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Australian visa English requirements
Compare Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English, then check how English works for common Australian visa pathways.
First, check your test date.
Home Affairs changed its approved tests and scores on 7 August 2025. The scores below are for tests taken on or after that date. Earlier results may still be accepted for a limited time, depending on the visa.
Important: This is general information only. It is not immigration or legal advice. Check the official rules for your visa and circumstances before applying.
Menu 1
Choose an English level
Open one level to see every currently listed approved test and score.
01Functional EnglishA basic English level used in some family and secondary-applicant situations.
Test evidence generally needs to be from the 12 months before the visa application. Other evidence, including specified study in English, may also be accepted.
Passport evidence: Home Affairs also lists citizenship and a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States as one way to prove this level. Check the official page for the complete evidence rules.
L = ListeningR = ReadingW = WritingS = Speaking
CELPIP GeneralOverall 5
IELTS AcademicAverage 4.5
IELTS General TrainingAverage 4.5
LANGUAGECERT AcademicOverall 38
METOverall 38
OETOverall 1020
PTE AcademicOverall 24
TOEFL iBTTotal 26
02Vocational EnglishA four-skill threshold used in some work and migration settings.
Test evidence is generally from the 3 years before the application, depending on the visa subclass.
Passport evidence: Home Affairs also lists citizenship and a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States as one way to prove this level. Check the official page for the complete evidence rules.
L = ListeningR = ReadingW = WritingS = Speaking
CELPIP GeneralL 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5
IELTS AcademicL 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5
IELTS General TrainingL 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5
LANGUAGECERT AcademicL 41 · R 44 · W 45 · S 54
METL 49 · R 47 · W 45 · S 38
OETL 220 · R 240 · W 200 · S 270
PTE AcademicL 33 · R 36 · W 29 · S 24
TOEFL iBTL 8 · R 8 · W 9 · S 14
03Competent EnglishThe minimum English level commonly associated with points-tested skilled migration.
Test evidence is generally from the 3 years before the application, depending on the visa subclass.
Passport evidence: Home Affairs also lists citizenship and a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States as one way to prove this level. Check the official page for the complete evidence rules.
L = ListeningR = ReadingW = WritingS = Speaking
Cambridge C1 AdvancedL 163 · R 163 · W 170 · S 179
CELPIP GeneralL 7 · R 7 · W 7 · S 7
IELTS AcademicL 6 · R 6 · W 6 · S 6
IELTS General TrainingL 6 · R 6 · W 6 · S 6
LANGUAGECERT AcademicL 57 · R 60 · W 64 · S 70
METL 56 · R 55 · W 57 · S 48
OETL 290 · R 310 · W 290 · S 330
PTE AcademicL 47 · R 48 · W 51 · S 54
TOEFL iBTL 16 · R 16 · W 19 · S 19
04Proficient EnglishA higher four-skill level that can be relevant when claiming skilled-migration points.
Test evidence is generally from the 3 years before the application, depending on the visa subclass.
L = ListeningR = ReadingW = WritingS = Speaking
Cambridge C1 AdvancedL 175 · R 179 · W 193 · S 194
CELPIP GeneralL 9 · R 8 · W 10 · S 8
IELTS AcademicL 7 · R 7 · W 7 · S 7
IELTS General TrainingL 7 · R 7 · W 7 · S 7
LANGUAGECERT AcademicL 67 · R 71 · W 78 · S 82
METL 61 · R 63 · W 74 · S 59
OETL 350 · R 360 · W 380 · S 360
PTE AcademicL 58 · R 59 · W 69 · S 76
TOEFL iBTL 22 · R 22 · W 26 · S 24
05Superior EnglishThe highest standard level used in the skilled-migration points system.
Test evidence is generally from the 3 years before the application, depending on the visa subclass.
