You must meet the minimum score in every component — not just the overall average.

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For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, different score thresholds apply. Check the Department of Home Affairs Competent English page for Table 2 scores.

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Which English Tests Does the 485 Visa Accept?

The Department of Home Affairs accepts these tests for the TR 485 visa — but only sittings at a secure test centre. The test must be taken at an approved test centre. Online or at-home test formats are not accepted.

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Accepted tests (from 7 August 2025):

• IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake)

• IELTS General Training (including One Skill Retake)

• PTE Academic

• TOEFL iBT (must register under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' — results without this registration are ineligible)

• OET

• Cambridge C1 Advanced

• CELPIP General

• LANGUAGECERT Academic

• MET (including Single Section Retake)

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Online tests the department does NOT accept:

• CELPIP Online

• IELTS Online

• LANGUAGECERT Academic Online

• MET Digital (at-home)

• OET@Home

• TOEFL iBT Home Edition

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IELTS One Skill Retake — Does It Count for the 485 Visa?

Yes. The Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS results that include One Skill Retake (OSR) for eligible visas.

 

Check the relevant 485 visa stream page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au to confirm OSR eligibility for your specific application.

Complete the retake before you lodge your visa application. You must meet the English requirement at the time of application lodgement.

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How Long Does Your English Test Stay Valid for the 485 Visa?

Your test result must stay valid on the date you lodge your application. A result that expires before lodgement — even by one day — the department rejects it.

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For the TR 485 visa, for recent applications, your test must generally be from a sitting within 12 months before lodgement date.

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Plan your test date carefully. Sit too early and your result expires before you finish your course. Know the best time to apply for your TR 485 visa and work backwards from there — most applicants target a test sitting 1–3 months before their intended lodgement date.

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Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may stay valid for up to 3 years for some visa subclasses. Confirm the exact validity window for your situation on the Department of Home Affairs website or with a registered migration agent.

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English Requirement Changes in 2024, 2025 and 2026

March 2024:

• Minimum score rose from IELTS 6.0 to the Competent English threshold (see table above)

• Test validity cut from 3 years to 1 year

• Hong Kong and BNO passport holders kept a separate, lower threshold

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August 2025:

• The Department of Home Affairs updated English language requirements for the 485 visa effective 7 August 2025

• PTE Academic introduced a new test format with updated score requirements

• IELTS scores for Competent English remain unchanged

• IELTS One Skill Retake now accepted for eligible 485 visa applications

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March 2026: The 485 visa application fee increased significantly from 1 March 2026. Getting your English right on the first attempt matters more than ever — a failed or invalid application now costs far more to reattempt.

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What If You Already Hold a 485 Visa?

If you apply for a second TR 485 visa in the same stream. Post-Higher Education Work stream or Post-Study Work stream, in many cases, you may not need to resit an English test if applying in the same stream, as your English was already assessed.

 

The department already assessed your English when it granted your first 485 visa in that stream. Switch streams, and the standard English requirement applies again.

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Common Mistakes That Cause Refusals

These are the issues our MARA-registered agents see most often:

• Expired results — test date sits more than 12 months before lodgement

• Below-minimum component score — meeting the overall average doesn't help if any single component falls short

• At-home or online test — the department rejects every remote-proctored result regardless of score

• TOEFL not registered under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' — results without this registration are ineligible

• Wrong validity assumption — validity rules differ between visa subclasses; never assume

• Lodging before OSR completes — OSR must be finalised before you lodge, not after

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If a deadline issue puts your application at risk, read our guide on what happens if you miss the 6-month TR 485 deadline timing mistakes on English evidence can have the same knock-on effect.

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Frequently Ask Question

Q: What English test do I need for the 485 visa?

A: The Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and MET, all must come from a secure test centre sitting, not an online or at-home format.

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Q: What is the minimum IELTS score for the 485 visa?

A: For tests taken from 7 August 2025, you need at least 6 in each of the four components, Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. You must meet the minimum in every component, not just the overall band.

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Q: What is the minimum PTE score for the 485 visa?

A: For tests taken from 7 August 2025, you need at least 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing, and 54 in Speaking.

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Q: How long is my English test valid for the 485 visa?

A: Your test must come from a sitting within 12 months before your lodgement date, and the result must still be valid on the day you lodge.

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Q: Who is exempt from the English requirement for the 485 visa?

A: Citizens holding a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America are exempt from submitting English test results.

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Q: Can I use an online English test for the 485 visa?

A: No. The Department of Home Affairs rejects all online, remote-proctored, or at-home test results — including IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, and CELPIP Online.