Partner points at a glance (2026)
- 10 points: you are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- 10 points: your partner is applying with you, is under 45, has competent English and a suitable skills assessment in an occupation on the list that applies to your visa.
- 5 points: your partner is applying with you and has competent English only.
- Points are assessed at the time you are invited, so a change in relationship status after your EOI can change your score.
- Check your total with our points calculator.
On 16 November 2019, the government introduced a new points test system for skilled visas. In brief, the new point test allows applicants to claim an additional 5 to 10 points depending on the partner’s age, educational qualification/occupation and English language skills.
10 points: partner with relevant age, skills and English
Your partner must meet the following requirements for you to claim 10 points for skills.
- Your partner must be under 45 years old (at the time the invitation to apply for the visa is issued).
- Your partner must have a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation.
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Your partner’s occupation must be an eligible occupation. There are three lists: the Regional Occupation List (ROL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). See our skilled occupation list.
- For SC 491 (state sponsored) spouses, the occupation can be on any list.
- For SC 190 spouses occupation can be on either ‘short term’ or ‘medium to long term’.
- For SC 189 spouses or SC 491 (family stream) spouses occupation must be on ‘medium to long term’ only.
Examples of claiming 10 partner points for skills (assuming your partner meets age and English)
You are applying for a 189 Visa, Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), and partner’s occupation is on the 190 Visa, Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
Your partner cannot contribute points for skills for 189 and 491 Family Stream. Your partner would contribute 10 skills points for 491 State Sponsored stream and 190 visa.
You are applying for the 189 Visa (MLTSSL), and partner’s occupation is also on the 189 Visa List (MLTSSL).
In this scenario, you would be able to claim 10 points for partner skills. An example of this would be that you are a Biomedical Engineer which is on the MLTSSL and your partner is a Chef which is also on the MLTSSL.
Your partner would need to apply to the relevant assessing authority to obtain a skill assessment.
You are applying for the 491 visa, and partner’s occupation is also on the 491 Occupation List:.
You can claim 10 points for partner skills.
- Applying for a 190 visa: PA (principal applicant) is on the 190 list (ICT project manager) and partner is an accountant (MLTSSL) : 10 points for partner skills
- Applying for a 190 visa: PA is on the 190 list (ICT project manager) and partner is on the ROL list (real estate representative) or STSOL for PA and Regional for partner: 0 points for partner skills
- Applying for a 189 visa: PA is an accountant (MLTSSL) and partner is ICT project manager (STSOL): 0 points for partner skills
- Applying for 491 visa: PA is a real estate representative (ROL) and partner is a real estate representative (ROL): 10 points for partner skills
Related guides
- Skilled visas Australia
- Skilled Independent visa (189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (190)
- Skilled Work Regional visa (491)
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (191)
- Temporary Graduate visa (485)
- National Innovation visa (858)
- Skilled visa points table
- Skilled occupation list
- Skilled visa costs
- Skilled visa processing times
- Skilled visa assessment
- Book a consultation
5 Points for partner’s English
You can claim 5 points if your spouse or de facto partner has competent English. For Australian migration purposes, competent English is defined as:
- IELTS (Academic or General Training): at least 6 in each of the 4 components
- PTE Academic: at least 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking
- TOEFL iBT: at least 16 listening, 16 reading, 19 writing and 19 speaking
- OET: at least 290 listening, 310 reading, 290 writing and 330 speaking
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: at least 163 listening, 163 reading, 170 writing and 179 speaking
- CELPIP General: at least 7 in each component
These scores apply to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 (for example PTE 50 in each component) can still be used until 6 August 2028. See our English requirements page for all accepted tests.
10 points: single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
As the title suggests, if you are single or if your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may claim the additional 10 points.
Summary Table
| You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 points |
| 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:
|
10 points |
| 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 points |
Relationship Status: When completing your Expression of Interest (EOI) you should select Partner as your relationship status if you have a spouse or de facto partner.
De Facto Partner
A de facto relationship is one where you and your partner are not legally married to each other but:
- you are committed to a shared life excluding all others
- your relationship is genuine and continuing
- you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
- you are not related by family
A de facto relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex.
Time you spent dating or in an online relationship does not count as being in a de facto relationship.
Spouse
- have a mutual commitment to a shared life excluding all others
- have a genuine and continuing relationship
- live together or don’t live separately and apart on a permanent basis
Message on SkillSelect, Relationship Status: When completing your Expression of Interest (EOI) you should select Partner as your relationship status if you have a spouse or de facto partner. Do not use the relationship status ‘engaged’ if this person is also your de facto partner. You should ensure this information remains current throughout the life of your EOI
Definition of De Facto Relationship and Implications for GSM Points
For the purposes of calculating points under Schedule 6D, the definition of a de facto relationship is still as set out in 5CB of the Act and Reg 1.09A, however the difference is that reg 2.03A (the 12 month rule) is not applicable.
The SkillSelect system will allocate points for partner relationship status as follows (item 6D112):
- Single: SkillSelect will award 10 points
- Engaged: SkillSelect will award 10 points
- Married: SkillSelect will award 0 points
- De Facto: SkillSelect will award 0 points
GSM visa applicants’ marital status will sometimes change between lodging the EOI, lodging the visa application, and when a decision is made on points. This change of status may result in the loss or gain of points at visa assessment. For example, a person assigned 10 points (as single) at EOI, may lose these 10 points at the visa application stage if they have subsequently married or entered a de facto relationship.
Where intending applicants are both in a de facto relationship and engaged simultaneously at time of EOI, they may consider selecting “De Facto” rather than “Engaged” when calculating their point score irrespective of the length of the de facto relationship. This will avoid being invited at a higher point score than what the visa applicant will be able to meet.
It is also important to note the implications of the overlay of the 12 month rule at visa stage. For example an intending applicant may declare a de facto relationship at EOI (where no 12 month rule is applicable) but if that de facto relationship is of less than 12 months standing at visa application then that de facto partner will not be eligible for consideration as the visa applicant’s partner for purposes of the visa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim partner points if my partner is not included in my visa application?
Only the 10 points for being single or having an Australian citizen or permanent resident partner. To claim the 5 or 10 partner skills or English points, your partner must apply for the same visa with you.
Does my partner need a skills assessment in the same occupation as me?
No. Your partner can have a different occupation, but it must be on the occupation list that applies to the visa you are applying for, and the skills assessment must be valid when you are invited.
What if my partner turns 45 after I am invited?
Age is assessed at the time of invitation. If your partner was under 45 when you were invited, you can still claim the points.
Can we claim partner points if our de facto relationship is under 12 months?
For the points test the 12 month rule does not apply, but your partner can only be included in the visa application as your partner if you meet the relationship requirements at that stage. Get advice before you lodge your EOI if your relationship is new.
Should I select engaged or de facto in my EOI?
If you are both engaged and in a de facto relationship, selecting de facto is usually safer. Selecting engaged can give you 10 points at EOI that you may not be able to claim at visa stage.
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