What IELTS score do you need for ACT 190 or 491 nomination?

You register interest by submitting a Canberra Matrix, and the ACT invites the highest-ranked Matrix in each occupation. On both score checkers (Canberra residents, overseas applicants) your English earns Superior 15, Proficient 10 and Competent 0 points, and your partner's English earns 5 points for Superior or Proficient. You need a valid test result to claim them, and your partner needs at least Competent English (or an Australian passport) to claim partner employment points.

Home Affairs sets each level per skill, not as one overall score, and a state can only use these levels. Sources: Competent, Proficient and Superior English pages. On the 190 and 491 points tests Competent earns 0 points, Proficient 10 and Superior 20. A citizen holding a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States meets Competent English without a test, but needs a test score to claim Proficient or Superior.

For a 190 in most occupations, read the Proficient column as your minimum. In PTE the writing (69) and speaking (76) scores are where most candidates fall short.

The ACT nomination page said the 2026-27 allocation had not yet been confirmed (2025-26 was 800 places for each of the 190 and 491). The invitation round page lists a tentative 2026-27 schedule: weeks starting 12 October 2026 (190 only), 25 January 2027, 22 March 2027 and 24 May 2027.

In the 12 October 2026 round the ACT issued 190 invitations only: 54 Doctorate Streamlined, 18 Canberra small business owners (minimum Matrix score 120), 126 Canberra residents in critical skill occupations and 63 overseas applicants in critical skill occupations. No 491 invitations were issued.

State programmes change between and during programme years, often at short notice. Check the ACT Canberra Matrix invitation round page before you book a test or lodge an Expression of Interest. This guide restates official pages read on 14 October 2026; it is not migration advice.