Information current as at October 2026. Scores are for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 unless stated otherwise. Most Australian work, skilled, student and graduate visas ask you to prove a set level of English. Home Affairs uses five standard levels: Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior. Each visa states which level you need, and each approved test has its own minimum scores for each level. The rules changed on 7 August 2025. Three new tests were approved (CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test), the required scores for PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and C1 Advanced were reset for every level, and C1 Advanced stopped being accepted for Functional and Vocational English. The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa moved to the standard Vocational English scores for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025. This page sets out the current scores, the level each main visa needs, how long results stay valid and who does not need a test.
English requirements for Australian visas in 2026
Related: Changes to English Language Tests for Visa Applicants from 7 August 2025
Approved English tests and key rules
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs accepts these tests:
- IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training (including IELTS One Skill Retake for eligible visas)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT (results must be registered under “Taking TOEFL for Australia”)
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- CELPIP General
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET), including the MET Single Section Retake for eligible visas
- C1 Advanced (only for some levels and visas, see the score tables below)
You must sit the test in person at a secure test centre. Home Affairs does not accept tests taken completely online, remote proctored or at home, such as IELTS Online, CELPIP Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital at home, OET@Home or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
You cannot combine scores from different tests or different sittings. The only exception is an approved retake: IELTS One Skill Retake or the MET Single Section Retake, which lets you resit one part of the test. Retakes are now accepted for the 485 visa (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) and the 482 visa (tests taken on or after 13 September 2025). The validity period still runs from the date of your original test.
TOEFL iBT tests taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 are not accepted, because the test was not approved during that period. From 12 February 2024 to 6 August 2025 only paper-based C1 Advanced results were accepted.
English level required for the main Australian visas
| Visa | English required | Notes |
| 482 Skills in Demand (Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams) | Vocational English: for example IELTS 5 in each of the four parts (no overall score is required for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025) | Exempt if you hold a passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland, have at least 5 years of full-time study taught in English, are an overseas business employee transferred with guaranteed earnings of at least $96,400, need registration for your job that already required this English level, or will work in a foreign diplomatic or consular mission. Labour Agreement stream: as set in the agreement. Family members do not need to meet the English requirement. |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition and Direct Entry) | Competent English: for example IELTS 6 in each part | Labour Agreement stream: as set in the agreement. Some applicants are exempt, for example holders of the five listed passports. |
| 189, 190 and 491 skilled visas | Competent English at least | Points test: Competent 0 points, Proficient 10 points, Superior 20 points. You need a test to claim points even if you hold one of the five passports. |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Competent English | Exemptions are similar to the 186 visa. |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each part, or equivalent | The test must be taken in the 12 months before you apply. Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders have lower scores (IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5 in each part). See the full 485 table below. |
| 500 Student | Generally IELTS 6.0 overall, or 5.5 or 5.0 if you package English (ELICOS) study with your main course | Many students are exempt, for example passport holders of the five countries and students in ELICOS only, school or postgraduate research courses. Your education provider may set a higher score. See the full 500 table below. |
| 858 National Innovation | Functional English, or pay the second instalment | The same applies to family members aged 18 or over. |
| 820/801 and 309/100 partner visas | No English requirement | An English requirement for the permanent stage was proposed in 2020 but has not been introduced. |
| Australian citizenship (conferral) | No English test score | You show a basic knowledge of English by passing the citizenship test, which is in English. |
| Secondary applicants (adult family members) for most skilled and employer sponsored permanent visas | Functional English, or pay the second instalment | From 1 July 2026 the second instalment is generally $4,885 to $4,890 per adult without functional English for the 189, 190, 491, 494 and 858 visas, and $4,890 for a 186 secondary applicant. |
Other Australian visas and their English requirements:
- Training visa (subclass 407): Functional English (average 4.5 in IELTS or equivalent)
- Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408): Functional English (average 4.5 in IELTS or equivalent) where the stream requires it
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403): No English requirement
- Recognised Graduate (476): Overall score of at least IELTS 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts (or equivalent)
- Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) and Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191): No English requirement for the main applicant
- RSMS 187 visa: closed to new applicants since 16 November 2019 (for regional employer sponsorship, see the 494 visa). Remaining transitional applicants need Competent English
- Distinguished Talent visa (124): closed and replaced, now the National Innovation visa (858), which needs Functional English or the second instalment
- Functional English: for secondary applicants seeking to avoid paying the second instalment (English language charge)
Business visas (188 and 888)
The 188A and 188B Business Innovation and Investment visas closed to new applicants on 31 July 2024, so the business points test (which gave 5 points for Vocational English and 10 points for Proficient English) no longer applies to new applicants. There was never a minimum English score for these visas.
