Canberra Matrix Calculator

Canberra Matrix Points Calculator – 2025

The ACT government use the Canberra Matrix to fairly manage the nomination process and select applicants who will best contribute to the Canberra region. The below Canberra Matrix Calculator is a merit-based assessment tool where you can score points for length of ACT residence, occupation, employment, English, study, investment and close family living in Canberra.

The Department of Home Affairs allows ACT to nominate a fixed number of applicants each year. There are more people who want ACT nomination than the number of nomination places available.

The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make/have made a positive economic contribution to the Territory and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination. ACT will rank your Matrix based on the number of points you’ve claimed. Those who rank high enough will receive an invitation email to apply for ACT nomination for a 491 or 190 visa.

You can select either ACT 491 nomination or ACT 190 nomination. There is also a PhD Streamlined nomination pathway.

If you are invited by ACT to apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) you will recieve 15 additional points.
If you are invited by ACT to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) you will receive 5 additional points.

Please note the ACT Matrix points calculator is different from the PR points calculator used by the Department of Home Affairs. Book a consultation for a detailed assessment and increase your chances of success in the points test.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

First Last

Email*

Phone*

Country of passport

Your current visa subclass and its expiry date

1. ACT residence

How long have you lived in Canberra in the last eight years?*

Your claimed period of ACT residence does not have to be continuous. To claim points, you must meet these minimum criteria:

Your bank statements must evidence your date of arrival and the claimed period of residence in Canberra.
You must record any period away from Canberra (seven days or more) in the ‘Summary of ACT residence’ at Attachment D.
You cannot be away from Canberra for more than six weeks in any year (e.g. for a holiday or to visit family) unless you are claiming two or more years residency and you were not away from Canberra for more than twelve weeks in any given year. You must provide evidence that the ACT continued to be your primary place of residence for these twelve weeks, such as rent or other housing payments. These payments need to be highlighted in your bank statements.
You cannot live, study, or work interstate for any period of claimed ACT residence, unless:
- You studied interstate for no more than one night (or two days) per week;
- You worked in regional NSW while living in the ACT, provided you worked within a 30-minute commute of your Canberra-based home; or,
- You lived in regional NSW while working in Canberra, provided you lived within a 30-minute commute of your Canberra-based work.

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2. English proficiency

What is your English proficiency level as defined by Home Affairs?*

You meet the Home Affairs requirement for the level of English claimed. You must have a valid English test result.

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3. Spouse/Partner English proficiency

What is your spouse/partner’s English proficiency?*

They meet the Home Affairs requirement for the level of English claimed or hold an Australian passport.

Note: an Australian passport only equates to 'competent' English. If you wish to claim point in this category, your spouse/partner must meet the Home Affairs requirements for the level of English claimed.

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4. Nominated occupation

Is your nominated occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List?*

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5. Small business owner

Are you the majority owner (at least 51%) of a registered business actively operating in the ACT? You must meet the following minimum criteria:*

The business activity is in the ACT. Interstate / overseas business activity is not accepted.
Your business must be profitable.
Your business is paying you the following taxable income:
- 190 nomination: at least $26,000 in the last six months.
- 491 nomination: at least $13,000 in the last three months.
At date of Canberra Matrix submission, you are employing at least one Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen. Additionally, one employee must have been employed for at least 13 weeks at a minimum of 20 hours per week.
- The employee's employment does not have to be continuous.
- The employment is in accordance with Australian legislation.
- The employee is a resident in Canberra. You MUST provide a statutory declaration confirming the employment and citizenship details for each employee.

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6. Length of ACT employment

How long have you worked in Canberra in the last two years? You can work in any occupation, your employment does not need to be continuous, and you can work for more than one ACT employer (or be self-employed on an ABN). You must meet the following minimum criteria:*

You worked a minimum 20 hours per week for each week claimed towards the period of employment.
If you are claiming any period of self-employment:

Your gross (taxable) weekly income must exceed $520 for each week of employment claimed; and
Your business must have been operating in Canberra for at least 12 months.

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7. ACT employment - skill level

Are you currently working in Canberra in a highly skilled position? You may work for more than one ACT employer, operate a small business and / or be self-employed though you must be working in the same occupation and at the same skill level. You must meet the following minimum criteria:*

You worked a minimum 20 hours per week for the 13 weeks before Canberra Matrix submission.
The employment was continuous unless you were on unpaid leave with a valid medical certificate. Any period of unpaid leave cannot be counted towards the 13 weeks employment.
Gross Taxable income:

Employee: no less than $26 per hour (excluding casual loading).
Small Business owner: minimum $13,000 income for last three months.
Self-employment on an ABN: minimum $520 per week.

Any employment claimed must be recorded on your SkillSelect EOI.

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8. Spouse/Partner employment

Is your spouse / partner currently working in the ACT or surrounding 'commuter' region? They can work for more than one employer and / or be self-employed. However, they must meet the following minimum criteria:*

They are working a minimum of 20 hours per week for the 13 weeks before Canberra Matrix submission.
Their employment must be continuous unless they were on unpaid leave with a valid medical certificate. Any period of unpaid leave cannot be counted towards the 13 weeks employment.
They meet the Home Affairs requirement for ‘competent’ English or hold an Australian passport.
Their employer must provide a Statutory Declaration confirming their employment. See Attachment E.
If they are self-employed on an ABN:
- Their taxable weekly income exceeds $520 for each week of employment claimed; and
- Their business has been actively operating in Canberra for at least 12 months.

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9. Tertiary qualification

What tertiary qualification do you hold from an Australian or International educational institution?*

Your selected qualification must be recorded on your Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI. If the skill assessing body has assessed your selected qualification and it is not equivalent to the same Australian Qualification Framework level, you can only claim the level at which it has been assessed.

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10. Years of study at an ACT tertiary institution

For how many years did you study fulltime to complete a CRICOS* registered course and / or attend a Professional Year (PY) program at an ACT institution in the last eight years? A PY undertaken in the ACT meets the one-year study criteria.*

You have a letter of course completion to evidence the claimed period of study.
You are resident in Canberra during your claimed period of study.
You attended education in person. Distance education or online attendance is not accepted
A PY undertaken in the ACT meets the one-year study criteria.
Two or more courses, including a PY, may be counted to prove the period of ACT study if the courses are not concurrent. The courses do not have to be continuous.

*CRICOS - Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.

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11. Close family ties

Do you have a close family member who has lived in Canberra for the last two years? They must be an Australian citizen/permanent resident.*

A close family member is defined as a spouse/ partner, child, parent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or grandparent of the main applicant or their spouse/ partner.

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12. Assets in Canberra

You (and a spouse/partner if applicable) have invested at least $250,000 cash to purchase a residential or commercial property in Canberra (purchase of land only does not meet this criteria). You hold the Certificate of Title and / or rates notice to prove ownership.*

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Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

Your Total Score

To ensure you have a competitive advantage over all other potential applicants please contact us for a consultation. The above skilled visa points test is provided as a guide only and may not be indicative of the points assigned by the ACT government.

At the consultation, our GSM experts will ensure you claim the most points possible under current migration legislation, which could prove the difference between receiving an invitation and not.