Is 65 Points Enough for 189 Visa? Here’s the Breakdown!

Is 65 Points Enough to Receive an Invitation for the 189 Visa?

Applying for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) is one of the most popular ways for skilled workers to secure Australian Permanent Residency. The visa works on a point-tested system, where you need at least 65 points in your Expression of Interest (EOI) to receive an invitation. But here’s the real question: Is 65 points enough to get an invitation for the 189 Visa?

The short answer is not all the time.

In this article, we will break down why and what strategies you can use to boost your points and increase your chances of receiving an invitation for the 189 Visa.

Understanding the 189 Visa points system

To apply for the subclass 189 Visa, you must first submit an EOI through SkillSelect. The Department of Home Affairs ranks applicants based on their points score. The points are calculated from factors such as:

• Age
• English language ability
• Skilled employment experience
• Educational qualifications
• Australian study requirements
• Specialist education qualifications
• Credentialed community language (NAATI)
• Regional study
• Partner skills
• Professional year in Australia

While 65 points is the minimum eligibility requirement, in reality, the Department of Home Affairs invites candidates with significantly higher scores. This is possible because the occupations in demand vary.

Try our online calculator simulator for 189 visa here and let’s see how many score you’ve got!

Is 65 points enough to get an invitation for the 189 Visa?

In practice, 65 points are not competitive enough for most occupations. The latest invitation rounds have shown:

65 points are mostly enough for trade occupations, such as Drainer, Bricklayer, Glazier, Joiner, etc., to receive an invitation.

Highly skilled or in-demand occupations are seen to sit between 80 and 100 points. The highest EOI point for being invited was 110 for the Electronic Equipment Trades Worker role.

This means that while the minimum score required is 65 points, the chances of being invited are very low, especially if your occupation is highly skilled or in demand. This reflects the competitiveness for highly qualified and in-demand occupations.

Strategies to increase your points

If you are stuck at 65 points, don’t lose hope. There are several ways to boost your points score:

1. Improve your English test score

Move from Competent English to Proficient English or Superior English to receive a higher score. While Competent English is the minimum requirement, it doesn’t give you any score in the Expression of Interest (EOI).

2. Claim Partner skills

If you have a partner and they meet the age, skills, and English criteria, you can claim up to 10 points.

3. Gain more work experience

Additional overseas or Australian skilled work experience adds more points. Even one extra year of employment can bump up your score.

4. Complete a Professional Year in Australia

If your occupation is in the ICT, accounting, or engineering field, consider completing a Professional Year in Australia to get 5 extra points.

5. NAATI Accreditation (Credentialed Community Language test)

Passing NAATI can give you 5 additional points.

6. Consider a state-nominated or regional pathway through 190 or 491 Visa

The state nomination gives you an extra 5 or 15 points. It makes your EOI more competitive compared to applying solely for the 189 Visa.

Alternative pathways if you’re stuck at 65 points

If increasing points is not realistic in your situation, you may want to consider these visa subclasses:

• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190). This requires state nomination and gives you an extra 5 points.
• Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491). This visa has a family and state-nominated stream. The state-nominated stream will add 15 points and offers a pathway to permanent residency through the 191 Visa.

These visas are often more accessible compared to the highly competitive 189 Visa.

While 65 points make you eligible for the 189 visa, it is rarely enough to secure an invitation in today’s competitive environment. Most successful applicants score 80+ points.

The good news? With the right strategy, whether improving your points or considering other visa subclasses, you can significantly boost your chances. There is a clear path to success, and we are here to guide you through it.

The Preferred Migration Agent in Perth by Assisting people to obtain the right Australian Visa legally and lawfully.