Step 3 of 9
Am I Eligible?
Checking eligibility requirements: points, language, qualifications, age, health.
102 questions 5 in-depth guides
Common questions at this stage
Straight answers to what people actually ask at this point.
Is Brisbane considered regional?
Brisbane is not regional for Australian visa purposes. It falls under Category 1… Read full answer →
What are category 2 and 3 regional areas?
The Department of Home Affairs classifies regional Australia into three categori… Read full answer →
Is Gold Coast regional for visa purposes?
The Gold Coast occupies an awkward middle position — and the answer is mostly no… Read full answer →
Is Perth considered regional?
Perth's classification is nuanced and frequently misunderstood. Greater Perth (t… Read full answer →
Is Canberra considered regional?
Canberra is not regional for Australian visa purposes. The Australian Capital Te… Read full answer →
What is the definition of regional Australia?
For immigration purposes, regional Australia is formally defined by the Departme… Read full answer →
How long relationship for partner visa?
There is no minimum relationship length required to apply for an Australian part… Read full answer →
How long do you need to be in a relationship for a partner visa?
For married couples, there is no minimum relationship duration — you can lodge a… Read full answer →
How long do I need to work for TRT stream?
The answer is exactly 2 years — and the counting is specific. For the Subclass 1… Read full answer →
Do I need same employer for 482 to 186?
Yes — with limited flexibility. For the Subclass 186 TRT stream, the nominating … Read full answer →
What are the income requirements for 191?
The income requirement for the Subclass 191 is that you must have earned at or a… Read full answer →
Is it difficult to get sponsorship?
Honest answer: yes, for most occupations in major cities, it is genuinely diffic… Read full answer →
Can I sponsor myself?
Technically yes — but the requirements are strict and most self-employment struc… Read full answer →
Do I need a job offer before applying?
For employer-sponsored visas — yes, a genuine job offer is a prerequisite, not a… Read full answer →
What score do you need to get an invitation?
The minimum score to submit an EOI is 65 points, but the score needed to actuall… Read full answer →
Can you apply for skilled migration without a job offer?
Yes. The skilled independent 189 visa, state nominated 190 visa, and skilled reg… Read full answer →
What is the Canberra Matrix and how does it affect ACT nomination?
The ACT's nomination system — the Canberra Matrix — is fundamentally different f… Read full answer →
Can I apply 190 while on 485?
Yes — applying for the Subclass 190 visa while holding a Subclass 485 Temporary … Read full answer →
A Note on Points Scores and Invitation Competitiveness
Points-tested visas — the 189, 190, and 491 — all operate through the SkillsSele… Read full answer →
Is skills assessment required for 189?
Yes — a positive skills assessment is a hard requirement for the Subclass 189 Sk… Read full answer →
Who needs skills assessment for 482?
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa has a more nuanced requirement than the 1… Read full answer →
How many points does professional year give?
Completing the Professional Year Program gives you 5 points under the Australian… Read full answer →
Is VETASSESS required for all visas?
No — but for the occupations it covers, a VETASSESS assessment is required for m… Read full answer →
Is ACS assessment hard to pass?
For applicants with a directly relevant ICT degree and documented ICT work exper… Read full answer →
Do I need ACS for 482 visa?
For most ICT occupations on the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, a skills ass… Read full answer →
What PTE score do I need for PR?
The minimum PTE score for permanent residence depends on which visa pathway you … Read full answer →
Is skills assessment required for 189?
Yes, a positive skills assessment is mandatory for the Subclass 189 Skilled Inde… Read full answer →
Do I need skills assessment for 482 visa?
It depends on your occupation — but for many applicants, yes. The Subclass 482 S… Read full answer →
Is PTE accepted for Australian immigration?
Yes, PTE Academic is fully accepted across the Australian immigration system and… Read full answer →
Can I go to Australia without IELTS or PTE?
Yes, in specific circumstances. According to the Department of Home Affairs, app… Read full answer →
Is IELTS 5.5 accepted in Australia?
Generally, no — not for skilled migration visas. IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) falls… Read full answer →
Is 57 a good score in PTE for Australia?
A PTE score of 57 in all sections sits between Competent (50) and Proficient (65… Read full answer →
Is PTE valid for 3 years for immigration in Australia?
No. PTE Academic scores are valid for 3 years from the date of the test for most… Read full answer →
Is IELTS must for Australian immigration?
