What is Point system for Temporary Residency

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 reflects how valuable those characteristics are in the Australian labour market or in assisting settlement.

What is 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:

1. 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.
   See:
   Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) visa
   Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475) visa
2. 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. More information on Skill Matching is available.
   See: Skill Matching Database

What are the current pass and pool marks?

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

Category	Pass mark	Pool mark
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)	120	100
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)	100	80
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)	100	100
Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)	120	120
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)	100	100
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)	100	100

How often do the pass and pool marks change?

Changes to the pass and pool marks occur to address Australian labour 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 make your application.

Points Test

Generally, applicants must pass the GSM points test.

Applicants are awarded points for:

• Nominated Skilled Occupation

Points are awarded according to the skill category of your occupation. A general overview of these categories is provided below.

Skill	Points	Requirements
For most occupations where training is specific to the occupation	60	In most cases you will have a qualification (such as a degree or trade qualification) and experience which meets the relevant Australian standards. In some cases, experience without formal qualifications may be acceptable.
For more general professional occupations	50	You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree or higher qualification.
For other general skilled occupations	40	You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian diploma or advanced diploma.

• Age

Your eligibility for points is determined by your age on the day of making your application.

Age	Points
18 to 29 years	30
30 to 34 years	25
35 to 39 years	20
40 to 44 years	15

• English Language Ability

The following table shows the English language levels and the evidence you will need to provide.

Level of English	Points	Evidence required
Proficient	25 points	You must provide one of the following: IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) Number to show you have a band score of at least seven (7) on each of the four (4) components – speaking, reading, listening and writing or evidence of having achieved a score of `B´ or higher on each of the four (4) components of the OET Test.
Competent	15 points	You must provide one of the following: evidence that you hold an eligible passport IELTS TRF Number to show you have a band score of at least six (6) on each of the four (4) components – speaking, reading, listening and writing.
Vocational	15 points if you have nominated a trade occupation	You must provide one of the following: evidence that you hold an eligible passport your IELTS TRF Number to show you have a band score of at least five (5) on each of the four (4) components.

• Specific Work Experience

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

Occupation / work experience	Points
If your nominated occupation is: worth 60 points and you have been employed in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation listed on the SOL, for at least three (3) of the four (4) years before the day of your application.	10
If your nominated occupation is: worth 40, 50 or 60 points and you have been employed in any occupation listed on the SOL, for at least three (3) of the four (4) years immediately before the day of your application.	5

• Australian Work Experience

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

Australian work experience	Points
Employed in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in Australia for at least one (1) year in the past four (4) years immediately before the day of your application.	10
Completed a recognised Professional Year in Australia in the past two (2) years immediately before the day of your application.	10

• Australian Qualifications

You may receive points for satisfying one of the Australian qualifications critieria shown in the table below. You can only be allocated points against one of these categories.

Qualification	Points
You have met the requirements for award of a doctorate by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least two (2) years undertaken while you were present in Australia.	25
You have undertaken study for a period totalling at least three (3) years, during which you: met the requirements for award of a masters degree by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least one (1) year undertaken while you were present in Australia. and met the requirements for award of an undergraduate degree by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least one (1) year undertaken while you were present in Australia.	15
You have undertaken study for a period totalling at least three (3) years, during which you: met the requirements for award of an honours degree (second class (division 1) level or above) by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least one (1) year undertaken while you were present in Australia. and met the requirements for award of an undergraduate degree by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least one (1) year undertaken while you were present in Australia.	15
You have met the requirements for award of an undergraduate degree with honours (second class (division 1) level or above) by an Australian educational institution as a result of course study: of at least three (3) years undertaken while you were present in Australia.	15
You have met the two (2) year study requirement.	5

• Occupation in Demand/job offer

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

Occupation	Points
If all the following apply: your nominated occupation is on the MODL you have been employed in your nominated skilled occupation, or a closely related skilled occupation for a period totalling at least one (1) year in the four (4) years immediately before you make your application you have a job offer for full time employment in Australia in your nominated occupation from an organisation that has employed at least ten (10) people on a full time basis for the two (2) years immediately before you make your application.	20
If all the following apply: your nominated occupation is in demand on the MODL you have been employed in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for a period totalling at least one (1) year in the four (4) years immediately before you make your application.	15

• Regional Australia Study

The table below sets out the points available.

Study in Regional Australia/ low population growth metropolitan area	Points
You have met the two (2) year study requirement while living and studying in a 'Regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan area' in Australia.	5

• Partner Skills

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

Partner skills	Points
If your spouse or interdependent partner is able to satisfy the basic requirements of: age English language ability qualifications nominated occupation recent work experience has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority	5

• State/Territory Nomination
• Eligible Relative Sponsorship
• Designated Language.

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

Bonus points options	Points
Fluency in one of Australia's community languages as evidenced by a qualification (of equivalent standard to an Australian degree) gained from a university where instruction was in one of the above listed languages or be accredited with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) at the professional level (translator/interpreter level).	5

Afrikaans*	Albanian	Arabic/Lebanese	Armenian*	Bangla (Bengali)	Bosnian
Bulgarian	Burmese	Chinese - Cantonese	Chinese - Mandarin	Croatian	Czech
Danish*	Dutch	Estonian*	Fijian	Filipino (Tagalog)	Finnish
French	German	Greek	Hebrew*	Hindi	Hungarian
Indonesian	Italian	Japanese	Khmer	Korean	Lao
Latvian*	Lithuanian*	Macedonian	Malay	Maltese	Norwegian*
Persian	Polish	Portuguese	Punjabi	Romanian	Russian
Serbian	Sinhalese	Slovak	Slovene*	Spanish	Swedish*
Tamil	Thai	Turkish	Ukrainian	Urdu	Vietnamese
Yiddish*

The above are the set of languages approved by NAATI

An application for an offshore visa which achieves a score below the passmark (but above the pool mark) will be held in reserve for up to two years after it is assessed. If the passmark is lowered during this period and the applicant's score is at, or above, the new passmark, the application will proceed. If it is not, the application will be refused at the end of the two years.