If you’re planning to migrate to Australia under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, every point matters. While many applicants focus heavily on their own age, English ability, work experience, and qualifications, one crucial factor often overlooked is partner skills.
Your spouse or de facto partner can significantly impact your overall point total — sometimes making the difference between receiving an invitation or missing out entirely.
In this post, we’ll break down how partner skills are assessed under the Australian immigration points system and what options you have to maximize your chances of a successful application.
Understanding the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test
The GSM program is a point-based system used by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to assess skilled worker visa applications. The minimum score to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) is 65 points, but in reality, many popular occupations and visa subclasses are highly competitive, requiring 85 points or more.
Points are awarded for factors such as:
- Age
- English language proficiency
- Skilled employment experience
- Educational qualifications
- Australian study requirement
- Specialist education qualifications
- Regional study
- Professional year
- Credentialed community language
- State or territory nomination
- Partner skills
Let’s dive deeper into this last one — partner skills — and why it matters.
What Are Partner Skills?
Partner skills refer to the qualifications, work experience, and English language ability of your spouse or de facto partner, if they are included in your visa application. The Department of Home Affairs awards extra points if your partner meets certain eligibility criteria, making them a “skilled partner.”
How Many Points Can You Claim for Partner Skills?
There are up to 10 additional points available under the current rules (as of July 2025) based on your partner’s profile:
10 Points – Partner is Skilled and Under 45
You can claim 10 points if your partner:
- Is under 45 years of age
- Has competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)
- Has a positive skills assessment in an occupation listed on the same Skilled Occupation List as yours
- Is included in the visa application
5 Points – Partner Has Competent English Only
If your partner does not meet the criteria for a full skills assessment but has competent English, you can still claim 5 points.
10 Points – Single Applicants
In a surprising twist, if you’re single, you can also claim the full 10 points — the system rewards individuals who don’t add a partner with lesser or no skills to the application.
0 Points – Partner Doesn’t Meet Criteria
If your partner does not have competent English and does not have a positive skills assessment, you won’t be eligible for any partner points.
Why Do Partner Skills Matter So Much?
In high-demand occupations (like ICT, engineering, healthcare, and finance), visa invitations are issued to those with the highest points. Partner skills can mean a swing of 10–15 points, which could significantly improve your rank in the EOI pool.
For example:
- Applicant A: 75 points without partner skills
- Applicant B: 85 points with partner skills
Applicant B is far more likely to receive an invitation, even if both applicants have identical professional and academic backgrounds.
Scenarios to Consider
Let’s explore a few practical situations:
Case 1: Both Partners Are Skilled
If both you and your partner have skilled occupations on the relevant occupation list, it’s a win-win. Not only do you gain points, but your partner could eventually apply for PR independently if needed.
Case 2: Partner Has English, But No Skilled Occupation
Even if your partner doesn’t have a listed occupation or a formal skills assessment, you can still gain 5 points just for competent English — a small but meaningful boost.
Case 3: Partner Doesn’t Speak English or Have Skills
In this case, you won’t receive any partner points, and your partner might also increase the English language requirement or financial dependency for your application.
How to Prove Partner Skills?
To claim partner points, you’ll need to submit:
- Partner’s English test results (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.)
- Skills assessment from an authorized Australian assessing body (e.g., ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS)
- Proof of age and relationship (marriage certificate or de facto evidence)
Make sure all documents are current and valid at the time of invitation.
Can You Still Get a Visa Without Partner Points?
Absolutely. Many applicants get visas without claiming partner points, especially if they have strong personal profiles (e.g., superior English, long skilled work history, or regional study in Australia). However, increasing your point score is always helpful, and partner skills offer a practical way to do that.
Tips to Maximize Partner Points
- Plan Ahead: If your partner doesn’t have competent English, consider enrolling them in a preparation course and scheduling a test.
- Explore Skills Assessment Options: Even if your partner hasn’t worked recently, check if they qualify based on past experience or qualifications.
- Consider English-Only Points: If skills assessment isn’t feasible, at least claim the 5 points from competent English.
- Seek Expert Advice: Consult a MARA-registered immigration agent to evaluate whether claiming partner points is right for your case.
Final Thoughts:
When navigating the Australian skilled migration journey, partner skills can play a decisive role in strengthening your profile. Whether it’s gaining an edge in competitive rounds or simply meeting the minimum points threshold, understanding how your partner fits into the picture can significantly impact your strategy.
Invest time in assessing both your and your partner’s eligibility early — it might just be the boost your visa application needs.
