The Australian Government has announced that it will be increasing the SkillSelect pass mark on 1 July 2018 for certain general skilled migration visas.
What visas does this affect?
The changes affect the following skilled migration visas:
- Subclass 189 Skilled Independent
- Subclass 190 State Nominated
- Subclass 489 Skilled Provisional (Regional)
What does this mean?
The SkillSelect pass mark is used to determine whether an Expression of Interest (EOI) is eligible to be considered in each invitation round.
During an invitation round process, the system automatically selects the top scoring EOIs and invites them to apply for a visa.
Currently, the pass mark required to be considered in an invitation round is 60 Points, although for some occupations such as Accountants and ICT Professionals, a higher pass mark is required.
From 1 July 2018, the required pass mark will be 65 Points.
How are points awarded?
Points are awarded in accordance with the below table:
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18-24 years | 25 |
| 25-32 years | 30 |
| 33-39 years | 25 |
| 40-44 years | 15 |
| English | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
| Skilled employment in the last 10 years – outside Australia | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| 3-4 years | 5 |
| 5-7 years | 10 |
| 8-10 years | 15 |
| Skilled employment in the last 10 years – in Australia | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1-2 years | 5 |
| 3-4 years | 10 |
| 5-7 years | 15 |
| 8-10 years | 20 |
| Qualifications | Points |
|---|---|
| A Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution that is of a recognised standard. | 20 |
| A Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution that is of a recognised standard. | 15 |
| A diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia | 10 |
| An award or qualification recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation. | 10 |
| Australian study requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| At least one degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Specialist education qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least two academic years in a relevant field. | 5 |
| Other | Points |
|---|---|
| Accredited in a community language | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area that meets the Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Partner skill qualifications | 5 |
| Professional year in Australia | 5 |
Next steps
Applicants should re-evaluate their visa options by considering whether they will meet the new Points requirements. If not, they may need to consider alternative visa categories.