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Canberra Matrix Calculator

Canberra Matrix Calculator – 2021

The ACT government use the Canberra Matrix to fairly manage the nomination process and select applicants who will best contribute to the Canberra region. The below Canberra Matrix Calculator is a merit-based assessment tool where you can score points for length of ACT residence, occupation, employment, English, study, investment and close family living in Canberra.

The Department of Home Affairs allows ACT to nominate a fixed number of applicants each year. There are more people who want ACT nomination than the number of nomination places available.

The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make/have made a positive economic contribution to the Territory and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination. ACT will rank your Matrix based on the number of points you’ve claimed. Those who rank high enough will receive an invitation email to apply for ACT nomination for a 491 or 190 visa.

You can select either ACT 491 nomination or ACT 190 nomination. There is also a PhD Streamlined nomination pathway.

If you are invited by ACT to apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) you will recieve 15 additional points.
If you are invited by ACT to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) you will receive 5 additional points.

Please note the ACT Matrix points calculator is different from the PR points calculator used by the Department of Home Affairs. Book a consultation for a detailed assessment and increase your chances of success in the points test.

Name*
First Last
Email*
Phone*
Country of passport
Your current visa subclass and its expiry date
Length of current ACT residence
How long have you lived in Canberra in the last eight years?*
- Your bank statements must evidence your date of arrival and the claimed period of residence in Canberra.
- You must record any period away from Canberra (seven days or more) in the ‘Summary of ACT residence’ at Attachment D.
- Your claimed period of ACT residence does not have to be continuous.
- You may have holidays away from Canberra for a maximum of six weeks in any year without it affecting your claim for a year of residence
- You can study interstate for one or two days a week. However, if you studied more than two days (one night) a week interstate, you will not be considered an ACT resident for that period.
- You cannot claim ACT residency for any period that you lived or worked interstate or overseas.
- You can live in NSW if you are within a 30-minute commute to where you work in Canberra e.g. Queanbeyan.
Score
English proficiency
What is your English proficiency level as defined by Home Affairs?*
- You must meet the Home Affairs requirement for the level of English claimed.
Score
Spouse/Partner English proficiency
What is your spouse/partner’s English proficiency?*
- They must meet the Home Affairs requirement for the level of English claimed or hold an Australian passport.
Score
Nominated occupation
Is your nominated occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List?*
Score
Small Business Owner
Are you the majority owner of a registered business located and actively operating in the ACT? You must meet the following minimum criteria:*
- Your business must have a minimum turnover of $200,000 per annum (or pro-rata).
- Your business must be profitable.
- Your business must be paying you the following salary immediately before date of Matrix submission:
  - 190 nomination: at least $26,000 for six months.
  - 491 nomination: at least $13,000 for three months.
- You must employ at least one Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen for at least 13 weeks (minimum 20 hrs pw).
  - You may employ one or more employees. The employment does not have to be continuous.
  - The employment must be in accordance with Australian legislation.
  - You MUST provide a statutory declaration confirming the employment and citizenship details for each employee.
Score
Length of ACT employment
How long have you worked for an ACT employer in Canberra in the two years immediately before the date of Matrix submission?*
- You may be working in any occupation
- While the employment does not have to be fulltime or permanent, you must be working a minimum 20 hours per week for each week that you claim towards the period of employment.
- You may work for more than one ACT employer and / or be self-employed on an ABN.
- The employment does not have to be continuous.
- If you are claiming any period of selfemployment:
  - Your gross weekly income must exceed $520 for each week of employment claimed; and
  - Your business must have been operating in Canberra for at least 12 months.
Score
ACT employment - skill level
Are you currently working for an ACT employer in Canberra in a highly skilled position? You must meet the minimum criteria below:*
- You must be working a minimum 20 hours per week for the last three months immediately before date of Matrix submission.
- The employment must be continuous. Unpaid leave does not meet this criterion.
- You may work for more than one ACT employer and/or be self-employed if you are working in the same occupation and at the same skill level.
- Your gross income must be no less than $52,000 per annum for fulltime employment; or $26 per hour (excluding casual loading) for part time/casual employment.
- Your employer must provide a Statutory Declaration confirming employment. See Attachment E
- If you are self-employed on an ABN: Your gross weekly income exceeds $1000 for each week of fulltime employment claimed; or $520 for each week of part time/casual employment claimed. | Your business has been operating in Canberra for at least 12 months.
- You MUST sign a statutory declaration confirming employment. See Attachment E
- You must have a tertiary qualification relevant to your occupation. Your qualification must be dated before you commenced employment. A RPL certificate is not recognised as a tertiary qualification
- Any employment claimed must be recorded on your SkillSelect EOI.
Score
Spouse/Partner Employment
Is your spouse / partner currently working in the ACT or surrounding ‘commuter’ region? They must meet the minimum criteria below:*
- They must be working a minimum 20 hours per week for the three months immediately before the date of Matrix submission.
- Their employment must be continuous.
- Any period of unpaid leave cannot be counted towards the three months employment criteria.
- They must meet the Home Affairs requirement for ‘competent’ English or hold an Australian passport.
- They may work for more than one employer and / or be self-employed.
- Their employer must provide a Statutory Declaration confirming their employment. See Attachment E.
- If they are self-employed on an ABN: Their gross weekly income exceeds $520 for each week of employment claimed; Their business has been operating in Canberra for at least 12 months; and They must sign a Statutory Declaration confirming their employment. See Attachment E
Score
Tertiary Qualification
What tertiary qualification do you hold from an Australian or international educational institution?*
- Your selected qualification must be recorded on your Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI
Score
Years of Study at an ACT Tertiarry Institution
For how many years did you study fulltime to complete a CRICOS* registered course, and / or attend a Professional Year (PY) program, at an ACT institution in the last eight years?*
- You must have a letter of course completion from the ACT institution to evidence the claimed period and location of study.
- You must be resident in Canberra during your claimed period of study.
- Distance education or online attendance is not accepted.
- A PY undertaken in the ACT meets the oneyear study criteria.
- Two or more courses, including a PY, may be counted to evidence the period of ACT study. The courses cannot be concurrent.
- The courses do not have to be continuous.
Score
Close Family Ties
Do you have a close family member who has lived in Canberra for the last two years?*
- A close family member is defined as a spouse/partner, parent, child, brother, sister or grandparent of the main applicant or their spouse/partner.
Score
Assets in Canberra
You (and a spouse/partner if applicable) have invested at least $250,000 cash to purchase a residential or commercial property in Canberra (purchase of land only does not meet this criteria)*
Score
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Your Total Score

To ensure you have a competitive advantage over all other potential applicants please contact us for a consultation. The above skilled visa points test is provided as a guide only and may not be indicative of the points assigned by the ACT government.

At the consultation, our GSM experts will ensure you claim the most points possible under current migration legislation, which could prove the difference between receiving an invitation and not.