L = ListeningR = ReadingW = WritingS = Speaking
Cambridge C1 AdvancedL 186 · R 190 · W 210 · S 208
CELPIP GeneralL 10 · R 10 · W 12 · S 10
IELTS AcademicL 8 · R 8 · W 8 · S 8
IELTS General TrainingL 8 · R 8 · W 8 · S 8
LANGUAGECERT AcademicL 80 · R 83 · W 89 · S 89
OETL 390 · R 400 · W 420 · S 400
PTE AcademicL 69 · R 70 · W 85 · S 88
TOEFL iBTL 26 · R 27 · W 30 · S 28
Menu 2
Choose a visa pathway
Visa rules do not always match one standard English level. Start with the pathway, then check the official subclass page.
Skilled visas: 189, 190 and 491How much English do I need for a skilled visa?
These points-tested pathways commonly require Competent English. A higher level may also affect the number of English-language points you can claim. Your invitation, occupation, assessing authority and state or territory rules can add separate requirements.
What to checkCheck both the visa eligibility page and the current points table before relying on a score.
Open the official Home Affairs page ↗Skills in Demand visa: 482What English score do I need for a 482 visa?
The 482 Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams have their own subclass-specific English rule. Although some scores resemble Vocational English, this requirement should be checked separately rather than treated as the standard Vocational English level.
IELTS Academic or General TrainingL 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5
CELPIP GeneralL 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5
PTE AcademicL 33 · R 36 · W 29 · S 24
LANGUAGECERT AcademicL 41 · R 44 · W 45 · S 54
METL 49 · R 47 · W 45 · S 38
OETL 220 · R 240 · W 200 · S 270
TOEFL iBTL 8 · R 8 · W 9 · S 14
What to checkThe test generally must be no more than 3 years old. Exemptions and transitional rules can apply, so check the official 482 page for your stream and circumstances.
Open the official Home Affairs page ↗Employer Nomination Scheme visa: 186What English score do I need for a 186 visa?
The common subclass 186 Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition pathways require Competent English unless an exemption applies. For current tests this means IELTS 6 in every skill, CELPIP 7 in every skill, PTE L47/R48/W51/S54, LANGUAGECERT L57/R60/W64/S70, MET L56/R55/W57/S48, OET L290/R310/W290/S330, TOEFL iBT L16/R16/W19/S19 or Cambridge C1 Advanced L163/R163/W170/S179.
What to checkCheck the requirement for your exact 186 stream and any exemption before relying on these scores.
Open the official Home Affairs page ↗Temporary Graduate visa: 485What English score do I need for a 485 visa?
Subclass 485 has its own English requirement and does not match one of the five standard English levels above. These are the current scores for most applicants:
IELTS Academic or General TrainingOverall 6.5 · every skill at least 5.5
CELPIP GeneralOverall 8 · every skill at least 6
PTE AcademicOverall 55 · L40 · R42 · W41 · S39
LANGUAGECERT AcademicOverall 67 · L49 · R54 · W56 · S62
METOverall 58 · L53 · R51 · W51 · S43
OETOverall 1310 · L260 · R280 · W260 · S310
TOEFL iBTTotal 81 · L12 · R12 · W14 · S17
Cambridge C1 AdvancedNot accepted under the current 485 table
What to checkThe score generally must be achieved within 1 year before applying. Lower scores apply to Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders, and specified passports can remove the test requirement.
Open the official Home Affairs page ↗Student visa: 500What English score do I need for an Australian student visa?
The Student visa has its own minimum test-score table and exemption categories. The required evidence can also change when the principal course is packaged with ELICOS, a foundation course or an eligible pathway program.
What to checkYour education provider may set a different course-entry score, so check both the visa rule and the provider's admission rule.
Open the official Home Affairs page ↗Compare IELTS, PTE and CELPIP
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Sources and review
Checked against current government sources
Last checked: 8 September 2026. Australian visa rules, accepted tests, scores and evidence periods can change. This page provides general information, not immigration or legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Home Affairs — English language visa requirements.
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Australian visa English frequently asked questions
Which English tests are accepted for Australian visas?
Accepted tests and score settings depend on the visa, English level and date of the test. Always verify the current requirement on the Department of Home Affairs website.
What are Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English?
These are defined English levels used in Australian migration contexts. Each level has its own accepted-test score settings and may affect eligibility, exemptions or points.
Can Master English give migration advice?
Master English can explain English-test preparation and published score information, but does not replace a registered migration professional or official Home Affairs advice.