The Canberra Matrix is the ACT Government’s points test for its own state nomination. It is separate from the Department of Home Affairs points test — you need both. Your Home Affairs points decide whether you can lodge an expression of interest; your Matrix score decides whether the ACT invites you to apply for nomination.
This calculator covers both pathways — Canberra residents and overseas applicants — because the ACT scores them against different criteria.
Point values current as at 31 July 2026. The ACT does not publish the Matrix as a plain table, so every value here was read directly from the ACT Government’s own Matrix Score Calculators by selecting each option in turn and recording the result. The ACT changes the Matrix periodically and sometimes mid-year, so always confirm your final score against the official calculator before you submit: act.gov.au Canberra Matrix.
How the Canberra Matrix works
You submit a Matrix, the ACT ranks it against everyone else’s, and invitations go to the highest scores in each occupation group. A few things applicants routinely get wrong:
- You choose one option per category. Points within a category do not stack — you claim the single highest option you can evidence.
- A Matrix expires after six months. If you are not invited in that window it lapses and cannot be reactivated. You have to submit a new one, which resets your submission date.
- You cannot edit a submitted Matrix. If your circumstances change, you submit a fresh one — and lose your place in the queue order.
- A separate Matrix is required for each pathway. If you want to be considered for both the 190 and the 491, you submit two.
- Every claim must be evidenced at the date you submit. If your documents do not support the score you claimed, the application is refused — not merely re-scored.
Canberra residents vs overseas applicants
The two pathways reward different things. Residents are scored on time already spent in Canberra, local employment and local study — the maximum possible is 195 points. Overseas applicants are scored on skilled experience, a job offer and family ties, with a maximum of 185 points.
The single biggest lever differs too. For residents it is ACT residence (25 points for five years) combined with employment in your nominated occupation (20). For overseas applicants it is an ACT job offer in your nominated occupation (20) alongside eight to ten years of relevant experience (20).
Where the Matrix and the Home Affairs points test overlap
Several inputs feed both tests, so improving one often improves the other:
- English. Superior English is 20 points federally and 15 on the Matrix.
- Qualifications. A doctorate is 20 in both.
- Partner. A skilled partner is worth 10 federally and up to 15 on the Matrix.
- Nomination itself. An ACT 190 nomination adds 5 federal points; a 491 adds 15.
Work out your federal score first with our Australia PR points calculator, then use this page to see whether the ACT pathway is realistic for you.
Your skills assessment comes first
Neither points test means anything without a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation. For engineers that is Engineers Australia, and the route is a Competency Demonstration Report. Your nominated occupation also has to appear on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List to claim the 20-point occupation item.
We write and review CDRs for every occupational category Engineers Australia assesses — see our CDR writing services, the Engineers Australia CDR guide, or samples by discipline. The EA skill assessment overview explains the process end to end, and current pricing is on the fees page.
Frequently asked questions
What Canberra Matrix score do I need?
There is no fixed pass mark. The ACT invites the highest-ranked Matrices in each occupation group at each round, so the effective cut-off moves with demand. Scores in the 65 to 80 range have been competitive in recent rounds for many occupations, but a high score is never a guarantee — the ACT states explicitly that ranking is not assured even if you meet every criterion.
Does the Canberra Matrix score count towards my visa points?
No. They are separate systems. The Matrix decides whether the ACT nominates you; the nomination itself is what adds federal points — 5 for a subclass 190 and 15 for a subclass 491.
Can I claim ACT residence if I live in Queanbeyan?
Yes, within limits. The ACT accepts the Canberra commuter region — including Jerrabomberra, Googong and Queanbeyan — provided you are within about a 30 minute commute of your Canberra work. You cannot claim residence for periods spent living or working elsewhere interstate or overseas.
Do I need a job offer as an overseas applicant?
Not strictly, but it is worth 20 points and it is difficult to be competitive without it unless you are strong on experience, qualifications and family ties.
Is this calculator official?
No. It is our reconstruction of the ACT’s published calculators, dated above so you can see how current it is. The ACT’s own calculators are the authority and you should check against them before submitting. This page is general information, not migration advice — for advice on your circumstances, consult a registered migration agent (MARA).
Email yourself the breakdown
Send your Matrix estimate to your inbox. The breakdown is filled in automatically — edit it if you like.