With delays in skilled visa processing and news of a points test redesign, many applicants are worried that their work experience may no longer count for anything. In this article, Dr. Sirous Ahmadi, Registered Migration Agent (MARA 0854826), draws on the text of the legislation and official Department of Home Affairs sources to explain where one year of work experience stands under the current system. The answer depends on one point: whether that year of work was done inside or outside Australia.
The short answer
Yes, but only for work done in Australia. Under Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations 1994, which still applies, one year of skilled employment in Australia earns 5 points. One year of skilled employment outside Australia earns no points, because points for overseas work start at 3 years of work in the last 10 years. The work must have been in your nominated occupation or a closely related one, paid, and for at least 20 hours per week. A redesign of the points test has been announced, but it has not yet been implemented.
What does the law say? (Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations)
The points test for subclasses 189, 190 and 491 is set out in the Migration Regulations 1994. It is based on regulation 2.26AC and Schedule 6D. In this schedule, work experience is scored in two separate parts:
- Part 6D.3: work experience outside Australia. Points in this part start from a minimum of 36 months (3 years) of work in the 10 years before the invitation. So one year of overseas work does not reach the threshold.
- Part 6D.4: work experience in Australia. Points in this part start from one year of work, and one year of skilled employment in Australia earns 5 points.
Under the regulations, “employed” means working in an occupation for at least 20 hours per week in return for remuneration. There is also a cap on the combined points for the two types of experience. Under clause 6D51, if the total points under Parts 6D.3 and 6D.4 exceed 20, the Minister awards 20 points and no separate points are given under those two parts.
The Department of Home Affairs policy document on Schedule 6D makes two further important points. First, only skilled employment in the 10-year period before the date of the invitation is assessed for points. Second, short periods of work in and outside Australia cannot be added together to meet the requirement of either of the two parts. So if you worked six months in Australia and six months overseas, those two periods do not count as one year of Australian experience.
The official points table on the Department of Home Affairs website shows the same rules. This table sets out the points details for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189). The page was last updated on 11 June 2026.
About the announced changes: On 17 September 2026, in his address to the National Press Club, the Minister for Home Affairs formally announced a redesign of the points test. According to the ABC, one of the proposed changes was a redesign of the points test to increase the economic value of permanent skilled migration. Homebuilding skills are to be recognised as equivalent to a university degree. As of today, no official source has published a new points table, a start date, or any change to the points for work experience. The current Schedule 6D therefore remains the governing law.
Key conditions for work experience points
| Issue | Work in Australia (Part 6D.4) | Work outside Australia (Part 6D.3) |
|---|---|---|
| Points for one year of work | 5 points | No points |
| Minimum experience for points to start | 1 year | 3 years (36 months) |
| Period that can be counted | 10 years before the invitation | 10 years before the invitation |
| Occupation | Nominated occupation or a closely related one | Nominated occupation or a closely related one |
| Hours and pay | At least 20 hours per week, paid | At least 20 hours per week, paid |
| Visa requirement | Holding a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A or B, and complying with its conditions during the period of work | None |
| Cap on total work experience points | 20 points for combined work in and outside Australia | |
What does this mean for you?
Dr. Sirous Ahmadi explains that the recent delays relate to the order and speed at which applications are processed, and have nothing to do with the points test itself. According to the ABC, in July the Minister issued a direction that moves skilled visa applications lodged from outside Australia to the back of the queue. In some cases, processing times went from a few days to more than a year. The Minister also announced that Ministerial Direction 119 will be changed so that construction, health, agriculture, fisheries and education receive processing priority. None of these changes has removed the points for your work experience.
If you have one year of skilled work in Australia and meet the conditions in the table above, you receive 5 points under the current law. If that year of work was outside Australia, it currently earns no points. In that case, the sensible course is to continue accumulating experience until you reach 3 years, or to work on other points categories such as English language ability. Work experience is measured at the time of the invitation, so every additional month of skilled work you add by that day may improve your position.
Dr. Ahmadi recommends that, before lodging or updating your EOI, you compare your points claim against the official subclass 189 points table on the Department of Home Affairs website. Also make sure the period your skills assessing authority has assessed as skilled matches the period you are claiming. Until new regulations are published on the Federal Register of Legislation, Schedule 6D is the benchmark. Do not rely on any start date for the changes that is circulating on social media.
Sources
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points table, Australian Department of Home Affairs (updated 11 June 2026)
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 6D: General points test for skilled visas (AustLII)
- Migration Regulations 1994, regulation 2.26AC: Criteria and points for subclasses 189, 190, 489 and 491 (AustLII)
- Department of Home Affairs policy document: [Sch6D] General points test (released under FOI)
- ABC News, 17 September 2026: Labor tightens visa rules as Tony Burke vows migration targets will be met
What is your real points score?
Every year of work experience has its own story. What matters is where you worked, on what visa, how many hours per week, and from what date your skills assessing authority recognises you as skilled. If you want to be sure, before lodging your EOI, that every point you claim can be backed up with evidence, discuss your situation with Dr. Sirous Ahmadi, Registered Migration Agent (MARA 0854826). In a personal review, your work experience points are calculated under the current law and your next steps are mapped out with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How many points does one year of work experience in Australia earn?
Under Part 6D.4 of Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations 1994, one year of skilled employment inside Australia earns 5 points. The work must have been in the nominated occupation or a closely related one, paid, and for at least 20 hours per week. The applicant must also have held a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A or B during that period and complied with its conditions.
Does one year of work experience outside Australia earn points?
No. Under Part 6D.3, points for work outside Australia start from a minimum of 3 years (36 months) of work in the 10 years before the invitation. One year of overseas work therefore earns no points.
Can work experience in Australia and overseas be added together?
Not to reach the threshold for either part. Short periods of work in and outside Australia cannot be combined to meet the requirement of either part. However, if each part scores points separately, the points are added together, and the combined total is capped at 20 points.
Has the points test redesign been implemented?
No. On 17 September 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs announced a redesign of the points test. However, no new table, start date, or change to the points for work experience has been published yet. The current Schedule 6D remains the benchmark.
Do processing delays affect my work experience points?
The delays relate to the order and priority in which applications are processed, and they have not removed points for work experience. Work experience is assessed at the time of the invitation, within the 10 years before it.
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on November 5, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Dr. Sirous Ahmadi Registered Migration Agent 0854826
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.