Image unavailable By Admin 10 Jul 2026 Skilled Migration / Australia PR / Partner Points / Points Test 14 min read Australia PR Partner Points Explained: How to Get 5 or 10 Extra Points If you are planning to apply for Australian Permanent Residency through skilled migration, your points score matters. For many applicants, even 5 or 10 extra points can make a major difference in receiving an invitation. One area that often creates confusion is partner points. Many applicants do not clearly understand whether their partner can help them claim 5 points, 10 points, or no points at all. Under the Australia PR points test , your partner’s English ability, skills assessment, occupation and visa eligibility can affect your total score for skilled visas such as Subclass 189 , Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 . In this guide, V CAN Migration Services explains how Australia PR partner points work and what you should check before submitting your Expression of Interest. 01 Why Partner Points Matter in Australia PR Australia’s skilled migration system uses a points test to rank applicants. Your score is calculated based on factors such as age, English level, education, skilled employment, Australian study, nomination and partner skills. In competitive occupations, the difference between 75 and 85 points can be significant. That is why partner points should not be ignored. A partner with Competent English may help you claim 5 extra points. A partner with Competent English, a suitable skills assessment and an eligible skilled occupation may help you claim 10 extra points. The important point is that you should only claim partner points when the relevant requirements can be satisfied and supported by appropriate evidence. 02 How Many Partner Points Can You Claim? There are three main partner-point situations under the skilled migration points test. 10 Skilled Partner Partner meets the relevant age, English and skills criteria. 5 Competent English Partner meets the applicable Competent English requirement. 10 Single / Australian Partner You are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Partner Situation Points Partner meets applicable age, English and skilled partner criteria 10 Points Partner has Competent English 5 Points You are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10 Points Important: Being married does not automatically give you 5 or 10 points. The relevant partner-point requirements must be satisfied. 03 10 Points for a Skilled Partner You may be able to claim 10 partner points when your spouse or de facto partner meets the applicable skilled partner criteria. To claim 10 points, your partner generally must: Be applying under the relevant skilled visa pathway with you Not be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident Be under 45 years of age at the relevant time Have Competent English Have a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority Nominate an eligible skilled occupation Meet the occupation requirements applicable to the visa pathway These requirements work together. A skills assessment alone is not enough, and English alone is not enough for the full skilled partner points. 04 5 Points for a Partner with Competent English You may be able to claim 5 partner points if your spouse or de facto partner meets the relevant Competent English requirement. To claim these points, your partner generally must: Be included appropriately in your skilled migration application Not be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident Provide acceptable evidence of Competent English Example: If your partner can prove Competent English but does not satisfy the full skilled partner criteria, you may still be able to claim 5 points. 05 10 Points If You Are Single or Your Partner Is an Australian Citizen or PR You may also receive 10 points if you are single. You may also receive 10 points where your spouse or de facto partner is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident, subject to the applicable points-test rules. Important: Always declare your relationship status honestly and accurately. Incorrect or inconsistent relationship information can create serious problems during a visa assessment. 06 What Is Competent English for Partner Points? Competent English generally means your partner must provide accepted evidence of their English ability. This may include holding an eligible passport from certain English-speaking countries or achieving the required result in an approved English language test. English evidence requirements can change, so applicants should always check the latest requirements before submitting an EOI or visa application. Do not assume an old test result is still valid. The test type, score, test date and applicable visa requirements can all matter. 07 Common Mistakes in Partner Points Calculation Many applicants lose points or create unnecessary risk because they claim partner points incorrectly. X Claiming 10 Points Without a Skills Assessment For skilled partner points, a suitable skills assessment may be required. Without satisfying the complete criteria, you may not be able to claim the full points. X Using the Wrong Occupation Your partner’s nominated occupation must satisfy the occupation requirements relevant to the skilled visa pathway. X Assuming English Alone Gives 10 Points Competent English alone may support a 5-point claim. The additional skilled partner criteria are required for the higher points category. X Providing Inconsistent Relationship Details Relationship information that conflicts with previous records or changes after invitation can affect the assessment. X Lodging an EOI Without Checking Evidence Do not claim points based only on what you expect to obtain later. Your claims should be supported by the required evidence. 08 Partner Points Example Let’s say you are applying for a Subclass 190 visa and your current score is 75. 