Australia PR points from Pakistan: how the 189 points test works

Australia's Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is permanent residence without a sponsor, decided by points. This guide explains how the points are counted for an applicant in Pakistan, what you need before points matter at all, and what the recent invitation rounds say about your chances.

Three things come before points

1. Your occupation must be on the list. For the 189 it is the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
2. You need a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority named for your occupation, from the last 3 years.
3. You need at least competent English: IELTS 6 in each part, or PTE Academic 47 (listening), 48 (reading), 51 (writing) and 54 (speaking), from a test taken at a test centre in the last 3 years. At-home tests are refused.

You must also be under 45 when you are invited.

How the points add up

• Age: 25 to 32 gives 30 points; 18 to 24, or 33 to 39, gives 25; 40 to 44 gives 15.
• English: proficient (IELTS 7 in each part) gives 10; superior (IELTS 8 in each part) gives 20.
• Skilled work outside Australia in the last 10 years: 3 to 4 years gives 5; 5 to 7 years gives 10; 8 years or more gives 15.
• Your highest qualification: a doctorate (PhD) gives 20; a bachelor's degree or higher, recognised by the assessing authority, gives 15; another qualification the assessing authority recognises gives 10.
• Partner: single, or a partner who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, gives 10; a partner who applies with you and is skilled (under 45, competent English and a skills assessment) gives 10; a partner with competent English only gives 5.

Work counts only in your nominated occupation (or a closely related one), at 20 hours a week or more. Points for Australian study or work, a Professional Year, a NAATI credential or regional study are out of reach from Pakistan for most people.

Three examples from the table:

• 28 years old, proficient English, 6 years of work, a bachelor's degree, single: 30 + 10 + 10 + 15 + 10 = 75.
• 30, superior English, 8 years of work, a PhD, single: 30 + 20 + 15 + 20 + 10 = 95, about the most you can reach from Pakistan.
• 36, competent English, 4 years of work, a bachelor's, a partner who adds no points: 25 + 0 + 5 + 15 + 0 = 45, below the pass mark.

Expression of Interest and invitations

With 65 points or more you lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect: free, with no documents. Home Affairs invites the highest scores first, occupation by occupation; ties go to whoever reached the score first. If you are invited, you have 60 days to apply.

What the rounds show:

• On 4 June 2026, 10,000 people were invited. Trades such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters were invited at 65; nurses, teachers and most allied health at 75 to 80; engineers and scientists at 80 to 95.
• Software engineers, accountants and civil, mechanical and electrical engineers were not invited in any 2025-26 round.
• The next round was set for 15 October 2026.

Applying from Pakistan

You can apply from Pakistan, but under the processing order since 19 September 2026, applications from outside Australia come after priority sectors and applicants in Australia. In October 2026 Home Affairs was deciding offshore applications lodged in or before November 2025.

When you apply you pay AUD 6,135, and AUD 3,070 for each adult and AUD 1,540 for each child with you. Everyone does a medical examination (with a chest x-ray from age 11 and an HIV test from 15), and adults give police certificates from every country where they lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

If your points or occupation do not fit

• State nomination (subclass 190) uses the same points test and adds 5 points, but a state or territory must nominate you.
• The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) needs an employer who sponsors you instead of points, and can lead to permanent residence after 2 years. See the Australia work visa page.

Work out your own points on the Australia PR page, and compare them with the latest round for your occupation before you spend money.