No, IELTS is not mandatory. It is one of several approved English language tests… Read full answer →
Is IELTS required for a 482 visa?
No, IELTS is not specifically required for a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa.… Read full answer →
Does a 485 visa need IELTS?
No — PTE Academic is equally accepted for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate vi… Read full answer →
Is a 2 year gap accepted in Australia?
For English test validity, a 2-year gap is within the acceptable window — most a… Read full answer →
Does Australia accept IELTS for immigration?
Yes, without reservation. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are both acc… Read full answer →
How much is 57 score in PTE?
A PTE score of 57 in all sections is equivalent to approximately IELTS 6.5 per b… Read full answer →
How hard is it to get a skilled worker visa in Australia?
The difficulty varies enormously depending on your occupation, not your effort. … Read full answer →
What is the skilled occupation list in Australia 2026?
The skilled occupation list in 2026 operates across three tiers, each feeding di… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 491 visa?
The Subclass 491 Skilled – Regional Provisional visa is open to skilled workers … Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 485 visa?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa has a clear eligibility rule: you must … Read full answer →
What are the requirements for state nomination?
State nomination requirements vary significantly by state and territory, and by … Read full answer →
Do I need work experience for 189?
You do not need Australian work experience for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independ… Read full answer →
What English score do I need for PR?
The English requirement for Australian PR depends on which visa you are applying… Read full answer →
Can I apply for 190 from overseas?
Yes — the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa can be applied for from either ons… Read full answer →
What is the minimum points for 491?
The legislated minimum is 65 points, but this is essentially a floor that only d… Read full answer →
Do I need a job offer for 189?
No — the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa does not require a job offer at a… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 820 partner visa?
The Subclass 820 visa is the onshore temporary partner visa — you must be physic… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 309 visa?
The Subclass 309 visa mirrors the 820 in eligibility criteria but applies when t… Read full answer →
How long do you need to be in a relationship for partner visa?
For married couples, there is no minimum relationship duration — if you are lega… Read full answer →
Can de facto couples apply for partner visa?
Yes — de facto couples are fully eligible for Australian partner visas under the… Read full answer →
Can I apply partner visa if my partner is on student visa?
The sponsor — not the applicant — must be an Australian citizen, permanent resid… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 482 visa?
The Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa has three streams, and eligibility hing… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 186 visa?
The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) is a permanent visa with three str… Read full answer →
What are the requirements for employer sponsorship?
Employer sponsorship has two sides: the employer's obligations and the applicant… Read full answer →
Do I need skills assessment for 482?
It depends on the stream and your occupation. Skills assessment is not universal… Read full answer →
What is the minimum salary for 482?
The salary floor for a 482 visa is determined by two figures — the TSMIT and the… Read full answer →
What is TSMIT?
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is the minimum annual e… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for 494?
The Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa is a 5-year temporar… Read full answer →
What occupations qualify for 482?
Occupation eligibility for the 482 visa depends on the stream: Read full answer →
Can small businesses sponsor 482?
Yes — there is no minimum size requirement for a Standard Business Sponsor. A bu… Read full answer →
What English level do I need for 482?
The minimum English requirement for the Subclass 482 Core Skills stream is Compe… Read full answer →
How long do I need to work for 186 TRT?
The answer is precisely 3 years — and the counting rules matter more than most a… Read full answer →
Can I be sponsored by a family member?
Generally, no — not through the standard employer sponsorship framework. The Sub… Read full answer →
What is the age limit for 189 visa?
The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa requires applicants to be under 45 y… Read full answer →
What is the age limit for employer sponsored visa?
The 45-year rule applies to most employer-sponsored permanent pathways, but the … Read full answer →
Can I migrate to Australia at 45?
Yes, but the standard skilled migration pathway is no longer available to you. A… Read full answer →
Is there an age limit for partner visa?
There is no age limit for Australian partner visas. Whether you are 25 or 65, if… Read full answer →
Can I get PR after 50?
Yes — several pathways to permanent residence remain open after 50, though each … Read full answer →
Age exemptions for skilled migration?
Several formal and informal exemptions exist that allow applicants to bypass the… Read full answer →
Does age affect points test?
Age is one of the most heavily weighted factors in Australia's points-based skil… Read full answer →
What age do you lose points for migration?
Points begin declining at age 33, and reach zero at age 45. The commonly misunde… Read full answer →
Can I get PR with 65 points?
