Points Test For Professional And Skilled Migrants:

Points Test And It Working:

On this page:

• What is the pass mark?
• What happens if you don’t meet the pass mark?
• What is the current pass and pool marks?
• How often do the pass and pool marks change?

For most General Skilled Migration visas, your application will be assessed against a points test. You can claim points under a range of different factors. The maximum points that can be claimed in any one factor reflect how valuable those characteristics are in the Australian labor market or in assisting settlement.

The Pass Mark:

The pass mark is the total points you need to score to be eligible for a points–tested General Skilled Migration visa.

What happens if you don’t meet the pass mark?

If you have applied for a Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175) or a Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) and you score below the pass mark, but above the ‘pool mark’, your application will be held ‘in the pool’ for up to two (2) years after assessment.

If the pass mark is lowered at any time in that two (2) year period, and your score is equal to or higher than the new pass mark, your application will be processed further.

Rather than waiting in the pool, you could consider the following visa options if you do not meet the pass mark:

• If you score 100 points you may be eligible for a Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) or a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475) visa.
• If you meet the pool mark for the Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (Subclass 175), you can still lodge and register for the Skill Matching Database.

Current Pass Marks And Pool Marks?

The table below lists the entire current pass and pool marks for the points–tested visas in the General Skilled Migration category.

How often do the pass and pool marks change?

Changes to the pass and pool marks occur to address Australian labor market needs. You should check the current pass mark immediately before making an application. You will be assessed against the pass and pool mark that is in effect on the day you makes your application.

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

(If you are inside Australia)

About Skilled Independent Visa:

This visa allows overseas students who have completed their course studies in Australia and holders of certain temporary visas to apply for permanent residency.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labor market.

You do not require sponsorship to apply for this visa.

How Skilled Independent Visa Works:

This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five (5) years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia.

Who is this visa for?

This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:

• An overseas student or former overseas student
• A holder of a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa or Skilled – Recognized Graduate (subclass 476) visa
• A holder of a Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa.

You must:

• be under 45 years of age
• have good English language skills
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified as either:
  • 60 point occupation Or
  • 50 point occupation

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.

How much does this visa cost?

You must pay the relevant visa application charge when you lodge your visa application. Cost Of Independent - Skilled (Residence Visa)

What does this visa let me do?

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Australian permanent residents can:

• Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• Study in Australia at school or university
• Receive subsidized health care through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• Sponsor people for permanent residence.

Skilled Independent Visa Eligibility:

Main Applicant Visa Eligibility

Secondary Applicant Visa Eligibility

Skilled - Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

Secondary applicant eligibility:

You may include the following secondary applicants in your visa application:

• your spouse
• your interdependent partner
• a dependent child of you, your spouse or your interdependent partner
• a dependent relative of you or your spouse.

Secondary applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Eligible visa
• Location
• English language ability
• Health
• Character
• Australian Values Statement

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

Eligibility For Skilled Resident Visa (If you are inside Australia):

This information is for the following applicants:

• Skilled – Recognized Graduate (subclass 476) visa holders
• Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders.

Use the table below to assess your eligibility. You must meet all of the basic eligibility requirements and pass the points test.

Basic eligibility requirements:

Select the links in the table to read each of the basic eligibility requirements. Use the second column as a checklist to tick each basic eligibility requirement you can meet.

Points test:

The points test pass mark for this visa is 120 points. If you score less than 120 points, your application will be refused. Click on the link below to find the max points allocated to each major factor and how can you achieve them. Also read the evidence document that you need to provide while applying for Independent Skilled (Residence)Visa.

• Age points
• IELTS Points
• Nominated Skill Occupation Points
• Specific Work Experience Points
• Australian Work Experience
• Australian Qualification Points
• Occupation In Demand-Job Offer Points
• Australian Community Language Points
• Regional Australia Study Points
• Partner Skills Points

No Points Awarded For:

• Qualifications closely related to nominated occupation
• Skills assessment
• Eligible visa
• Location
• Health
• Character
• Australian Values Statement

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Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

Points Of Partner skills For Resident Visa:

You can claim ‘partner skills’ points if your spouse or interdependent partner is also able to satisfy the basic requirements of age, English language ability, qualifications, nominated occupation and recent work experience, and if they have obtained suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.

Important: You cannot claim ‘partner skills’ points if your spouse or interdependent partner is an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen or if they are not included in your visa application.

Points awarded:

The table below sets out the points available under this part of the points test.

Evidence to attach to your application:

You must obtain documentary evidence that your spouse or interdependent partner has met all the basic requirements for the particular General Skilled Migration visa that you are applying for. This evidence should include:

• A satisfactory skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
• Evidence of age to confirm that they are under 45 years of age
• Evidence of English language level
• Evidence that they meet the recent work experience or two (2) year study requirement.
  

For you to be awarded these points, documentary evidence as described above must be included with your application.

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

Regional Australia study Points:

You can be awarded points if you have met the two (2) year study requirement while living and studying in a ‘regional Australia/ low population growth metropolitan area’ in Australia.

What is ‘Regional Australia‘ or a ‘low population growth metropolitan area’?

‘Regional Australia’ or a ‘low population growth metropolitan area’ means anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the New South Wales Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

A list of residential areas that are defined under law as being in ‘Regional Australia’ or a ‘low population growth metropolitan area’ is available. The list describes eligible areas by postcode.

Points awarded:

The table below sets out the points available.

Evidence to attach to your application:

You must provide documentary evidence that you have lived and studied in ‘Regional Australia/ low population growth metropolitan areas’. This evidence may include, but is not limited to:

• Documentary evidence of residency which covers the relevant period. This will usually include documents such as rental agreements and gas, power and telephone bills.
• Evidence of studying at a campus in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area, if your academic transcript does not identify the campus.

To be awarded these points, documentary evidence as described above must be included with your application.

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