Free tool · subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Australia PR points calculator
You need at least 65 points to be invited for a 189, 190 or 491 visa. Age gives up to 30, English up to 20, employment up to 20 and your highest qualification up to 20; a 190 nomination adds 5 and a 491 nomination adds 15. Enter your claims and English scores below to see your total for each visa and where the next points could come from.
Checked 25 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs points tables for the 189, 190 and 491 visas and the Competent, Proficient and Superior English pages. Not a visa assessment.
Calculator
Enter your four English scores to see your points for the 189, 190 and 491 visas.
79 each no longer equals 20 points
Before 7 August 2025, PTE Academic used one number for every skill: 65 for Proficient English and 79 for Superior English. For tests taken from 7 August 2025, each skill has its own minimum, and writing and speaking are set much higher than listening and reading. So PTE 79 in every skill is now Proficient English (10 points), and PTE 65 in every skill is Competent English (0 points).
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Before 7 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent (0 pts) | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 | 50 each |
| Proficient (10 pts) | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 | 65 each |
| Superior (20 pts) | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 | 79 each |
A PTE test taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa, and keeps the old 50 / 65 / 79 rule. IELTS (Academic or General Training) is 6 for Competent, 7 for Proficient, 8 for Superior in each component, before and after the change. Tests taken fully online, such as IELTS Online, are not accepted. To check only your English level, use the PTE PR points calculator; for the 20-point level in detail, see PTE Superior English.
Worked example: age 29 (30), PTE 79 in every skill on a new test (Proficient, 10), 5 years of overseas skilled employment (10), a bachelor degree (15) and single (10) is 75 points for the 189, 80 for the 190 and 90 for the 491. The same 79s on a test taken before 7 August 2025 would be Superior English and 10 points more.
The points table
The 189, 190 and 491 tables are the same except for the nomination rows. Most claims are assessed when you are invited.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 24: 25; 25 to 32: 30; 33 to 39: 25; 40 to 44: 15 (must be under 45) |
| English | Competent 0; Proficient 10; Superior 20 |
| Overseas skilled employment | Less than 3 years: 0; 3 to under 5 years: 5; 5 to under 8 years: 10; 8 years or more: 15 |
| Australian skilled employment | Less than 1 year: 0; 1 to under 3 years: 5; 3 to under 5 years: 10; 5 to under 8 years: 15; 8 years or more: 20. Employment total capped at 20. |
| Highest qualification | Doctorate 20; bachelor or higher 15; Australian diploma or trade qualification 10; qualification or award recognised by your assessing authority 10 |
| Specialist education | 10 (Australian masters by research or doctorate, at least 2 academic years, in eligible STEM or ICT fields) |
| Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia | 5 (qualification must also meet the Australian study requirement) |
| Professional Year in Australia | 5 (accounting, ICT or engineering, completed in the 4 years before invitation) |
| Credentialled community language | 5 (NAATI credential) |
| Partner | Single or partner is an Australian citizen or PR: 10; skilled partner: 10; partner with Competent English: 5 |
| Nomination | 190 state or territory nomination: 5; 491 nomination or family sponsorship: 15 |
Not covered here: other visa requirements such as the skills assessment, the occupation lists, state nomination criteria, and health and character checks. The calculator shows points only.
Questions
- How many points do I need for Australian PR?
- At least 65 points to be invited to apply for a 189, 190 or 491 visa. That is a minimum, not a target: invitation rounds often need more, and the points needed vary by occupation, round and state.
- Is PTE 79 in each skill still 20 points?
- Only for a PTE Academic test taken on or before 6 August 2025. For a test taken from 7 August 2025, 79 in every skill is Proficient English (10 points), because Superior English now needs listening 69, reading 70, writing 85 and speaking 88.
- What PTE score do I need for 10 points?
- Proficient English: listening 58, reading 59, writing 69 and speaking 76 in one PTE Academic test taken from 7 August 2025. With IELTS it is 7 in each of the four components.
- How many points do state and regional nomination add?
- A 190 state or territory nomination adds 5 points. A 491 nomination, or an accepted family sponsorship for the 491, adds 15 points. The 189 has no nomination points.
- Is there a limit on work experience points?
- Yes. Overseas and Australian skilled employment together can give at most 20 points, even if the two rows add up to more. Only employment in your nominated or a closely related occupation in the last 10 years counts.
- Can I claim points for two qualifications?
- No. You get points for your highest qualification only. Specialist education, the Australian study requirement and regional study are separate rows and can be added on top.