75 Current Points Score › 80 With Eligible 5 Partner Points › 85 With Eligible 10 Partner Points If your partner has Competent English only, your score may increase to 80. If your partner also satisfies the applicable skilled partner requirements, your score may increase to 85. That additional 5 or 10 points may improve your ranking, depending on your occupation, nomination pathway and current invitation competition. 09 Should You Add Your Partner to Your PR Application? If you are married or in a de facto relationship, your relationship and partner details should be declared correctly. Whether your partner helps you claim additional points depends on their individual profile. Before submitting your EOI, check: Your partner’s English level Their age at the relevant time Their qualifications and work experience Whether their occupation is eligible Whether they can obtain a suitable skills assessment How your partner should be included in the visa strategy This is not an area where guesswork is safe. Incorrect partner-point claims can affect your invitation or visa application. 10 Explore Your Skilled Migration Options Your partner points are only one part of your overall skilled migration score. Explore these related V CAN resources before finalising your strategy. Australia PR Points Calculator Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 491 Regional Visa 11 Find Out If You Can Claim 5 or 10 Partner Points Every Australia PR case is different. Your partner may help you claim 5 points, 10 points or no additional partner points depending on their English, skills assessment, occupation, relationship status and other eligibility requirements. A proper eligibility assessment before submitting your EOI can help reduce mistakes and improve your overall skilled migration strategy. At V CAN Migration Services, our team can assess your complete profile and help you understand how your points position relates to Subclass 189, Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 pathways. Unsure About Your Partner Points? Speak with V CAN Migration Services before submitting your EOI and get a clear assessment of whether your partner may contribute 5 points, 10 points or no additional partner points. Book a Consultation Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and should not be taken as legal or migration advice. Migration rules and eligibility requirements can change, and individual circumstances differ. Professional advice should be obtained before making a visa decision. Frequently Asked QuestionsHow many points can a partner add in Australia PR?A partner can add 5 or 10 points depending on their English ability, skills assessment, age, occupation and visa eligibility.When can I claim 10 partner points?You may claim 10 points if your partner is included in the same visa application, is under 45, has Competent English, has a suitable skills assessment and has an eligible skilled occupation.Can I claim partner points without a skills assessment?Yes, but usually only 5 points if your partner has Competent English. For 10 points, a suitable skills assessment and eligible occupation are required.What if my partner’s occupation is not on the skilled list?If your partner’s occupation is not eligible for your visa pathway, you may not be able to claim 10 skilled partner points. However, you may still be able to claim 5 points if they meet the Competent English requirement.Do single applicants get partner points?Single applicants may receive 10 points under the partner skills section of the points test.Can I get 10 points if my partner is an Australian citizen or PR?Yes. If your spouse or de facto partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may receive 10 points.Can changing partner details affect my PR application?Yes. Incorrect, incomplete or inconsistent partner details can affect your EOI, invitation and visa application. Always provide accurate information from the beginning. Share
If you are planning to apply for Australian Permanent Residency through skilled migration, your points score matters. For many applicants, even 5 or 10 extra points can make a major difference in receiving an invitation. One area that often creates confusion is partner points. Many applicants do not clearly understand whether their partner can help them claim 5 points, 10 points, or no points at all. Under the Australia PR points test , your partner’s English ability, skills assessment, occupation and visa eligibility can affect your total score for skilled visas such as Subclass 189 , Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 . In this guide, V CAN Migration Services explains how Australia PR partner points work and what you should check before submitting your Expression of Interest. 01 Why Partner Points Matter in Australia PR Australia’s skilled migration system uses a points test to rank applicants. Your score is calculated based on factors such as age, English level, education, skilled employment, Australian study, nomination and partner skills. In competitive occupations, the difference between 75 and 85 points can be significant. That is why partner points should not be ignored. A partner with Competent English may help you claim 5 extra points. A partner with Competent English, a suitable skills assessment and an eligible skilled occupation may help you claim 10 extra points. The important point is that you should only claim partner points when the relevant requirements can be satisfied and supported by appropriate evidence. 02 How Many Partner Points Can You Claim? There are three main partner-point situations under the skilled migration points test. 10 Skilled Partner Partner meets the relevant age, English and skills criteria. 5 Competent English Partner meets the applicable Competent English requirement. 10 Single / Australian Partner You are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Partner Situation Points Partner meets applicable age, English and skilled partner criteria 10 Points Partner has Competent English 5 Points You are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10 Points Important: Being married does not automatically give you 5 or 10 points. The relevant partner-point requirements must be satisfied. 