Australia Skilled Migration stream should be your first choice when applying for a PR visa because it has the most openings. You will have a better chance in this stream if you meet the eligibility requirements and score the required points on the Australia PR points calculator. In addition, the skilled migration stream is a point-based system and the most popular immigration route for obtaining a permanent residency visa.

Having a clear understanding of what makes up the points system will help you accurately assess your eligibility and make the necessary preparations to increase your chances of successfully applying for a visa.

With careful planning and the right support, you can be confident that you won’t miss out on any valuable points and put yourself in the best position to move to Australia and live your dream life. So, contact us for guidance and assistance in securing your future.

Frequently Asked Questions

PR points refer to the points-based system used by the Australian government to assess the eligibility of skilled workers who want to apply for permanent residency in Australia. The points system is used to assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to the Australian economy and society based on their skills, qualifications, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors.

General Skilled Migration visas include skilled independent (subclass 189), skilled nominated (subclass 190), and skilled regional nominated (subclass 190). (Subclass 190). (Section 491). These visas are permanent (or lead to permanent residency) and do not require employer sponsorship.

Your score on the Australia PR Points Calculator can affect your wait time for a few reasons.

First, the Australia PR Points Calculator is used to determine your eligibility for certain skilled migration visas, such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). These visas have a limited number of spots available each year, and the demand for them can vary depending on a range of factors.

If your score on the Points Calculator is high enough to qualify for one of these visas, you may have a shorter wait time than someone with a lower score who does not qualify. However, even if you do qualify, you may still have to wait until a spot becomes available.

Second, the Australian immigration system has a range of processing priorities, which can affect the wait time for different applicants. For example, applicants who have a job offer in Australia or who are sponsored by an employer may have their applications processed more quickly than those who are not.

Similarly, applicants who are nominated by a state or territory government may also have their applications processed more quickly. If your score on the Points Calculator is high enough to qualify for a state or territory nomination, you may have a shorter wait time than someone who does not qualify.

Overall, while your score on the Australia PR Points Calculator can be a principal factor in determining your eligibility for certain visas, it is not the only factor that affects your wait time. The demand for visas, the processing priorities of the Australian immigration system, and other factors can also have an impact.