TSS Visa – English language Requirements

TSS Short term stream visa English requirements

For the Short term TSS visa stream, the English language tests you can take and the required results are as follows:

  • IELTS- Overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 4.5 in each of the test components.
  • OET- Score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four components
  • TOEFL iBT: iBT total score of at least 35 with a score of at least 3 for each of the test components of listening and reading, and a score of at least 12 for each of the test components of speaking and writing
  • PTE: Academic overall test score of at least 36 with a score of at least 30 in each of the test components
  • CAE Advanced: Overall test score of at least 154 with a score of at least 147 in each of the test components.

TSS Medium term stream visa English requirements

For the Medium term TSS visa stream, the English language tests you can take and the required results are as follows:

  • IELTS- Overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 5 in each of the test components.
  • OET- Score of at least ‘B‘ in each of the four components
  • TOEFL- iBT total score of at least 35 with a score of at least 4 for each of the test components of listening and reading, and a score of at least 14 for each of the test components of speaking and writing
  • PTE- Academic overall test score of at least 36 with a score of at least 36 in each of the test components
  • CAE- Overall test score of at least 154 with a score of at least 154 in each of the test components.

The applicants must have achieved the test results required in the approved test on the test day in a single attempt at the test

The test must not be more than 3 years old on the day on which the applicant provided the evidence of the test

Exemptions from English language proficiency

You do not need to demonstrate your English language proficiency if you fall into one of the following categories of exempted persons:

  • you are a passport holder from:
    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • the Republic of Ireland
    • the United Kingdom
    • the United States of America
  • you have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in at least a secondary level institution and where most classes were in English. We need the following information:
    • name and location of the institution/s
    • level of qualification/s
    • official transcript from the secondary and/or tertiary institution
    • number of contact hours per week in English
    • number of years of study
  • your nominated occupation in Australia will be performed at:
    • diplomatic or consular mission of another country
    • an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan
  • your nominated occupation requires you:
    • to hold a licence, registration or membership
    • you were granted the licence, registration, or membership
    • you had to prove that you had equal or higher English language proficiency than that listed in the table below to be granted the licence, registration or membership
  • you are:
    • an employee of an overseas business
    • the business or its associated entity has nominated you to work in Australia
    • you will receive a guaranteed annual earnings of at least AUD 96,400