How a Spouse’s Skills Assessment Can Boost Your Australian PR Points – WeAbide® Guide

Vikrant Gungash
Jun 28
6 min read

By Vikrant Singh, June 28 2025

Australia's skilled migration is a competitive points-based system. In many cases, having your spouse or de facto partner earn extra points can make the difference between getting an invitation and waiting longer. If your partner meets certain criteria—notably a positive skills assessment in an in-demand occupation, competent English, and the right age—you can claim 10 extra points under the points test. Even without a skills assessment, a partner with competent English can add 5 points. These partner points are added to your own score and can significantly improve your Expression of Interest (EOI) rank for GSM visas (subclass 189, 190, or 491).

Partner Points in the Points Test

Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test has special provisions for partners:

Single or Partner Australian: If you are single (or engaged) or your partner is already an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you automatically get 10 points. (This is treated as a “single” applicant.)
Partner Skills (10 points): If your spouse or de facto partner is included in your visa application and meets all these criteria, you earn 10 points:
- Under 45 years old at the time of invitation.
- Holds a positive skills assessment for a nominated occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupation list (for example, the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List—MLTSSL—for 189 visas).
- Has competent English (minimum IELTS 6 in each band, or equivalent).
- Is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Partner English Only (5 points): If your partner doesn’t have a suitable skills assessment but does have competent English, you get 5 points.

By ensuring your partner obtains a skills assessment and meets the other requirements, you can add a full 10 points to your total—an amount that often makes a significant difference in the competitive migration process.

Key Partner Eligibility Requirements

To claim partner points, WeAbide® recommends making sure your spouse meets these requirements:

Age: Under 45 at the date of invitation.
English: Achieves at least “competent” English—generally an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) in each module.
Occupation on List: Your partner’s nominated occupation must appear on the correct skilled occupation list for your visa. For subclass 189 (Independent) or 491 Family visas, this means the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). For subclass 190 (State-Nominated), it can be on either the MLTSSL or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). For subclass 491 (State), the partner’s occupation can be on any relevant skilled list.
Positive Skills Assessment: Your partner must obtain a suitable skills assessment for that occupation from the relevant Australian assessing authority (such as Engineers Australia for engineers, ACS for IT jobs, VETASSESS, etc.). The assessment must be valid and not one done for a Temporary Graduate (485) visa.
Applicant on Same Visa: Your partner must be included as a co-applicant on your visa application. They should not themselves be an Australian permanent resident or citizen.

If any one criterion (like a skills assessment) is missing but your partner still has competent English, you get 5 points. If your partner is an Australian citizen or PR, you get 10 points as if you were single.

Boosting Your EOI Score with Partner Points

When completing your SkillSelect EOI, you will list your partner’s details and claim any points they earn. These points are added to your own points total. For example, suppose you have 65 points on your own (age, qualifications, work experience, English, etc.). If your spouse then completes a positive skills assessment and meets the other criteria, your score jumps to 75. That 10-point jump can be crucial, especially as recent invitation rounds often require scores in the mid-60s or higher.

Even if partner points don’t push you past the very minimum, they make your EOI more competitive. For state-nominated streams (190/491), extra points can also help you meet or exceed that state’s cut-off, which is often 70 points or more. Always recalculate your points after your partner qualifies. Adding 5–10 partner points can move your total above a tie-break threshold or into a higher invitation band.

WeAbide® has seen many couples who were marginally below recent cut-offs by only a few points—getting those extra 10 partner points pushed them above the requirement. Even if one partner’s individual score is lower, their combined strategy can work: as long as one EOI gets invited, both partners can gain PR.

Lodging Separate EOIs for Both Partners

Another smart strategy is dual EOIs—where each spouse submits their own SkillSelect Expression of Interest (with the other listed as their spouse). Each EOI competes independently in the system, essentially doubling your family’s chances of receiving an invitation.

Why this helps:

Two Invitations Are Better Than One: With two EOIs active, either could receive an invitation. If either one gets invited, you can apply for PR for the whole family (partners and children).
Different Strengths: One partner may have a higher English score but a less in-demand occupation, while the other has a top occupation but slightly lower English. Lodging separate EOIs allows each to be the principal applicant in turn, maximizing both profiles’ strongest points.
Visa Options: You can pursue different visa subclasses or states. For example, one partner might lodge for a 189 visa (federal skilled independent) while the other applies for a 190 (state nominated) in a different state. Whichever EOI yields an invitation first can be used.

If both EOIs receive invitations, you simply choose the one that best suits your family’s situation. In practice, couples often proceed with the higher-priority invitation and withdraw the other EOI to avoid confusion.

Example: If both you and your partner each score 70 points, that might be just below some state cut-offs. If your partner’s skills add 10 points to your profile (taking you to 80), then your EOI for a 189 visa may clear the threshold. Meanwhile, you lodge a second EOI with your partner as principal—maybe they also reach 80 with your support. Now the state sees two candidates at 80 points instead of one, essentially doubling your chance of getting an invitation.

When to Act: Skills Assessment and Dual EOIs

At WeAbide®, we advise couples to start planning early. Here are our top recommendations:

Early Skills Assessment: If your partner’s occupation is on any skilled list, have them sit the skills assessment as early as possible—even before you lodge your EOI. A positive outcome allows you to claim partner points right away and gives time to fix any issues.
English Testing: If your partner is close to the IELTS 6.0 level, consider a retake to secure “competent” English (for the 5 or 10 point claim). Higher scores are always helpful for settling and working in Australia.
Assess Both Profiles: Use a points calculator or seek agent advice to compare what each of you could score—with and without partner points. If both profiles are competitive, plan to lodge EOIs for both.
Meet Minimum EOI Requirements: Remember, each EOI must meet the minimum eligible points (at least 65) and other visa requirements on its own. Don’t submit an ineligible profile, but if both of you are eligible, dual EOIs can maximise your outcome.
Update EOIs as Needed: If your partner qualifies or improves their score after you lodge your EOI, update or re-lodge. You can update details (like adding a skills assessment result) before an invitation has been issued.
Family Strategy: Think as a team. One invitation is all it takes—because when one of you receives an invitation, the visa application you lodge will grant PR to the whole family.

In short, whenever your partner can contribute points, take advantage of it. Even 5 extra points can tip the scales in a tight cut-off round. If both of you qualify to some extent, consider two EOIs—it’s a simple way to double your chances. WeAbide® has helped many couples use this method successfully, and we know it works in practice. By meeting the partner-point criteria, the primary applicant can turn a good score into a great one. And by leveraging both partners’ strengths, you spread your opportunities. If you’re aiming for a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 visa, talk to WeAbide® early about your partner’s skills and points. With careful planning and the right assessments, you can maximise your points score and speed up your invitation.

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