Australia: the points system, state nomination and the closed investor door

Australia closed its business innovation and investment programme, including the significant investor stream, in 2024. What remains is a points-based skilled migration system that is indifferent to capital.

How the points system works

• Points are awarded for age, English proficiency, skilled work experience, qualifications, and factors such as an Australian qualification, a skilled partner or community language.
• Age is heavily weighted and declines sharply from the mid-thirties, which is the single most common reason an otherwise strong candidate does not qualify.
• Your occupation must appear on a skilled occupation list, and a skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority is required.
• An expression of interest is submitted and invitations are issued against the points score, with the effective cut-off set by demand rather than by the published minimum.

The routes

• Independent skilled — no sponsor, permanent residence directly.
• State or territory nomination — extra points in exchange for a commitment to live in the nominating state, with each state publishing its own occupation lists and requirements. This is the practical route for most applicants.
• Employer sponsorship, with routes leading to permanent residence.
• The National Innovation visa, which replaced the investor streams and targets exceptional talent in priority sectors — an assessment, not an investment.

Property, separately

Foreign buyers require approval from the investment regulator, are largely restricted to new housing, face a ban on existing homes introduced in 2025, and pay state surcharges plus an annual vacancy fee. Owning property confers no immigration benefit and never has.

Citizenship

Permanent residence leads to citizenship after a qualifying period with a residence requirement and a test. Australia permits dual citizenship. The path is real, which is more than several countries on this list offer.

Who it works for

Younger professionals with good English and an occupation on a list — and essentially nobody else. That is a deliberate policy choice, and the closure of the investor streams was the same choice stated explicitly.