On 5 July 2026 the Department of Home Affairs released a discussion paper outlining the biggest shake-up of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test since 2012 and invited submissions from employers, states, industry bodies and migration practitioners. The public consultation, flagged in the May Budget, will run until late September, with draft legislation expected in December and a planned commencement date of 1 July 2027.
![Government opens public consultation on overhauling Australia’s skilled-migration points test]()
Whether you’re an overseas professional preparing a competitive Expression of Interest or an employer looking to sponsor talent, VisaHQ’s visa and document concierge service can guide you through every step of Australia’s skilled-migration process. Their online tools, live support and up-to-date resources at help applicants understand eligibility, gather the correct paperwork and track policy changes like those now under consultation.
Key issues on the table include raising the minimum invitation score from 65 to a mooted 70 points, introducing bonus points for salaries above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, and scrapping Australian-study, Professional Year and NAATI community-language bonuses. Age and English-language weightings are also under review, signalling a pivot towards younger, highly skilled and higher-earning migrants. First Migration Service Centre notes that nothing has yet changed in law: Expressions of Interest lodged now are still assessed under the existing Schedule 6D, and invitations issued before 30 June 2027 will be protected by transitional provisions. However, applicants whose competitive score relies heavily on at-risk bonuses are being advised to secure invitations sooner rather than later. Employer groups such as the Business Council of Australia support salary-linked points, arguing they better correlate with productivity, while the international education sector is lobbying furiously against removing study-related bonuses that make Australia an attractive destination for overseas students. States worry that higher thresholds may undermine regional nomination programs already squeezed by the Budget’s place cuts. Stakeholders have nine weeks to influence the design of Australia’s next-generation points test— a window that could determine skilled-migration competitiveness for the next decade.
Whether you’re an overseas professional preparing a competitive Expression of Interest or an employer looking to sponsor talent, VisaHQ’s visa and document concierge service can guide you through every step of Australia’s skilled-migration process. Their online tools, live support and up-to-date resources at help applicants understand eligibility, gather the correct paperwork and track policy changes like those now under consultation.
Key issues on the table include raising the minimum invitation score from 65 to a mooted 70 points, introducing bonus points for salaries above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, and scrapping Australian-study, Professional Year and NAATI community-language bonuses. Age and English-language weightings are also under review, signalling a pivot towards younger, highly skilled and higher-earning migrants. First Migration Service Centre notes that nothing has yet changed in law: Expressions of Interest lodged now are still assessed under the existing Schedule 6D, and invitations issued before 30 June 2027 will be protected by transitional provisions. However, applicants whose competitive score relies heavily on at-risk bonuses are being advised to secure invitations sooner rather than later. Employer groups such as the Business Council of Australia support salary-linked points, arguing they better correlate with productivity, while the international education sector is lobbying furiously against removing study-related bonuses that make Australia an attractive destination for overseas students. States worry that higher thresholds may undermine regional nomination programs already squeezed by the Budget’s place cuts. Stakeholders have nine weeks to influence the design of Australia’s next-generation points test— a window that could determine skilled-migration competitiveness for the next decade.
