Declan is 31, single, and a carpenter from Cork. He holds a recognised trade qualification, proficient English and six years of overseas work. On today’s points table, he scores 70. On 17 September 2026, the Home Affairs Minister said housing trades will score like a university degree. Under the current numbers, that would lift Declan to 75. However, no new table has been published, so those five points are not yet his.
Short answer: Today a bachelor degree scores 15 points and a trade qualification scores 10. The Minister said housing trades will receive degree-level points once the redesigned test starts. No start date, points table or list of trades has been published. Therefore, build your score on the rules in force today.
Declan’s score, line by line
| Factor | His claim | Points today |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 31, in the 25 to 32 band | 30 |
| English | Proficient | 10 |
| Overseas skilled employment | Six years | 10 |
| Qualification | Recognised trade qualification | 10 |
| Partner factor | Single | 10 |
| Total | 70 |
The pass mark is 65 points. Therefore, Declan can lodge an expression of interest now. However, 65 is a floor, not an invitation. Home Affairs invites the highest ranked candidates first, and the score needed moves between rounds.
Consequently, five points matter. In a tight round, they can separate an invitation from another wait. The 189 visa page sets out the full criteria.
Where the five points would come from
The points test sits in Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations. It scores your highest qualification only.
| Qualification | Points today |
|---|---|
| Doctorate | 20 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 15 |
| Australian diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| Award recognised by your assessing authority | 10 |
The Minister described a new feature of the redesigned test. It lets the Government choose particular skills for an uplift. Those skills are then treated as a higher level of qualification.
His example was the housing trades. On implementation, he said, they will receive the same points as a university qualification. On today’s table, that means 15 points instead of 10.
However, treat that sum as a guide only. The Minister said the test has been redone in consultation with Treasury. As a result, any line in the table above could change. Our 189, 190 and 491 comparison shows where points matter most.
Waiting has a price
Suppose Declan decides to wait for the new table. At 33, his age points fall from 30 to 25. That loss would cancel the announced uplift entirely.
In other words, the calendar moves even when the law does not. So measure any plan to wait against your next birthday band. The bands change at 25, 33 and 40, and points stop at 45.
Three things nobody has published
The announcement left three gaps. Until a legislative instrument fills them, nobody can confirm your new score.
When does the redesigned test start?
No date has been given. The Minister said only that the uplift applies on implementation.
Is my trade a housing trade?
No list exists yet. Therefore, do not assume your occupation is in or out. The processing priority lists are a separate instrument, so they do not answer this question.
Will expressions of interest change too?
Possibly, but not yet. The Minister said he wants an expression of interest system for who arrives. However, he said that change needs legislation, and he did not announce it.
Do not confuse the points with the queue
Two separate changes came out of the same speech. The first is the points uplift, which is not yet law. The second is processing priority, which already is.
Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 replaced Direction 119 on 19 September 2026. Construction occupations now sit in the top priority group. In addition, the new order applies to applications already lodged.
Priority decides how soon an officer opens your file. By contrast, points decide whether you are invited at all. So a carpenter can sit in the first processing group and still wait for an invitation. Our guide to Directions 121 and 122 lists the priority occupations by code.
Points you can bank today
The uplift is an announcement. Meanwhile, other points are available under rules already in force.
| Move | Points gained today |
|---|---|
| Proficient English to Superior English | 10 |
| State nomination for the 190 visa | 5 |
| State nomination or family sponsorship for the 491 visa | 15 |
| Overseas skilled work reaching eight years, up from five | 5 |
For Declan, a Superior English result is worth double the announced uplift. Moreover, it depends on no announcement at all. Similarly, a 190 nomination matches the uplift point for point. A 491 nomination is worth three times as much, although that visa is provisional and regional. For that reason, start with the points you control.
What to do before the new table lands
First, you need a baseline. Without one, you cannot measure what the change is worth to you.
Second, the skills assessment comes before everything else. An uplift does nothing without a positive assessment in hand. Trade assessments often take months, so start early.
Third, consider employer sponsorship in the meantime. The 482 visa is not points tested. The visa application charge is $4,015 for the main applicant. In addition, construction sits in the top processing group under Direction 121.
Finally, be ready for the invitation itself. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge the visa application. Therefore, collect your evidence before the round, not after it.
What did not change
The pass mark, the skills assessment requirement and the age limit all stand. Similarly, the visa application charges have not moved. So today’s rules decide any application lodged today.
Above all, do not plan around a number that does not exist yet. Plan around the 70 you can prove. Then treat any uplift as a bonus when it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hold my expression of interest until the new points test starts?
No start date has been published, so waiting has no fixed end. You can lodge now if you score 65 points under the current test. Meanwhile, your age and work history keep moving your score.
I hold a trade qualification and a degree. Which one scores?
The test counts your highest qualification only. Today a bachelor degree of a recognised standard scores 15 points. Therefore the degree already gives you the higher figure.
Does the uplift change the 65 point pass mark?
Nothing announced changes the pass mark. Today you need at least 65 points to be invited. However, the new table has not been published, so the final numbers may differ.
Is processing priority the same thing as the points uplift?
No. Directions 121 and 122 set the order in which lodged applications are processed. They commenced on 19 September 2026. By contrast, the uplift concerns points, and it has not started.
Can an employer sponsor me while I wait for the new table?
Yes. The 482 visa has no points test. Instead, it needs an approved sponsor, a nominated occupation and the skills for the role. Construction occupations sit in the top processing group.
Points and the pass mark verified against the Home Affairs points table on 30 September 2026. The visa application charge is current from 1 July 2026. The Minister’s statements come from his National Press Club speech of 17 September 2026.
General information as at 30 September 2026. The points uplift was announced at the National Press Club on 17 September 2026. It is not yet law. Declan is a fictional example. Not legal advice.