If you already hold a 188 visa and apply for the 888 permanent visa, there is still no minimum English score, but each adult in the application without Functional English must pay the second instalment ($4,890 per adult from 1 July 2026) before the visa is granted.
Validity of English Tests
How old your test can be depends on the English level and the visa. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025:
| English level or visa | How recent the test must be |
| Functional English | Taken in the 12 months before you apply |
| Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English (including skilled visas and the 186) | Taken in the 3 years before you apply, depending on the visa |
| 482 Skills in Demand | Taken in the 3 years before you apply |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Taken in the 12 months before you apply |
| 500 Student | No more than 2 years old when you apply (or at the decision date if you provide it later) |
Older tests: results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 are assessed against the old score table (see below) and can be used until 6 August 2028 for Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English, depending on the visa and as long as the test is still within the visa’s validity window. Old Functional English results could only be used until 6 August 2026.
For points tested skilled visas, your English must be valid at the time you are invited, so plan your test so it does not expire while you wait. Applications that need functional English need a test taken at most 12 months before lodgement.
English test score equivalences from 7 August 2025
Select a level to see the minimum score you need in each test. Scores apply to each of the four parts (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) unless an overall score is shown. These are the scores Home Affairs publishes for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
Functional English is used for some temporary visas and to avoid the second instalment for adult family members. It is based on an overall score.
| Test | Required score |
| IELTS Academic or General Training | Average band score of at least 4.5 |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of at least 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | Total score of at least 26 |
| OET | Overall score of at least 1020 |
| CELPIP General | Overall score of at least 5 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Overall score of at least 38 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | Overall score of at least 38 |
| C1 Advanced | Not accepted for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 |
You can also show Functional English without a test if you hold a passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland, or if you completed certain study in English (for example at least 2 years of full-time study towards a degree, diploma or trade certificate taught in English, or at least 1 year of full-time study at an Australian institution taught in English).
Scores for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025
If you sat your test on or before 6 August 2025, your result is assessed against the previous scores below. Only these five tests were approved before 7 August 2025.
| Level | IELTS (each band) | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT (L / R / W / S) | OET | C1 Advanced |
| Functional | Average 4.5 | Overall 30 | Total 32 | Not listed | Total 147 |
| Vocational | 5 | 36 in each part | 4 / 4 / 14 / 14 | B in each part | 154 in each part |
| Competent | 6 | 50 in each part | 12 / 13 / 21 / 21 | B in each part | 169 in each part |
| Proficient | 7 | 65 in each part | 24 / 24 / 27 / 23 | B in each part | 185 in each part |
| Superior | 8 | 79 in each part | 28 / 29 / 30 / 26 | A in each part | 200 in each part |
Partner visas
Partner visa 820 (onshore) and subclass 309 (offshore): there is currently no English language requirement and no English language charge for the applicant or the sponsor. You do not need to sit an English test to be granted the temporary or the permanent partner visa.
Related: Partner Visa Processing Update (April 2026). A 2020 proposal to add an English test for the permanent stage of partner visas was never introduced.
Work and Holiday visas
- Working Holiday visa (subclass 417): no English requirement
- Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): you generally need Functional English, shown by a test or by evidence such as your passport or study in English. The evidence accepted depends on your country.
Who does not need an English test
For most skilled and employer sponsored visas, you will need to show at least Competent English to meet the threshold criteria. If you are a citizen of, and hold a valid passport from, one of the following 5 countries, you are treated as having Functional, Vocational and Competent English without completing an English test:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Republic of Ireland
Keep in mind:
- The exemption applies only to the person who holds the passport. A partner or family member with a different passport may still need a test or pay the second instalment.
- A passport does not give you Proficient or Superior English. To claim 10 or 20 points for English on the points test, you need a test result.
