Australia Points Test Reform Tracker :
Live Updates as the New Skilled Migration Rules Take Shape
The Department of Home Affairs published the complete 2026-27 planning level table on 15 May 2026. The 185,000 headline is unchanged for the third consecutive year. Everything inside it has shifted and some of the moves are dramatic. This is every number, with what it means.
TRACKING, PRE-LEGISLATION
LAST UPDATED 14 JULY 2026
OVERVIEW
Tracking the Reform Through 2027
Australia is preparing for the biggest rewrite of its General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test in over a decade. This is a living reference page, not a one-off news post. It is updated every time an official development lands, whether that is a consultation paper, draft legislation, or the final matrix, so it is worth bookmarking rather than searching for a new article each time.
If you are assessing your position for a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 Expression of Interest, this is the single reference to track through to the 2027 implementation.
STATUS CHECK
Confirmed as of Today
This is the only section you need to re-check on each visit. Everything below it is supporting detail.
STATUS CHECK
Update Log
AT A GLANCE
Quick Summary
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The points test reform was confirmed in the 2026 to 27 Federal Budget, handed down 12 May 2026.
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The stated goal is to select migrants who are better educated, higher skilled, and younger.
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Nothing is legislated yet. A consultation paper was flagged for June 2026 but has not been released as of this update; draft legislation is still expected by December 2026, and the new test is proposed to commence 1 July 2027.
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The current 65-point minimum and existing matrix remain in force until then, and invitations already issued under today's rules will be honoured.
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Expect the reform to touch age weighting, English proficiency thresholds, partner points, and, for the first time, income-based points.
OFFICIAL SOURCE
Federal Budget Confirms the Reform Direction
The 2026 to 27 Federal Budget confirmed that the permanent migration points test will be reformed to better identify migrants who drive productivity and long-term prosperity, with the test to be optimised to select better educated, higher skilled, and younger migrants overall. This sits inside a wider 2026 to 27 Migration Program that holds permanent places at 185,000, with more than 70 percent allocated to the Skill stream, and a clear onshore preference of 129,590 places for migrants already in Australia versus 55,110 offshore places.
The Budget also committed $85.2 million toward faster skills assessments and occupational licensing pathways, aimed at moving an additional 4,000 skilled trades workers into the workforce each year, a strong signal that trades occupations will be treated more favourably under whatever new matrix emerges.
⚠️ Critical Information:
the Government has been explicit about what it has not yet decided: whether the 65-point EOI minimum will be retained, raised, or scrapped; which existing factors get reduced or removed; how partner skills will be weighted; whether regional study and Professional Year credits survive; and how English bands will be scored. Anyone presenting firm numbers on these points today is speculating ahead of the official consultation paper.
TIMELINE
Key Dates to Diarise
Existing invitations issued under the current framework are expected to be honoured through transitional arrangements.
CURRENT RULES
The Existing Points Test (Still in Force Today)
Until new legislation passes, this is the matrix that governs Subclass 189, 190, and 491 Expressions of Interest.
SKILL MIGRATION TOOLS
Calculate Your Points
Answer the questions below to estimate your points score for a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 Expression of Interest, based on the current General Skilled Migration points test.
FORECAST OF THE NEW SYSTEM
Proposed Changes Still Under Consultation
The following themes appear consistently across migration-industry analysis of the Budget papers and the discussion paper framing. Treat every specific number here as a forecast, not a government figure.
1
Age Weighting
Shifts Younger
Under the current system, applicants aged 25 to 32 receive the maximum 30 age points. Commentary suggests the reform could redistribute points to further favour applicants in their early to mid twenties, on the logic that a longer remaining working life delivers greater cumulative economic contribution, though the scale of this shift is unconfirmed.
2
English Becomes A Gatekeeper, Not A Bonus
Analysts expect English proficiency to shift from being simply a scoring category to something closer to an essential threshold. Superior English (IELTS 8+ or PTE 79+) is expected to retain a meaningful points advantage, while Proficient English (IELTS 7 equivalent) may become the practical floor for many skilled streams.
Income-based Points
For the first time, forecasts suggest points could be awarded for applicants already earning above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, currently $141,210, rewarding demonstrated labour market demand over qualifications on paper alone.
3
4
Partner Points Carry
More Weight
Partner skills currently top out at a modest 10 points. Multiple sources expect this weighting to rise substantially, reflecting a policy view that dual-skilled households are statistically more likely to settle long-term and contribute economically.
5
Education Points May Become Tiered
Rather than a flat points value for any Bachelor's degree, forecasts point to tiered recognition that favours Master's-by-research and PhD holders in fields aligned with Jobs and Skills Australia's identified national priorities, particularly STEM and clean-energy disciplines.
EOI Minimum
Could Rise
There is active discussion of lifting the minimum EOI threshold from 65 to 70 points. In practice this may change little at the pointy end, since most competitive invitations already sit between 85 and 100+ points, but it would filter more applicants out of the pool entirely.
6
7
Regional/Professional Year Credits Remain Unclear
Whether regional study bonuses and Professional Year points survive the rewrite in their current form has not been indicated either way.
COMPARISON
Side by Side: Existing Test vs Suggested Reform
Until new legislation passes, this is the matrix that governs Subclass 189, 190, and 491 Expressions of Interest.
ACTION PLAN
Practical Steps for Current Applicants
1
Do Not Delay Your
Skills Assessment.
Processing can take 6 to 12 weeks depending on the assessing authority, and the current rules still apply while you wait.
2
Invest in English Test Preparation Now.
A jump from a 7-band to an 8-band result is valuable under the current system and is very likely to remain, or become more, valuable under any reformed matrix.
Consider State or
Regional Nomination.
The 190 and 491 pathways carry additional points that sit outside the core federal reform and may offer more certainty in a transition period.
3
4
Lodgement of Your
EOI Applications.
If you already meet 65 points, weigh lodging your EOI sooner rather than later, particularly if the minimum threshold is likely to rise.
5
Get Professional Advice
About EOI Submission.
A MARA-registered migration agent can model your position under both the current and forecast scenarios.
Frequently Asked Question
Is the new points test law yet?
The government is deliberately shifting the skilled migration program away from provisional regional pathways and toward direct permanent residency mechanisms; primarily employer sponsorship and state nomination. The Regional category, which funds the 491 and 494 provisional visa pipelines and their 191 conversion, has been compressed to prioritise the onshore conversion backlog rather than accommodating large new volumes of offshore regional entrants. This is a structural policy choice, not a budget savings measure.
Will my existing EOI or invitation be affected?
The Government has indicated that invitations already issued under the existing framework will be honoured through transitional arrangements.
Which visas does this affect?
The reform applies to points-tested skilled visas: Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional).
When does the new points test take effect?
The Government's proposed timeline points to commencement from 1 July 2027, though this depends on the legislative process running to schedule.
Should I lodge my EOI now or wait?
This depends heavily on your individual points position and is a decision best made with a registered migration agent, since it involves weighing a known current system against an unconfirmed future one.
STAY AHEAD OF THE 2026-27 OPENING
Programs move fast once it reopens. Be first to know when the next intake launches.
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