English Requirements

Update

28 October 2025

Skilled Migration Visa

The minimum English requirement for the 189 Skilled Independent, 190 State Sponsored, 491 State Sponsored Regional visas is Competent English, which means achieving a score of at least 6 in each band of the IELTS test or equivalent scores on other approved tests. However, you only get points toward the total score for Proficient English (10 points) or Superior English (20 points).

Accepted English Test:

Test Taken on or After 7 August 2025

IELTS : 6.0 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
CELPIP General : 7 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
PTE Academic:
- Listening: 47
- Reading: 48
- Writing: 51
- Speaking: 54
TOEFL iBT:
- Listening: 16
- Reading: 16
- Writing: 19
- Speaking: 19
OET:
- Listening: 290
- Reading: 310
- Writing: 190
- Speaking: 330

MET:
- Listening: 56
- Reading: 55
- Writing: 57
- Speaking: 48
LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Listening: 57
- Reading: 60
- Writing: 64
- Speaking: 70
C1 Advanced
- Listening: 163
- Reading: 163
- Writing: 170
- Speaking: 179

Test Taken on or Before 6 August 2025

IELTS : 6.0 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
CAE/ C1 Advanced : 169 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
OET : B in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
PTE Academic : 50 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
TOEFL iBT:
- Listening: 12
- Reading: 13
- Writing: 21
- Speaking: 18

Family Partner Visas

The Department of Home Affairs has proposed that new partner visa applicants and their permanent resident sponsors must demonstrate functional English proficiency. To meet the Functional English requirement, applicants need to achieve an average IELTS score of at least 4.5 or an equivalent test result.

Accepted English Test:

Test Taken on or After 7 August 2025

IELTS : 4.5 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
CELPIP General : 5 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
MET : 38 for overall band score
OET : 1020 for overall band score
LANGUAGECERT Academic : 38 for overall band score
PTE Academic: 24 for overall band score
TOEFL iBT: 26 for overall band score

Test Taken on or Before 6 August 2025

C1/CAE: 147 for overall band score
IELTS: 4.5 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
PTE Academic: 30 for overall band score
TOEFL iBT: 32 for overall band score

Protection Visas

English Language Requirement

There is no English language requirement to apply for a Protection visa. However, if you are granted the visa, you may be eligible to attend free English language classes under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

Temporary Graduate Visa TR-485

If you are not holding a passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, within the last 3 years, you have to achieve:

Accepted English Test:

Test Taken on or After 7 August 2025

IELTS:
- Overall: 6.5
- Listening: 5.5
- Reading: 5.5
- Writing: 5.5
- Speaking: 5.5
CELPIP General:
- Overall: 8
- Listening: 6
- Reading: 6
- Writing: 6
- Speaking: 6
PTE Academic:
- Overall: 55
- Listening: 40
- Reading: 42
- Writing: 41
- Speaking: 39
TOEFL iBT:
- Overall: 81
- Listening: 12
- Reading: 12
- Writing: 14
- Speaking: 17
OET:
- Overall: 1310
- Listening: 260
- Reading: 280
- Writing: 260
- Speaking: 310

MET:
- Overall: 58
- Listening: 53
- Reading: 51
- Writing: 51
- Speaking: 43
LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Overall: 67
- Listening: 49
- Reading: 54
- Writing: 56
- Speaking: 62
C1 Advanced : Not accepted

Test Taken on or Before 6 August 2025

IELTS:
- Overall: 6.5
- Listening: 5.5
- Reading: 5.5
- Writing: 5.5
- Speaking: 5.5
CAE / C1 Advanced:
- Overall: 176
- Listening: 162
- Reading: 162
- Writing: 162
- Speaking: 162
PTE Academic:
- Overall: 57
- Listening: 43
- Reading: 48
- Writing: 51
- Speaking: 42
TOEFL iBT:
- Overall: 83
- Listening: 7
- Reading: 8
- Writing: 18
- Speaking: 16
OET: B for overall and in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)