Irish engineers approaching the points test for skilled migration (189, 190, 491) should not assume their Irish passport is doing much for them. Irish citizenship counts as Competent English (zero points). To claim Proficient (10 points) or Superior English (20 points) the applicant must sit IELTS, PTE Academic or OET.
§01A representative high-scoring Irish engineer
- Age 28: 30 points
- PTE Academic 79+ in all four sections, Superior English: 20 points
- Bachelor of Engineering (Engineers Ireland accredited): 15 points
- Five years' skilled experience overseas: 10 points
- State Nomination (190): 5 points; or Regional Nomination (491): 15 points
- Single, with partner an Australian citizen: 10 points (if applicable)
Total: 80 points (189), 90 points (190), 90 points (491). The 189 program is effectively exhausted for FY 2025–26, so the realistic pathways are 190 (state nomination) and 491 (regional).
§02What changes the maths
- Dropping from Superior to Proficient English: −10 points (single biggest controllable lever).
- Australian study (a Masters by research or PhD in STEM): +15 points (10 Specialist + 5 Australian Study Requirement).
- Skilled partner under 45 with Competent English: +10 points.
- Community language (NAATI Credentialled in Gaeilge): +5 points.