Points table for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Points Items Points Criteria Points

Age

 at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least  25 but less than 33 years 30
at least  33 but less than 40 years 25
at least  40 but less than 45 years 15

English Language Skills

 Competent English (Basic Requirement) 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience

 The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)
Number of Years Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)
Number of Years Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20

Educational qualifications
Requirement A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10

Specialist education qualification

 A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study  in a relevant field. 10

Australian study requirement

 Meet the Australian study requirement 5

Professional Year in Australia

 Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5

Credentialled community language

 Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5

Study in regional Australia

 You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5

Partner Skills
Requirement Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.  Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

  • were under 45 years old
  • had competent English
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
 10
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

 5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10