Wondering whether 65 points is competitive for Software Engineer (also known as Software Developer, Developer, Software Dev)? Below is where a 65-point score actually sits in the live SkillSelect pool for Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313) as at August 2026: how many submitted EOIs rank ahead of you, how many are tied, and what that means for each visa pathway.
Quick answer
Software Engineer with 65 points is a weak position for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) as at August 2026. In the live SkillSelect pool for Software Engineer, about 7,703 submitted EOIs rank ahead of you and 1,165 sit level with your score. SkillSelect invites the highest scores first, which puts you in the bottom quarter of the pool, so this score is not yet competitive. Lifting your score before you lodge is the priority; a 190 or 491 state nomination is often the faster way in at this level.
Where 65 Points Puts You for Software Engineer
| Pathway | Your ranking score | Submitted EOIs ranked ahead | Tied at your score | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) | 65 | 7,703 | 1,165 | Bottom 25% |
| Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) | 70 | 14,848 | 3,129 | Lower half |
| Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) | 80 | 13,095 | 3,498 | Lower half |
Source: SkillSelect submitted-EOI points data for Software Engineer (national pool), as at August 2026. Counts are rounded by the Department of Home Affairs; small buckets sit at a suppression floor. Higher scores are invited first, and ties are separated by EOI date.
Reading the Numbers
SkillSelect ranks every Expression of Interest by points and invites from the top down, so your real question is not whether you pass a mark but how many people sit above you. For the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 65 points is a ranking score of 65. The table above reads that score against the Software Engineer pool position by position.
State nomination changes the maths: a 190 nomination lifts your ranking score to 70 (+5); a 491 nomination lifts your ranking score to 80 (+15). At the higher score, fewer EOIs rank ahead of you, which is why the state-nominated pathways can be faster than the 189 for the same base points. The table above shows where each score sits in the Software Engineer pool.
These figures are the national Software Engineer pool as at August 2026. They move every month as EOIs are submitted, invited or expire, and this page is rebuilt from the live data on every update, so the numbers stay current.
See Your Real, Personalised Position
This page uses the national pool for Software Engineer. For your exact queue position, factoring in your occupation, your state options and the live round history, run your own numbers:
- Check Your Real Chances — where your score sits in the live EOI queue.
- Points Calculator — confirm your score, then see the queue for it.
Software Engineer at Other Points Scores
See how the competition changes at other scores for Software Engineer: 65 points · 70 points · 75 points · 80 points · 85 points · 90 points · 95 points.
Related Pages
- Full Software Engineer pathway guide (visas, fees, assessing body, all-state EOI table)
- All invitation rounds
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