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An Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted through SkillSelect to indicate that you would like to be considered for an Australian points-tested skilled visa.
You generally need to submit an EOI before you can be invited to apply for:
Skilled Independent Visa 189（189签证）, Skilled Nominated Visa 190（190签证） and Skilled Work Regional Visa 491（491签证）.
An EOI is not a visa application. You provide information about your occupation, Skills Assessment, English ability, qualifications, work experience and other factors that may contribute to your points score.
SkillSelect then calculates an indicative points score based on the information you provide.
| Bonus Categories | Details | Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18-24 years old | 25 Points |
| 25-32 years old | 30 Points | |
| 33-39 years old | 25 Points | |
| 40-44 years old | 15 Points | |
| English Language Ability | IELTS 6 or PTE 50 | 0 Points |
| IELTS 7 or PTE 65 | 10 Points | |
| IELTS 8 or PTE 79 | 20 Points | |
| Relevant overseas working experience (over the past 10 years) with skill assessment | less than 3 years | 0 Points |
| 3-4 years | 5 Points | |
| 5-7 years | 10 Points | |
| 8+ years | 15 Points | |
| Relevant work experience in Australia that has passed the skill assessment (over the past 10 years)） | Less than 1 year | 0 Points |
| 1-2 years | 5 Points | |
| 3-4 years | 10 Points | |
| 5-7 years | 15 Points | |
| 8+ years | 20 Points | |
| Qualifications (including Australian qualifications and recognised qualifications outside Australia) | Australian Diploma or Australian Certificates | 10 Points |
| Bachelor's or Master's degree | 15 Points | |
| PhD | 20 Points | |
| Australian Studying background | 2 years of full-time study | 5 Points |
| Studying background in remote areas of Australia | 2 years of full-time study | 5 Points |
| Completion of Professional Year (PY) in Australia | Accounting, IT, Engineering, etc. related to the nominated occupation | 5 Points |
| Community Language | NATTI Certified Interpreter/Transliteration | 5 Points |
| Applicant's marriage status | No spouse or common-law spouse | 10 Points | Spouse who has passed the skill assessment in the medium and long-term occupation list (IELTS 6 points or PTE 50 points) | 10 Points | Spouse is an Australian PR or citizen | 10 Points | Spouses with IELTS 6 points or PTE 50 points (no immigration professional requirements) | 5 Points |
| 190 State Sponsorship | Obtain the corresponding State Sponsorship 190 Visa | 5 Points |
| Sponsorship by relatives or remote areas | Sponsored by a state government or relative in a remote area (491 visa) | 15 Points |
| STEM majors | Research Masters or PhD in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics | 10 Points |
Not necessarily.
For the points-tested 189, 190 and 491 visa pathways, 65 points is the current minimum points threshold, but reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation.
For example, Home Affairs confirms that applicants for the subclass 190 visa must have at least 65 points, but the points score stated in an eventual invitation can be higher depending on the claims made in the EOI.
Actual invitation prospects can depend on factors such as:
The important distinction is:
Minimum eligibility does not necessarily equal a competitive invitation score.
For this reason, applicants should assess not only whether they can reach 65 points, but also whether their score and occupation are competitive for the pathway they are targeting.
The three visa subclasses use the same general skilled migration points framework, but nomination can affect the final score.
Subclass 189 does not provide state nomination points.
Applicants therefore rely mainly on points from factors such as age, English, qualifications, skilled employment, partner circumstances and other eligible categories.
A successful state or territory nomination for subclass 190 provides 5 additional points.
However, obtaining 65 points after nomination does not automatically mean that a state or territory will nominate you. Each jurisdiction can apply its own nomination criteria.
An eligible state or territory nomination, or eligible family sponsorship for subclass 491, provides 15 additional points.
This can make the 491 pathway worth considering for applicants who are willing and eligible to live and work in regional Australia.
Therefore, the question is not simply:
“How many EOI points do I have?”
It is also:
“Which of the 189, 190 or 491 pathways best matches my occupation, score and circumstances?”
Before submitting an EOI, applicants should make sure that the information supporting their points claim is accurate and up to date.
For the 189, 190 and 491 skilled visa pathways, key information commonly includes:
Home Affairs currently instructs applicants to include their English test and Skills Assessment information when completing an EOI.
If you have not yet completed an assessment for your nominated occupation, see Skills Assessment（职业评估） before preparing your EOI.
This creates a very useful internal-link flow:
Skills Assessment → EOI Score Sheet → 189 / 190 / 491
If your current EOI score is lower than you would like, the first step is to identify which points categories may realistically change.
Common areas to review include:
Competent English satisfies the basic English requirement for many points-tested skilled visas but provides 0 EOI points.
Proficient English provides 10 points, while Superior English provides 20 points.
For applicants who are close to a target score, improving English can therefore make a significant difference.
Additional eligible skilled employment may move an applicant into a higher work-experience points bracket.
If you have already submitted an EOI and later gain enough experience to claim additional points, your EOI should be updated before receiving an invitation.
Depending on your circumstances, partner-related points may be available through an eligible skilled partner, a partner with Competent English, or where you are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Applicants who are less competitive for subclass 189 may also consider whether they satisfy the separate nomination requirements for subclass 190 or 491.
Remember that the extra 5 points for 190 or 15 points for 491 do not guarantee nomination. State and territory nomination criteria operate separately from the federal points test.
Yes.
Your EOI remains active in SkillSelect for 2 years from the date of submission, and you can update it before receiving an invitation.
Home Affairs specifically recommends updating an EOI when circumstances change, including when you:
SkillSelect will update the indicative points score when the EOI information changes. Once you have received an invitation, however, you can no longer update that EOI.
If you are invited to apply for a skilled visa, you generally have 60 calendar days from the date of invitation to lodge the visa application online. Home Affairs states that this period cannot be extended.
The invitation includes an indicative points score based on the claims made in your EOI.
When lodging the visa application, you must be able to provide evidence supporting the points claimed and satisfy the other visa requirements.
Therefore, an EOI should not be treated as an opportunity to claim points now and prove them later.
Your claimed:
English results, Skills Assessment, qualifications, work experience, partner points and other points categories
should be supportable by the relevant evidence when you receive an invitation and lodge the visa application.
Melbourne (CBD):
Phone：03 9670 6660
Shanghai：
Phone：+86 1376 1314 654
Phone: 03 9670 6660
Hong Kong:
Phone: +852 6875 6585Edmond
Mobile Number:
Phone: 0438 551 289
0438 551 289
Jasmine Liu （MARN 2318100）
Code of Conduct for Australia Migration Agents
