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

Only through your points. WA ranks eligible EOIs in this order: candidates living in WA first, then building and construction trades, then other priority sectors (building and construction non-trades, healthcare and social assistance, hospitality and tourism, education and training), then all other sectors, then the highest EOI points score, then the oldest EOI. Graduate stream candidates are also ranked by the level of their WA qualification.

Proficient English (IELTS 7 each) adds 10 points and Superior (IELTS 8 each) adds 20 on the Home Affairs test, which decides ties within each group. WA nomination itself adds 5 points for the 190 (points table) or 15 for the 491. WA says it generally invites people eligible for both visas for the 491 first, because their points are higher.

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.

Use this table to see what the extra 10 or 20 Home Affairs points cost in each test. WA itself only checks the Competent column.

The WA page still showed the 2025-26 settings and occupation lists. It said invitations are anticipated monthly, and that invitations for priority trade occupations were issued on 20 May 2026. The WA news page carried no 2026-27 State Nominated Migration Program announcement on 14 October 2026.

State programmes change between and during programme years, often at short notice. Check the WA State Nominated Migration Program 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.