491 Visa Points Calculator: How Many Points Do You Need?

The minimum to submit an Expression of Interest for the subclass 491 is 65 points. But that figure is misleading. What you actually need to secure a state nomination depends on the state, your occupation, and the round — and in most cases, that number is higher.

This post breaks down every category of the SkillSelect points test that applies to the 491 visa, shows you how partner points work, and explains where the critical 15-point nomination bonus fits into your total.

The federal minimum: 65 points

To lodge a valid EOI in SkillSelect, you need at least 65 points. Below that threshold, the system will not allow you to submit. However, submitting with 65 points does not guarantee — or even approximate — a nomination. Some states are actively inviting at 65 (Western Australia in early 2026 rounds, for instance), while others have higher effective floors depending on their current allocation and demand.

The 65-point minimum is inclusive of the 15-point nomination bonus. That means your base score before nomination needs to reach at least 50 points to be eligible — and realistically needs to be higher to compete.

Points test categories

Age

Age is the highest-weighted individual category in the points test.

Applicants aged 45 or older cannot receive an invitation under the SkillSelect system regardless of their total score. If you are approaching this age bracket, timing your EOI submission and nomination application becomes critically important.

English language proficiency

English test results must be from a secure, in-person test centre. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept remote-proctored or at-home tests. Accepted tests include IELTS (Academic or General), PTE Academic, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, and LANGUAGECERT Academic. Results are valid for three years.

Competent English is the mandatory baseline to submit an EOI at all. Proficient English adds 10 points to your score — often the difference between being competitive and sitting in a queue indefinitely. Superior English adds 20 points and is the most impactful single improvement available to most applicants who can achieve it.

Educational qualifications

Only the highest qualification is counted. Additional degrees beyond your highest do not compound.

Bonus education points are available in specific circumstances:

• Completing at least two years of postgraduate research in STEM or ICT at an Australian institution: 10 additional points
• Meeting the standard Australian Study Requirement (at least two academic years of study in Australia): 5 points
• Completing Australian study specifically at a regional institution: 5 additional points

If you studied at a regional campus and meet the study requirement, these two bonuses can add 10 points on top of your qualification score.

Work experience

Work experience points are capped at 20 combined, with Australian experience worth more than overseas experience.

Skilled employment outside Australia:

Skilled employment in Australia:

Australian work experience is significantly more valuable than equivalent overseas experience. If you are currently on a Temporary Graduate (485) or any other work visa in Australia, the time you accumulate now directly increases your future points score.

Partner points (491 visa)

Partner points are one of the more nuanced and frequently misunderstood categories. The outcome depends on your relationship status and your partner's specific qualifications.

The key distinction for 491 visa partner points is what your partner brings to the application. If your partner holds a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the same skilled list and meets the Competent English standard, you claim the full 10 points. If they have Competent English but no skills assessment, you claim 5. If they cannot demonstrate Competent English, the category contributes nothing — and including an unqualified partner may actually reduce your competitiveness.

Single applicants automatically receive 10 points — the same as a partner who qualifies fully. This is counterintuitive to many applicants who assume being partnered always adds points.

The 15-point nomination bonus

On top of your calculated base score, state or territory nomination — or family sponsorship from an eligible relative in a regional area — adds 15 points automatically. This is not a competitive category; it is applied mechanically once nomination is confirmed.

This bonus is what makes the 491 pathway viable for the 65-75 point cohort that cannot access the 189 or 190. A base score of 70 becomes 85 with nomination. In WA's current round structure, 85 points secures an invitation in almost every occupation on the state's list.

Putting it together: a worked example

Consider a 31-year-old with a bachelor's degree, proficient English (IELTS 7.0), and four years of overseas work experience, applying as a single person:

• Age (25-32): 30
• English (proficient): 10
• Education (bachelor's): 15
• Overseas employment (3-5 years): 5
• Partner: 10 (single)
• Base total: 70 points
• Add 15 for nomination: 85 points

With 85 points and a WA nomination, this applicant is competitive across virtually every occupation on WASMOL in the current round environment.

Now consider the same applicant at 38 years old:

• Age (33-39): 25
• English (proficient): 10
• Education (bachelor's): 15
• Overseas employment (8+ years): 15
• Partner: 10 (single)
• Base total: 75 points
• Add 15 for nomination: 90 points

More experience compensates for the age reduction, and the total actually improves. The points test is not a penalty for experience — it rewards it, provided you can navigate the age bands correctly.

What to focus on to increase your score

The three levers most applicants can realistically move before lodging an EOI:

English score: If you are at Competent (0 points), sitting a test for Proficient adds 10 points immediately. Moving from Proficient to Superior adds another 10. For many applicants, a higher English score is the single fastest path to a stronger total.

Australian work experience: If you are already in Australia on a work visa, accumulate documented skilled employment. Crossing the 1-year threshold adds 5 points. Three years adds 10. This compounds with your overseas experience but is capped at 20 total.

Partner skills assessment: If your partner has relevant qualifications, having them complete a skills assessment through the appropriate assessing authority can add 5 points to your combined score (from 5 to 10 in the partner category).

For detailed guidance on which states to target given your specific score, how state nomination rounds work, and what compliance documentation you need to collect from day one, see the Australia Skilled Work Regional Visa (491) Guide.