Claiming Work Experience Points for Australian PR- Complete Guide 2026

Claiming the correct work experience points in EOI is often the deciding factor in a successful 189, 190, or 491 visa application. However, many applicants fail because they don’t realize that the Department of Home Affairs applies a very specific definition to “skilled” employment.

If you claim points incorrectly in your Expression of Interest (EOI), your visa may be refused even if you receive an invitation.

1. When is Employment Considered “Skilled”?

The Department of Home Affairs don’t just look at your job title. They determine you are “skilled” based on:

• The Skills Assessment: The date your assessing authority (like ACS, Engineers Australia, or VETASSESS) deems you skilled.
• ANZSCO Standards: Whether you meet the pre-requisite qualifications or experience for that occupation.
• Job Duties: You must be performing at least some of the main duties listed for that occupation in the ANZSCO directory.

2. Criteria to Meet Employment Requirements

To claim points, your work must meet these three specific criteria:

3. Understanding Overseas vs. Australian Experience

You can claim points for both, but you cannot combine them to reach a threshold.

• Example: You cannot add 6 months of overseas work to 30 months of Australian work to claim a “3-year” bracket.
• Continuity: Your work does not have to be continuous. You can have gaps for study or other jobs, as long as the total time in the last 10 years adds up.

4. Leave and Breaks

• Paid Leave: Periods of paid leave (Annual leave, sick leave) count toward your experience.
• Unpaid Leave: Extended leave without pay (like maternity or paternity leave) generally does not count.

5. Maximum 20 Points for Skilled Employment

While you can claim points for both categories if you have worked both in Australia and overseas, the Department of Home Affairs caps the total at 20 points. Even if your combined math adds up to 25 or 30, you can only officially claim 20 points on your EOI.

Work Experience Points for Australian Skilled Employment

(Experience gained inside Australia in the last 10 years)

Work Experience Points for Overseas Skilled Employment

(Experience gained outside Australia in the last 10 years)

IMPORTANT: You can only claim work experience points for employment that occurred within the 10 years immediately before you are invited to apply.

Special Note: ICT Professionals (ACS Assessments)

If you are an IT professional applying for NSW (190 or 491), pay close attention:

1. NSW only grants points for employment after the date the Australian Computer Society (ACS) says you became skilled.
2. If you claim points for experience before that date, your nomination will likely be declined.
3. New Experience: If you have gained more experience after your ACS assessment was issued, you don’t need a new assessment. You can prove this with payslips, contracts, and updated reference letters.

Check Your Points Eligibility

Don’t risk a visa refusal by over-claiming points. Our expert team at Migration Dreamz can review your employment references, payslips, and skills assessments to ensure your EOI is 100% accurate.

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