If you are planning to apply for a permanent residency visa in Australia, then to begin with it is very important to know how to calculate points for PR in Australia. Your total points for PR in Australia determine how soon you can be invited to apply for this visa. A minimum score of 65 points is required to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) for an application for PR, and a score of 90 or above means you will be invited in no time.
There are hundreds of people who immigrate to Australia every year on a PR visa from all over the world. This visa allows you to live and work in Australia for five years. Upon reaching three years of citizenship, you will be able to apply for permanent residency. You must score at least 65 points for a visa, and your occupation must be listed on the Skilled Occupations List.
Once you’ve earned the required points for PR in Australia, you’ll receive an invitation to apply pretty quickly. The process of receiving your Australia PR should take between 5-8 months after you apply. The best method for obtaining permanent residency depends on the visa system you wish to apply for. In addition to eligibility criteria and terms, each immigration program has its own selection criteria. Further, the government determines each immigration program’s level of planning and number of spaces.
Eligibility criteria to calculate points for PR in Australia
There are three subclasses that require PR points:
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is an Australian permanent residency visa. The validity of this visa is five years and you can convert it to citizenship after five years.
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): This visa category is available to skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. It is essential that you prove that your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List. If you are a resident of a nominated state or territory, you can apply for a job in any sector.
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491 ): This visa was designed to meet the skill requirements in regional Australia. It is important that you are able to satisfy the skill requirement and obtain sponsorship from either the state or territory. The visa allows you to stay in the country for a period of four years.
Several factors determine how many points you need for PR in Australia.
In the following table, we can see the distribution of points:
| Factors | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Age (25-33 years) | 30 points |
| English proficiency (8 bands) | 20 points |
| Work Experience outside Australia (8-10 years) | 15 points |
| Work Experience in Australia (8-10 years) | 20 points |
| Education (outside Australia) – Doctorate degree | 20 points |
| Doctorate or master’s degree by research in Australia or similar skilled degrees | 10 points |
| Study in a regional area | 5 points |
| Proficient in community language | 5 points |
| Professional year in a skilled program in Australia | 5 points |
| State sponsorship (190 visa) | 5 points |
| Skilled spouse (Age, Skills & English language requirements to be met) | 10 points |
| Spouse or de facto partner with competent English (No need to meet Skills requirement or age factor) | 5 points |
| Applicants without a spouse or de facto partner or where a spouse is an Australian citizen or PR holder | 10 points |
Here is how to calculate points for PR in each category:
Age factor in calculating points for PR in Australia:
Between 25 and 32 years of age, you can gain a maximum of 30 points.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18-24 years | 25 |
| 25-32 years | 30 |
| 33-39 years | 25 |
| 40-44 years | 15 |
| 45 and above | 0 |
Factor of English proficiency in calculating points for PR in Australia:
You can earn a maximum of 20 points by scoring 70 marks in the PTE exam. You can take any of the English proficiency tests offered by the Australian immigration authorities, including IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, etc., and you can go for the required score.
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Superior (8/79 on each band in IELTS/PTE Academic) | 20 |
| Proficient (7/65 on each band in IELTS/PTE Academic) | 10 |
| Competent (6/50 on each band in IELTS/PTE Academic) | 0 |
Work experience factor in calculating points for PR in Australia:
Counting back from your PR application date, 8-10 years of skilled employment outside Australia gives you 15 points. Less years of experience means fewer points.
| Skilled employment outside Australia | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3-4 years | 5 |
| 5-7 years | 10 |
| More than 8 years | 15 |
Skilled-Employment factor in calculating points for PR in Australia:
You can earn a minimum of 20 points with skilled employment in Australia with a minimum of 8 or 10 years of experience from the date of application.
| Skilled employment in Australia | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1-2 years | 5 |
| 3-4 years | 10 |
| 5-7 years | 15 |
| More than 8 years | 20 |
Education factor in calculating points for PR in Australia:
Educational qualifications determine the number of points for PR in Australia. Doctorates from Australian universities or from universities outside Australia, as long as the Australian government recognizes them, are eligible for maximum points.
| Qualifications | Points |
|---|---|
| A Doctorate degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia. | 20 |
| A Bachelor (or Masters) degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia. | 15 |
| Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia | 10 |
| Any qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation. | 10 |
| Niche skills such as Doctorate or master’s degree in Australia | 5 |
| Specialist Education qualification (Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution) | 10 |
Spouse application factor in calculating points for PR in Australia:
If your spouse is also applying for a PR visa, then Bingo!, you earn extra points for PR in Australia.
