{"id":"F2019L01400","name":"Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019","slug":"migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440282,"registerId":"F2019L01400-fast-fetch-1775955968063","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nMigration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019\n\nI, David Coleman, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, make the following instrument.\n\nDated 29 October 2019\n\nDavid Coleman\n\nMinister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Schedules\n\n5 Definitions\n\n6 Pool and pass marks—applications made on or after 16 November 2019\n\n7 Pool and pass marks—applications made before 16 November 2019\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nMigration (IMMI 18/067: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2018\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n (1) This instrument is the Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019.\n\n (2) This instrument may be cited as LIN 19/210.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument At the same time as Schedule 1 to the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 commences. 16 November 2019\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsections 96(1) and (2) of the Migration Act 1958.\n\n4  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n5  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Migration Act 1958.\n\ninvitation, in relation to an application for a class of visa, means an invitation by the Minister to apply for that class of visa.\n\n6  Pool and pass marks—applications made on or after 16 November 2019\n\n (1) This section applies in relation to a class of visas to which both of the following paragraphs apply:\n\n (a) the visas are of any of the following subclasses:\n\n (i) Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent) visa;\n\n (ii) Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated) visa;\n\n (iii) Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa;\n\n (b) the applications for the visas are made on or after 16 November 2019.\n\n (2) For the purposes of the Act and the regulations:\n\n (a) the pool mark in relation to the class of visas; and\n\n (b) the pass mark in relation to the applications;\n\nis 65 points.\n\n7  Pool and pass marks—applications made before 16 November 2019\n\n (1) This section applies in relation to a class of visas to which all of the following paragraphs apply:\n\n (a) the visas are of a subclass mentioned in column 1 of an item of the table in subsection (3);\n\n (b) the requirements specified in column 2 of the item are met;\n\n (c) the applications for the visas were made before 16 November 2019.\n\n (2) For the purposes of the Act and the regulations:\n\n (a) the pool mark in relation to the class of visas; and\n\n (b) the pass mark in relation to the applications;\n\nis the mark specified in column 3 of the item.\n\n (3) The following is the table:\n\n \n\n- Pool and pass marks\n- Item Column 1Visas Column 2Requirements Column 3Pool and pass marks\n- 1 (a) Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent) visa; or(b) Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated) visa; or(c) Subclass 489 (Skilled—Regional (Provisional)) visa the applications for the visas were made:(a) on or after 1 July 2018; and(b) in response to invitations given by the Minister on or after 1 July 2018 65 points\n- 2 (a) Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent) visa; or(b) Subclass 190 (Skilled—Nominated) visa; or(c) Subclass 489 (Skilled—Regional (Provisional)) visa the applications for the visas were made in response to invitations given by the Minister before 1 July 2018 60 points\n- 3 (a) Subclass 175 (Skilled—Independent) visa; or(b) Subclass 176 (Skilled—Sponsored) visa; or(c) Subclass 475 (Skilled—Regional Sponsored) visa; or(d) Subclass 487 (Skilled—Regional Sponsored) visa; or(e) Subclass 885 (Skilled—Independent) visa; or(f) Subclass 886 (Skilled—Sponsored) visa regulation 2.26AB of the Migration Regulations 1994, as in force immediately before 1 July 2013, applied to the applicants for the visas 65 points\n- 4 (a) Subclass 175 (Skilled—Independent) visa; or(b) Subclass 885 (Skilled—Independent) visa regulation 2.26AA of the Migration Regulations 1994, as in force immediately before 1 July 2013, applied to the applicants for the visas 120 points\n- 5 (a) Subclass 176 (Skilled—Sponsored) visa; or(b) Subclass 475 (Skilled—Regional Sponsored) visa; or(c) Subclass 487 (Skilled—Regional Sponsored) visa; or(d) Subclass 886 (Skilled—Sponsored) visa regulation 2.26AA of the Migration Regulations 1994, as in force immediately before 1 July 2013, applied to the applicants for the visas 100 points\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\n \n\nMigration (IMMI 18/067: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2018\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument maintains its original narrow purpose of setting numerical thresholds for skilled migration visas. While it updates the visa subclasses covered (adding Subclass 491, removing older subclasses) and consolidates historical point requirements, this represents normal administrative updating rather than scope creep. The core function remains unchanged from the 2018 instrument it replaces."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument (approximately 3 substantive sections)","Simple tabular structure for historical point thresholds","Only 2 defined terms in section 5","Clear date-based cut-offs for application of different rules","Single cross-reference to repealed instrument in Schedule 1","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond date-based applicability"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets minimum points scores for Australia’s skilled migration visas, defining a “pool mark” to enter the invitation pool and a “pass mark” to lodge an application. It applies to subclasses 189, 190, 491 and several older subclasses, and keeps a 65‑point standard for most recent applications (with lower or higher historic thresholds for older application dates). It matters because applicants who don’t meet these marks cannot progress their visa claims."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. This instrument replaces the 2018 instrument (Schedule 1) and resets the numeric pool/pass mark to 65 for subclasses 189, 190 and 491 for applications on or after 16 November 2019 (s6(2)). It preserves alternative marks for earlier applications via the s7 transitional table, which references earlier regulatory regimes and specific invitation dates (1 July 2018 and 1 July 2013 cut‑offs)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple date cut‑offs create transitional rules (commencement 16 November 2019; table uses 1 July 2018 and 1 July 2013) — see Commencement, s6 and s7.","Different treatment by visa subclass and application timing (subclasses 189, 190, 491 for post‑Nov‑2019; multiple older subclasses in s7 table).","Direct numeric settings for both 'pool mark' and 'pass mark' but varying by item in the s7 table (65, 60, 120, 100) — see s6(2) and s7(2)–(3).","Cross‑reference to the Migration Act and Migration Regulations (authority under ss 96(1)–(2) of the Migration Act; historical application of regs as in force on earlier dates) — see s3 and s7(3).","Repeal of a prior instrument (Schedule 1), so users must compare replaced rules to confirm which threshold applies to a given application date.","Low discretion in the instrument itself (it sets fixed marks) but operational discretion remains with the Minister for issuing invitations under the Act."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets the points thresholds (the 'pool' and 'pass' marks) used to invite and assess applicants for certain skilled migration visas. For applications made on or after 16 November 2019 for subclasses 189, 190 and 491 the mark is 65 points.\n\nIt also preserves different marks for earlier applications, repeals the 2018 instrument, and records that the Minister (under the Migration Act) issues invitations; applicants must meet the applicable points threshold to be in the visa pool."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019","history":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/migration-lin-19-210-pool-and-pass-marks-for-general-skilled-migration-visas-instrument-2019/documents"}}