Top 7 Ways to Increase Your Australia PR Points

If you’re aiming for Australian Permanent Residency (PR) in 2025, your points score is your golden ticket. Whether you’re a software engineer in Ahmedabad, a civil engineer from Vadodara, or a healthcare professional in Surat, this guide shows exactly how to boost your score, fast, ethically, and strategically.

We’ll also bust a common myth (“60 points is enough for a couple”) and share practical targets based on recent invitation trends. If you’d like hand-holding through the process, a seasoned Australia PR consultant or a trusted Australia PR Agency can help align your plan with the latest rules.

Quick refresher: How the Australia PR points test works (2025)

For points-tested visas, chiefly subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), and 491 (Skilled Work Regional), you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and are ranked by points.

65 points is the minimum pass mark, but competitive cut-offs vary by occupation and round. Points can come from your age (up to 30), English (up to 20), skilled employment (up to 20), education (up to 20), Australian study (5), specialist STEM research degrees (10), credentialed community language (5), partner or single-applicant settings (up to 10), and nomination/sponsorship (5–15).

Why your target must be higher than 65: Occupations like engineering and ICT often need 85–95 in large rounds. Treat 65 as eligibility, not a goal.

1) Max out your English score (+10 to +20)

Superior English is the quickest 20 points you can add, typically IELTS 8 in each band or PTE Academic 79+. Even moving from “Competent” (0 points) to “Proficient” (10 points) is a big jump. If one band lags, consider IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) to lift just that band.

Action plan

• Book an exam date 6–8 weeks out and back-schedule weekly targets.
• Use exam-style question banks and time yourself; drill the slowest section.
• If you’re at 7.5 Reading but 6.5 Writing, OSR can be a smart fix.

2) Leverage skilled work experience (+ up to 20)

Claim points for overseas and Australian skilled employment (in your nominated or closely related occupation) in the last 10 years. Overseas experience tops out at 15 points; Australian at 20; combined total is capped at 20. Keep iron-clad documentation: contracts, pay slips, tax docs, and detailed employer letters.

Action plan

• Map your last 10 years of roles against ANZSCO tasks and remove unclear months.
• Request employer letters early; under-claiming due to missing letters is common.
• Clarify onsite (Australia) vs offshore periods if you worked for Aussie clients.

3) Claim partner or single-applicant points (+10 / +5)

Get 10 points if you’re single (or have an Australian PR/citizen partner), 10 points if your partner has competent English and a suitable skills assessment, or 5 points if your partner has competent English only.

Myth-busting: “60 points is enough for a couple” isn’t realistic for most skilled occupations in 2025. Aim higher based on your ANZSCO.

Action plan

• If your partner can reach Competent English, test them, easy +5.
• Where feasible, line up your partner’s skills assessment for the full +10.
• Model both scenarios in a calculator: single vs partner-points pathways.

4) Use state nomination or regional pathways (+5 / +15)

Subclass 190 state/territory nomination adds +5 points, and Subclass 491 (state/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship in designated regional areas) adds +15 points. For many engineering and ICT roles, this is the difference between “almost there” and “invited.”

Action plan

• Shortlist 2–3 states where your occupation is on the list and you meet their criteria (job offer, study, ties).
• Consider relocating to a designated regional area to unlock more options.
• Keep your EOI current; states can nominate throughout the month.

5) Add NAATI CCL (Credentialed Community Language) points (+5)

Pass the NAATI CCL test (or hold NAATI certification) and claim +5 points. Many Gujarati candidates choose Hindi or other Indian languages. Prep is practical and turnaround times are reasonable.

Action plan

• Book early, slots fill up around major round cycles.
• Practice community scenarios (health, education, transport) and note-taking.

6) Complete a Professional Year (Accounting / IT / Engineering) (+5)

A recognised Professional Year adds +5 points and boosts employability. IT, Engineering and Accounting each have recognised programs.

Action plan

• Check eligibility (skills assessment, recent graduation) and local intakes.
• Ensure your completion certificate clearly states dates and discipline.

7) Stack Australian study & specialist research points (+5 to +10)

Meet the Australian study requirement (2 academic years) for +5 points. A research-based Master’s or a PhD in a STEM/ICT field from an Australian institution can add an extra +10 “Specialist Education” points.

Action plan

• Verify your course meets the duration/CRICOS weeks and specialist-education rules.
• Choosing between coursework and research Master’s? Only research attracts the extra +10.

How many points should you aim for in 2025?

Use 65 as the floor, not the goal. Tech and engineering occupations often land around 85–95 points, while some trades and healthcare roles see lower thresholds in certain rounds. Set your target by ANZSCO and plan your uplift accordingly.

Fast score-boost checklist

1. Retake English → Aim for Superior (+20).
2. NAATI CCL → Quick +5.
3. Professional Year (IT/Eng/Accounting) → +5.
4. Partner settings → Single or skilled/competent partner → +10 / +5.
5. State nomination / regional → +5 (190) or +15 (491).
6. Australian study & specialist education → +5 and/or +10.
7. Document employment → Max out experience points (cap 20).

Gujarat-focused tips (for IT, Civil & other professionals)

• IT pros (Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar): Superior English + NAATI + Professional Year + 491 nomination in a regional hub can move you from 70 to 90+.
• Civil/Mechanical/Electrical engineers: Watch state lists (WA, SA, TAS) and target regions with infrastructure demand; consider a regional contract to boost nomination chances.
• Recent grads: If choosing a Master’s, consider a research pathway to unlock the +10 specialist points later.

Tools & resources you should bookmark

• Official Australia immigration points calculator
• Latest SkillSelect invitation round outcomes
• NAATI CCL (language points)
• ACS Professional Year (IT)

FAQ (straight talk)

Is “60 points is enough for a couple” true in 2025?

No. While 65 is the minimum to be eligible, competitive occupations frequently require more, often 80–95. Build to your occupation’s realistic target using the seven levers above.

Which gives me points faster: NAATI CCL or Professional Year?

NAATI CCL is usually faster (+5). Professional Year also gives +5 but takes longer; it can strengthen employability and networking.

Is 491 a “dead end”?

No. It’s a powerful +15-point path with a designed PR pathway (subclass 191) after regional work and income criteria are met. Consider it seriously if your occupation’s 189/190 cut-offs are high.

Run your numbers with an Australia PR Points Calculator, then plan your upgrades (English → NAATI → partner → state nomination). If you want expert guidance tailored to your profile and occupation list:

Talk to an Australia PR consultant in Ahmedabad for a no-pressure strategy session, ideal for Gujarati tech professionals and civil engineers mapping a 3–6 month points-boost plan.

Or, if you’re comparing broader options for Australia immigration, connect with experienced Australia PR Visa Consultants who work on EOIs, state nominations, and documentation end-to-end.

Conclusion

Your 90-day points-boost blueprint Think in layers: English (20) → partner/single (10) → NAATI (5) → Professional Year (5) → state/region (5–15) → study/specialist (5–10) → experience (up to 20). Stack 2–3 levers and you can move from 65 to 85–95, right where many engineering and IT invitations land. Recalculate after every upgrade, track occupation cut-offs, and keep documents ready so you can respond immediately when your invitation arrives.