Yes, but only via the regional pathway — and it will be very difficult for the 1… Read full answer →
Is 70 points enough for a 491 visa?
70 points is a competitive and often sufficient score for the Subclass 491 visa,… Read full answer →
Is 75 points enough for a 190 visa?
75 points is generally sufficient for the Subclass 190 visa in most states, thou… Read full answer →
Can I apply 491 with 50 points?
No — 50 points is below the absolute minimum of 65 points required to submit an … Read full answer →
What is the minimum score to get 189 invitation?
The practical minimum to receive a Subclass 189 invitation in recent rounds has … Read full answer →
How many points do you need for EOI?
You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an EOI, but this figure is misleading … Read full answer →
How many points do you need for EOI Australia?
65 points is the floor to enter SkillSelect; 80+ points is the practical target … Read full answer →
Is 70 points enough for 189?
No — 70 points is not sufficient to receive a Subclass 189 invitation in current… Read full answer →
What's the ACS points test?
The ACS points test is the skills assessment process conducted by the Australian… Read full answer →
Can I get PR with 70 points in Australia?
Yes — PR is achievable at 70 points, but the pathway is the Subclass 491 regiona… Read full answer →
Is 70 points enough for 190?
At 70 base points, you are a competitive candidate for the Subclass 190 visa in … Read full answer →
What is the OET score for Australia?
For Australian visa purposes, the Occupational English Test (OET) requires a min… Read full answer →
Is 70 a good score for 491 visa Australia?
Yes — 70 points is a genuinely competitive score for the Subclass 491, and in ma… Read full answer →
Is 75 points good for a 190 visa?
75 points is a strong starting position for the Subclass 190 and represents a re… Read full answer →
Is 75 a good score for 189 visa Australia?
75 points is not sufficient for a Subclass 189 invitation in current rounds — an… Read full answer →
Is 57 a good score in PTE for Australia?
PTE Academic 57 is not sufficient for Proficient English and falls short of visa… Read full answer →
How to calculate EOI points?
Your EOI points score is the sum of points claimed across six categories, and th… Read full answer →
Partner Points: The 10-Point Bonus Most Applicants Miss
**Claiming the 10-point skilled partner bonus is Read full answer →
Can I apply for PR while on bridging visa?
Yes — and this is an important point that many applicants misunderstand. A Bridg… Read full answer →
Is it hard to get PR in Australia?
It is competitive, not impossible — and the difficulty depends almost entirely o… Read full answer →
What points do I need for PR?
The minimum points score to submit an EOI in SkillSelect is 65 points — but subm… Read full answer →
Can I get PR with a diploma?
Yes — a diploma can support a PR application, but it carries limitations compare… Read full answer →
Do I need work experience after studying?
In most cases, yes — Australian work experience is practically essential for a c… Read full answer →
Can I apply for 189 while on student visa?
Yes — you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect while still o… Read full answer →
What courses give extra points?
Points come from multiple sources beyond just your qualification. Courses and pr… Read full answer →
How long do I need to be in a relationship?
The requirement depends on the visa type and the nature of your relationship. Read full answer →
Can de facto partners apply?
Yes — de facto partners have equal standing with married couples across all part… Read full answer →
Who is eligible for a 482 sponsorship visa?
Eligibility for the Subclass 482 visa has three separate components: the employe… Read full answer →
In-depth articles
Go deeper — real numbers, real trade-offs.
Featured
Australian Visa Eligibility: Who Qualifies for What in 2026
Australian visa eligibility hinges on which pathway you pursue — the Subclass 189 and 491 both require a minimum 65 points, while the Subclass 485 skips the points test entirely an…
Read guide → Guide
Partner Visa Eligibility: Requirements for 820, 309 & 300
Australian partner visas hinge on proving a genuine, ongoing relationship with an eligible Australian sponsor — with you…
Read → Guide
Age Limits for Australian Migration: Every Visa Explained
Forty is not too old to migrate to Australia — but crossing that birthday costs you 10 points on the skills test, and th…
Read → Guide
Employer Sponsored Visa Eligibility: 482, 186, 494 & 407 Requirements
Australian employer sponsored visas — the 482, 186, 494, and 407 — each carry distinct eligibility rules, but all requir…
Read → Guide
Points Test & EOI Complete Guide: How to Calculate and Maximise Your Score
Australia's points-tested visas require a minimum score of 65 to lodge an EOI, but real invitation cutoffs sit at 80–90+…
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