| Spouse qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Spouse has a PR visa or is an Australian citizen | 10 |
| Spouse has competent English and has a Positive Skill Assessment | 10 |
| Spouse has only competent English | 5 |
Other qualifications:
The following criteria may lead to you earning points.
| Study in a regional area | 5 points |
| Accredited in community language | 5 points |
| Professional year in a skilled program in Australia | 5 points |
| State sponsorship (190 visa) | 5 points |
| Minimum 2 years fulltime (Australian study requirement) | 5 points |
| Specialist Education qualification (Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution) | 10 points |
| Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa) | 15 points |
What are the requirements for Australia immigration?
By now, you know how to score points for PR in Australia. Along with it, here are the Australian immigration requirements.
- Under the age of 40
- A bachelor’s degree in any field
- A minimum of two years of relevant work experience
- The ability to read, write, and speak English
- In Australia’s points-based immigration selection system (effective July 1, 2018), requires a score of 65 points.
- Having no criminal record
- A good health
PTE bands: how are they calculated?
As mentioned above, English proficiency plays a crucial role in calculating points for PR in Australia. So here is the way of its calculation.
The Pearson Test of English (PTE), a testing system, mainly evaluates the English language competency of foreign English speakers who wish to migrate to countries such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand for permanent residency or higher education.
Your PTE band score enables you to assess your English proficiency skills appropriately. The report has two primary categories, which sub-categorize itself into multiple contributors.
Communicative Skills
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Enabling Skills
- Grammar
- Oral fluency
- Spelling
- Written discourse
- Pronunciation and
- Vocabulary
PTE bands primarily help individuals who wish to migrate to Australia. An average score of 79 is the requirement to obtain 20 immigration points.
Score calculation for the PTE test
Firstly, all the scores from the enabling skills must be added, and then the sum is divided by 6 (the number of the added scores). To calculate the overall PTE score, the average sum from the added numbers of the enabling skills will be the fifth contributing factor with the rest of the four communicative skills. It is important to realize that your enabling skills will support increasing your average indirectly. Therefore, the enabling skills will be able to determine the scores of your communicative skills if they are on the borderline. The overall scores are calculated once the average reaches over 88, which rounds up to 90.
Benefits of an Australia Permanent Resident Visa
As can be seen, Australia has always proven itself in providing the best education to students from all around the world. In addition to it, there are social security, medical facilities, and employment opportunities. Not to mention the scenic beauty the country is blessed with. So most international students, or trainees, who come to Australia are left with an urge to settle here itself, after completing their studies or training. After availing of the benefits as a temporary resident in Australia, here is what the country has to offer once you are a permanent resident.
- Australian PR visa allows the holders to live and work in Australia without restriction.
- Get a job at any company & work there.
- There is only one Australia PR visa category necessary for the entire family – there is no need for additional visas for the family.
- Australia’s public schools offer free education to children.
- Medicare covers Australian PR visa holders and their families for all healthcare expenses.
- A PR visa holder can easily become an Australian citizen in the future.
What are the best ways to process your PR visa on time?
After knowing in detail about points for PR in Australia, the next question that comes to a person’s mind is the processing time of Australia PR. When applying for a PR visa, it is what one concerns the most. So here is how you can do it.
In order to get the timely processing of your application, ensure it is complete. Furthermore, you must meet the visa application standards to ensure a smooth application process.
Documents that are important to include:
- The appropriate Skill Assessing Authority’s Skills Assessment Report
- The outcome of your PTE/IELTS exam
- Examine each visa category and choose the one that best fits your needs.
- Choose an occupation that interests you from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
- Make sure you’re in good health and have a good character.
- Check the progress of your application.
Conclusion for calculating points for PR in Australia
So, calculating points for PR in Australia will get easier for you now. That is to say, it is very simple to obtain a permanent residency visa through Australia’s Skilled Migration program. It is because skilled migrants have higher levels of education and employment prospects. As a result, the economy can contribute more to society. Furthermore, the chances of achieving the intended goals are greater for employees who sponsor migrants.
The Australia Skilled Migration stream should be your first choice when applying for a PR visa because it has the most openings. As a result of meeting the eligibility conditions, it will increase your chances and the points required for PR in Australia. Additionally, skilled migration is a points-based immigration route and is the most popular way to obtain a permanent residency visa.