Who Can Claim Partner Skills Points?

It’s important to note that the occupation must align with the relevant skilled occupation list:

• Subclass 189 (Independent) and 491 Family Sponsored: Occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• Subclass 190 (State Nominated): Occupation must be on the MLTSSL or Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
• Subclass 491 (State Nominated): Occupation may be on the MLTSSL, STSOL, or the Regional Occupation List (ROL)

Examples:

• Applying for 189 Visa: You are a Biomedical Engineer (MLTSSL) and your partner is a Chef (also on MLTSSL). You can claim 10 partner skill points.
• Applying for 190 Visa: You are an ICT Project Manager (STSOL), and your partner is an Accountant (MLTSSL). You can claim 10 partner points.
• Applying for 491 Visa (State-sponsored): You are a Real Estate Representative (ROL), and your partner is also on the ROL. You are eligible for the 10 points.

However, if your partner’s occupation is on an ineligible list for your visa subclass (e.g., STSOL for 189), you cannot claim these points—even if they meet the age and English requirements.

5 Points – Partner with Competent English Only

You can claim 5 points if your partner has competent English but doesn’t meet the skill or age criteria.

To prove competent English, your partner must achieve the following minimum test scores:

• IELTS – 6 in each of the four components
• PTE Academic – 50 in each component
• TOEFL iBT – Listening 12, Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 18
• OET – B in each component
• Cambridge C1 Advanced – At least 169 in each component

These 5 points can still give your application a competitive edge when full partner skill points aren’t available.

10 Points – If You Are Single or Partner Is an Australian Citizen/PR

If you are single or your spouse/de facto partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to claim 10 points under this category. No further assessment of age, skills, or English is required in this case.

Understanding De Facto and Spouse Relationships

For GSM purposes, you may include a spouse or a de facto partner in your visa application:

• A spouse must be legally married under a valid marriage recognised by Australian law.
• A de facto relationship is one where you:
  • Are committed to a shared life
  • Have a genuine, continuing relationship
  • Live together (or don’t live apart permanently)
  • Are not related by family

Same-sex relationships are fully recognised. However, online or dating-only relationships are not accepted as de facto.

At the visa application stage, a de facto relationship must typically be at least 12 months old, unless you have registered your relationship with a relevant Australian authority.

EOI and Relationship Status – A Common Trap

When completing your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, selecting the correct relationship status is critical. If you select “single” and later enter into a relationship, your eligibility for points may change. Likewise, choosing “engaged” will not earn you points—only “partner” (spouse or de facto) or “single” will.

Your relationship status at time of invitation is what determines your points outcome. If your situation changes between lodging your EOI and your visa application, your points total may increase or decrease accordingly.

Need Help With GSM Points or Partner Skills Assessment?
At LIVV Immigration, we help clients understand how to maximise their points under the GSM system. Whether you’re unsure about your partner’s eligibility or how to document your relationship, our registered migration experts are here to guide you through the process.