- Some visas accept other evidence instead of a test, such as 5 years of full-time study taught in English for the 482 visa, or study in English for Functional English. Check the requirements for your visa before you rely on an exemption.
English test scores for Student visas (subclass 500)
From 7 August 2025 the Student visa scores are set by a new instrument (LIN 25/090), which replaced LIN 24/022. The minimum scores are lower if your main course is packaged with English language study (ELICOS). If you are exempt, for example because you hold one of the five passports above, you do not need a test.
| Test | Main course only | With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, or a foundation or eligible pathway program | With at least 20 weeks of ELICOS |
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 53 | 49 | 44 |
| C1 Advanced | 161 | Not accepted | Not accepted |
Your test must be no more than 2 years old when you apply. Tests taken before 7 August 2025 can still be used if they meet the previous scores. Your university or college may ask for a higher score than the visa minimum.
English test scores for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
These scores apply to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 (instrument LIN 25/089) for both the Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work streams. The test must be taken in the 12 months before you apply. See our 485 visa English requirements page for more detail.
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.5 (average) | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 55 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 39 |
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 17 |
| OET | 1310 | 260 | 280 | 260 | 310 |
| CELPIP General | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 67 | 49 | 54 | 56 | 62 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 58 | 53 | 51 | 51 | 43 |
| C1 Advanced | Not accepted |
Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders have lower minimum scores:
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.0 (average) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 33 | 36 | 29 | 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| OET | 1210 | 220 | 240 | 200 | 270 |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 41 | 44 | 45 | 54 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 53 | 49 | 47 | 45 | 38 |
At home and online English tests
Some test providers offer tests you can take at home or online, such as TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Online, OET@Home, CELPIP Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online and MET Digital at home. Home Affairs does not accept these tests for any visa.
Score Ranges
English testing organisations will sometimes adjust their score ranges as new research and knowledge about English testing is developed. Home Affairs reviews these changes before adjusting the scores required for each English level, as it did on 7 August 2025. When scores change again, we will update this page.
If you would like to find out more about the English language requirements or discuss your visa options further, please book an appointment.
Remote or ‘at home’ English language tests not acceptable
When applying for student, skilled and some permanent visas, you will need to meet the English language requirements. Home Affairs does not accept scores from remote or ‘at home’ English language tests as evidence of English language ability. For more information about English language test scores accepted for skilled and employer sponsored visas, please refer to our English language page.
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score do I need for Competent English?
For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, you need at least 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing and 54 in Speaking. For a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, the old requirement of 50 in each part still applies.
What English score do I need for the 482 Skills in Demand visa?
You need Vocational English. For IELTS that means at least 5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. For PTE Academic taken on or after 13 September 2025 it is 33 Listening, 36 Reading, 29 Writing and 24 Speaking. Many applicants are exempt, for example holders of a UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand or Irish passport, or people with at least 5 years of full-time study in English.
Can I combine my best scores from two different tests?
No. All scores must come from one test. The only exception is an approved retake, such as IELTS One Skill Retake or the MET Single Section Retake, where you resit one part and the result is read together with your original test.
Is the C1 Advanced test still accepted?
Only for some purposes. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, C1 Advanced can be used for Competent, Proficient and Superior English and for a Student visa main course, but not for Functional English, Vocational English (including the 482 visa) or the 485 visa.
Are online or at home English tests accepted?
No. Home Affairs only accepts tests taken in person at a secure test centre. Home editions and online versions of IELTS, TOEFL, OET, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT and MET are not accepted for any visa.
How long is my English test valid for a visa?
It depends on the level and the visa. Functional English and 485 visa tests must be taken in the 12 months before you apply, Student visa tests must be no more than 2 years old, and Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English tests are generally accepted for 3 years.
I have a UK passport. Do I need an English test?
Not to meet the Functional, Vocational or Competent English requirement, as long as you are a citizen and hold a valid passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland. You will still need a test if you want to claim points for Proficient or Superior English, and family members with other passports may need their own evidence.
Australian Migration News: October 2026 Update
Student visa changes from 2 October 2026
After Graduation in Australia: Key PR Pathways for International Students in 2026
What the New Migration Reforms Mean for You
Australia Stops New International Student Enrolments in Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)