03 10 Points for a Skilled Partner You may be able to claim 10 partner points when your spouse or de facto partner meets the applicable skilled partner criteria. To claim 10 points, your partner generally must: Be applying under the relevant skilled visa pathway with you Not be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident Be under 45 years of age at the relevant time Have Competent English Have a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority Nominate an eligible skilled occupation Meet the occupation requirements applicable to the visa pathway These requirements work together. A skills assessment alone is not enough, and English alone is not enough for the full skilled partner points. 04 5 Points for a Partner with Competent English You may be able to claim 5 partner points if your spouse or de facto partner meets the relevant Competent English requirement. To claim these points, your partner generally must: Be included appropriately in your skilled migration application Not be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident Provide acceptable evidence of Competent English Example: If your partner can prove Competent English but does not satisfy the full skilled partner criteria, you may still be able to claim 5 points. 05 10 Points If You Are Single or Your Partner Is an Australian Citizen or PR You may also receive 10 points if you are single. You may also receive 10 points where your spouse or de facto partner is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident, subject to the applicable points-test rules. Important: Always declare your relationship status honestly and accurately. Incorrect or inconsistent relationship information can create serious problems during a visa assessment. 06 What Is Competent English for Partner Points? Competent English generally means your partner must provide accepted evidence of their English ability. This may include holding an eligible passport from certain English-speaking countries or achieving the required result in an approved English language test. English evidence requirements can change, so applicants should always check the latest requirements before submitting an EOI or visa application. Do not assume an old test result is still valid. The test type, score, test date and applicable visa requirements can all matter. 07 Common Mistakes in Partner Points Calculation Many applicants lose points or create unnecessary risk because they claim partner points incorrectly. X Claiming 10 Points Without a Skills Assessment For skilled partner points, a suitable skills assessment may be required. Without satisfying the complete criteria, you may not be able to claim the full points. X Using the Wrong Occupation Your partner’s nominated occupation must satisfy the occupation requirements relevant to the skilled visa pathway. X Assuming English Alone Gives 10 Points Competent English alone may support a 5-point claim. The additional skilled partner criteria are required for the higher points category. X Providing Inconsistent Relationship Details Relationship information that conflicts with previous records or changes after invitation can affect the assessment. X Lodging an EOI Without Checking Evidence Do not claim points based only on what you expect to obtain later. Your claims should be supported by the required evidence. 08 Partner Points Example Let’s say you are applying for a Subclass 190 visa and your current score is 75. 75 Current Points Score › 80 With Eligible 5 Partner Points › 85 With Eligible 10 Partner Points If your partner has Competent English only, your score may increase to 80. If your partner also satisfies the applicable skilled partner requirements, your score may increase to 85. That additional 5 or 10 points may improve your ranking, depending on your occupation, nomination pathway and current invitation competition. 09 Should You Add Your Partner to Your PR Application? If you are married or in a de facto relationship, your relationship and partner details should be declared correctly. Whether your partner helps you claim additional points depends on their individual profile. Before submitting your EOI, check: Your partner’s English level Their age at the relevant time Their qualifications and work experience Whether their occupation is eligible Whether they can obtain a suitable skills assessment How your partner should be included in the visa strategy This is not an area where guesswork is safe. Incorrect partner-point claims can affect your invitation or visa application. 10 Explore Your Skilled Migration Options Your partner points are only one part of your overall skilled migration score. Explore these related V CAN resources before finalising your strategy. Australia PR Points Calculator Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 491 Regional Visa 11 Find Out If You Can Claim 5 or 10 Partner Points Every Australia PR case is different. Your partner may help you claim 5 points, 10 points or no additional partner points depending on their English, skills assessment, occupation, relationship status and other eligibility requirements. A proper eligibility assessment before submitting your EOI can help reduce mistakes and improve your overall skilled migration strategy. At V CAN Migration Services, our team can assess your complete profile and help you understand how your points position relates to Subclass 189, Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 pathways. Unsure About Your Partner Points? Speak with V CAN Migration Services before submitting your EOI and get a clear assessment of whether your partner may contribute 5 points, 10 points or no additional partner points. Book a Consultation Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and should not be taken as legal or migration advice. Migration rules and eligibility requirements can change, and individual circumstances differ. Professional advice should be obtained before making a visa decision.