Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to understand how the point system works for skilled visas (e.g., Subclass 189, 190, 491, etc.). The Department of Home Affairs assigns points based on factors like:
Age
English language ability
Work experience (both in Australia and overseas)
Educational qualifications
Australian study requirements
Professional year
Community language skills (NAATI)
Partner skills
State or regional nomination
Knowing which areas you can improve helps you target them effectively.Â

Also note: while the minimum points to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) is often 65, in reality, competitive occupations often require significantly higher scores.
Take a recognized English test (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL) and aim high. Superior English (for example, IELTS 8+) can earn you the full 20 points.
If your first attempt isn’t great, invest time in coaching, mock tests, and deliberate practice, especially in weaker modules.
Retaking the exam can often pay off — the incremental gain in points can make a big difference in your EOI ranking.
Get as many years of relevant professional experience in your nominated occupation as possible. Points increase with the number of years.
Experience in Australia counts more strongly in some cases.
If you’re still early in your career, consider roles (or internships) that align well with your nominated occupation to build up relevant experience.
Higher qualifications give more points: for example, a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD can increase your PR score.
Completing a course in Australia (CRICOS-registered) can provide extra “Australian study requirement” points.
Studying in a regional area can give additional points.
Choosing in-demand fields (like STEM) may also be beneficial, as some migration consultants suggest prioritizing those courses.
If eligible, enrol in a Professional Year (PYP) program in Australia (available for fields like IT, accounting, engineering).
These programs typically combine classroom training and practical work, helping you gain local work experience and giving you +5 points.
Completing a PYP also helps you understand the Australian professional environment, which might help with employability.
If you speak a language other than English, take the NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) test. Passing gives 5 extra points.
This is a relatively under-used lever, especially valuable if you are already bilingual or multilingual.
Apply for a state-nominated visa (Subclass 190) — state governments often offer 5 extra points for nomination.
For regional visas (e.g., Subclass 491), you can sometimes get even more points (for living and working in a designated regional area).
Research which states are currently sponsoring occupations in your field — this can be a game-changer.
If you have a spouse or de facto partner, their skills can contribute:
If your partner has a positive skills assessment + good English, that could be +10 points.
Even if your partner has only competent English, you might still get +5 points.
If you are single, some visa streams still give you points for “single applicant” status.
Age is a major factor. The highest age-related points are for applicants aged 25–32 (you get 30 points).
If you’re close to aging out of a high-point bracket, it might be wise to plan your EOI submission accordingly, especially once you’ve improved other factors (like English or work experience).
Immigration policies, occupation lists, and priority occupations change. Stay updated with the Department of Home Affairs, migration agents, and credible immigration blogs.
Even after you lodge your EOI, you can improve your profile (e.g., retake English, gain more experience, finish a course) and update your profile.
If you don’t yet have strong work experience, volunteer work can help you gain soft skills, network, and make your profile more attractive.
While volunteering doesn’t directly give points, it can support your application narrative, help with references, and potentially lead to real work opportunities.
The migration process is complex. A MARA-registered migration agent can help you:
Choose the right visa subclass
Understand state nomination opportunities
Strategically plan how to improve your EOI points
Prepare documentation (skills assessment, EOI, etc.).
Their guidance can mean the difference between a good profile and a competitive one.
Competition is high: Even if you hit the minimum points, invitation rounds often require much more.
Policy changes: Immigration rules and points systems can change. For example, certain “bonus” criteria like professional year or community language are more heavily weighted now, but that can shift.
Time & cost: Improving points often takes time (studying, gaining work experience) and money (test fees, course fees, migration agent fees). Be realistic with timelines.
Skill assessment: Even after you improve your points, you need to clear a skills assessment for your nominated occupation, which may have its own technical requirements.
Improving your PR eligibility for Australia is a multi-dimensional strategy:
Focus both on hard score-boosting factors (English, work experience, education) and bonus levers (state nomination, NAATI, professional year).
Make a realistic roadmap: assess where you currently stand, identify gaps, and set target “milestones” (e.g., “get PTE 79+,” “complete 2 years of work,” etc.).
Stay flexible and informed — the immigration landscape evolves, so should your strategy.
Leverage expert help if needed, especially for state nominations and preparing a strong EOI.
