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Navigating Australia’s 2025 Points Test Changes: What Legacy Migrants Must Prepare For
- Luanne Dequito
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Are you visa-ready for the most competitive skilled migration changes in years?
Starting July 2025, Australia is raising the bar for General Skilled Migration (GSM) — giving priority to highly skilled professionals with regional ties, strong English skills, and experience in priority industries. With competition tighter than ever, legacy migrants must adapt fast or risk missing out.
What is Australia’s General Skilled Migration Points Test?
Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test is a merit-based system used to assess applicants for skilled visas such as Subclass 189, 190, and 491. Points are awarded based on criteria like age, English proficiency, work experience, education, and regional study. The higher the score, the stronger the visa application.
Australia’s 2025 GSM Points Test: What’s New?
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has rolled out key updates to the GSM Points Test, effective July 2025. These changes reflect a national push to attract skilled, long-term residents who can fill workforce gaps—especially in regional areas and priority sectors.
Key Changes in 2025:
+10 Points for studying and living in designated regional areas
+15 Points for work experience in priority industries (e.g., healthcare, engineering, construction)
Increased Points for superior English proficiency (IELTS 8.0 or equivalent)
Revised Age Bracket Weighting giving more weight to those under 35
Bonus Points for occupations listed in the updated National Skills Priority List
What This Means for Legacy Migrants
Legacy migrants—individuals who have lived in Australia on temporary visas for several years—are uniquely positioned to benefit from these updates. However, time is of the essence.
Legacy-Specific Impacts:
Work History in Australia can now yield more points, especially if it's in a priority sector
Regional Experience is rewarded: past study or employment in places like Adelaide, Hobart, or Darwin counts
Pathway Opportunities: Legacy migrants who previously missed cutoffs may now qualify with improved point potential
How to Maximize Your Points in 2025
Here’s how legacy migrants can boost their scores and stay competitive under the revised system:
🔹 1. Validate English Proficiency
Aim for an IELTS score of 8.0 or higher to receive maximum language points.
🔹 2. Assess Work Experience
Claim additional points if you have 3+ years of work in a critical sector—especially health, education, IT, or trades.
🔹 3. Regional Qualification Review
If you’ve studied or worked outside major cities, you may qualify for 10–15 bonus points.
🔹 4. Skills Assessment & Occupation Alignment
Make sure your nominated occupation is listed under the National Skills Priority List and your qualifications are assessed accordingly.
How Legacy Migration Can Help
At Legacy Migration, we specialize in helping long-term visa holders transition to permanent residency through expert migration support. Our services include:
✅ Visa Eligibility Assessments
✅ GSM Points Maximization Plans
✅ Application Strategy & Lodgement
✅ Avoiding Migration Scams & Delays
Whether you're reapplying or maximizing a new pathway, our team offers tailored support every step of the way.
Australia’s July 2025 Points Test changes favor applicants who bring real, long-term value—especially those with regional, sector-specific, or high English-language capabilities. For legacy migrants, this is a crucial window of opportunity to secure permanent residency.
Don’t leave your future to chance.
Book a free consultation with our migration experts at Legacy Migration and find your best pathway to permanent residency.
Serving clients across Australia and the Philippines
Migration Agents Registration Number: 1797357
QEAC Number: S041
