- 25–32 years old scores the maximum 30 points — the single largest points allocation on the whole test.
- 18–24 and 33–39 both score 25 points.
- 40–44 drops sharply to 15 points.
- Applicants 45 and over score 0 age points and generally cannot be invited for these skilled visas at all, regardless of other strengths.
- Age points are assessed at the date of invitation, not when you first lodge your Expression of Interest.
Figures sourced from official Australian Government (homeaffairs.gov.au) sources. Points-test settings and thresholds are reviewed periodically — always confirm the current figure on the Department of Home Affairs website before you plan around it.
The exact age brackets and points
Age is scored in five brackets on the points test for the 189, 190 and 491 skilled visas:
- 18–24 years: 25 points
- 25–32 years: 30 points (maximum)
- 33–39 years: 25 points
- 40–44 years: 15 points
- 45 years and over: 0 points
No other single factor on the test carries a 30-point maximum. English ability and skilled employment can each add up to 20 points, and qualifications up to 20 — age alone can outweigh either of those by a comfortable margin.
Why age is weighted this heavily
The points test is designed to select migrants who will spend the most years contributing to the Australian workforce and economy. A younger applicant, in the Department's framing, represents a longer working-life horizon after migration — which is why the 25–32 bracket is treated as the sweet spot, rather than the youngest bracket alone. Applicants at 18–24 still score well (25 points) but not the maximum, likely reflecting that this group is earlier in building the qualifications and work experience the rest of the test also rewards.
The hard cut-off at 45
This is the detail that catches people out: it is not just that 45+ scores fewer points — applicants aged 45 and over are generally not eligible to be invited for the 189, 190 or 491 skilled visas at all, separate from the points calculation itself. If you are approaching 45, the practical takeaway is that timing matters more than almost anything else you can control in your application. Age-45 exemptions exist for a very narrow set of circumstances (some employer-sponsored pathways use a different age test) — check the current settings for your specific visa rather than assuming an exemption applies to you.
Why the invitation date, not your lodgement date, is what counts
Your age points are locked in based on your age on the date you receive an invitation to apply, not the date you first submit your Expression of Interest. That means a birthday sitting between lodgement and invitation can move you into a lower bracket — or, worse, past the 45 cut-off — while you are still waiting in the pool. If your birthday is approaching and you are close to a bracket boundary, this is worth factoring into when you submit, and whether a state or regional nomination (which adds extra points and can speed up an invitation) is worth pursuing to secure your current bracket before it changes.
Frequently asked questions
What age scores the maximum points on the Australian skilled visa test?+
Can I still apply for a skilled visa if I am over 45?+
Is my age locked in when I submit my Expression of Interest?+
How many points do I lose moving from the 25-32 bracket to 33-39?+
Does age affect employer-sponsored visas the same way?+
Wondering which age bracket you fall into?
Book a discovery call and we'll walk through your current age points and whether timing your application differently could help.