Approved English tests for Australia: what changed in August 2025

What changed on 7 August 2025

Two things changed simultaneously:

First, Home Affairs published a revised list of accepted English tests. The list of eight tests now explicitly approved is set out below.

Second, and more significant for many applicants, Home Affairs introduced a requirement that only results from secure, in-person test centres are recognised for visa purposes. This rule applies to test results dated on or after 7 August 2025. The practical effect is that the at-home and remote-proctored versions of several well-known tests are no longer accepted.

Both changes apply to results dated on or after 7 August 2025. A separate transition rule, described below, governs how earlier results are treated.

The new accepted-tests list

From 7 August 2025, the following eight tests are accepted for Australian visa English language requirements (all must be taken at a secure, in-person test centre):

1. IELTS — Academic and General Training; One Skill Retake accepted where applicable
2. PTE Academic — Pearson Test of English Academic
3. TOEFL iBT — registrants must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when booking
4. OET — Occupational English Test (accepted for healthcare professionals across relevant visa subclasses)
5. Cambridge C1 Advanced
6. CELPIP General
7. LANGUAGECERT Academic
8. MET — Michigan English Test; Single Section Retake accepted where applicable

This list should be checked against the Home Affairs English language requirements page for any subsequent additions or removals, as Home Affairs has the authority to update it.

At-home and online tests: what is no longer accepted

The in-person requirement introduced on 7 August 2025 explicitly excludes remote-proctored test formats. The following are not accepted for Australian visa purposes for results dated on or after 7 August 2025:

- IELTS Online — the remotely supervised version of the IELTS test taken at home via a webcam
- OET@Home — OET's remote-proctored delivery format
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition — the at-home, remotely proctored version of TOEFL iBT

These formats may continue to be used for other purposes — university admissions, employer requirements, or credential recognition in other countries — but they cannot satisfy an Australian visa English requirement for results dated from 7 August 2025.

If you have already registered for one of these formats, contact the test provider to check whether you can transfer your booking to an in-person test centre sitting before your results would otherwise be needed.

Why Home Affairs introduced the in-person rule

Home Affairs has not published a detailed explanation of the policy rationale in its public guidance. The general principle behind requiring in-person test centre administration is to ensure the integrity of test results — supervised, secure environments reduce the scope for impersonation or unauthorised assistance that remote settings cannot fully eliminate.

Remote-proctored testing expanded significantly during and after the COVID-19 period, when test centres in many countries were closed or restricted. The 2025 changes represent a policy decision that, for the high-stakes purpose of Australian immigration, in-person supervision is the required standard.

The transition period: pre-7-August-2025 results

The rule change includes a transition provision to protect applicants who sat tests before the new requirements came into effect. Results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may continue to be used for Australian visa applications until 6 August 2028, subject to the normal three-year validity period that applies to English test results generally.

This means:

- If you sat IELTS Online, OET@Home, or TOEFL iBT Home Edition before 7 August 2025 and received results, those results remain valid for visa purposes until 6 August 2028 (or three years from the test date, whichever is earlier).
- If you sat an in-person test before 7 August 2025, those results are also valid under the same three-year and 6 August 2028 limits.
- Results from tests that were not on any version of the accepted list (for example, some national language tests not recognised by Home Affairs) remain unaccepted regardless of the date.

The transition period does not extend the normal three-year validity of a result. A test taken in June 2022 would have expired in June 2025 regardless of the August 2025 changes — the transition only helps results that are still within their validity window.

How to check if your existing result is affected

To assess whether your existing test result is still usable:

1. Check the test date. If your test was taken on or before 6 August 2025, your result is usable under the transition rule until 6 August 2028 (subject to the three-year validity period from your test date).
2. Check the three-year validity. A result expires three years from the test date. If your test was taken in, for example, March 2023, it remains valid until approximately March 2026 — the transition extension does not apply beyond the normal expiry.
3. Check the test format. If you took an at-home or remote-proctored version on or before 6 August 2025, your result is covered by the transition and can be used until 6 August 2028 or expiry, whichever is sooner.
4. Check the visa subclass requirement. Some visa subclasses have specific rules about which test versions or results they accept. Confirm the requirement with the Home Affairs page for your subclass.

What to do if you need to re-sit

If your existing result has expired, will expire before you plan to lodge your application, or was taken in a format that is no longer accepted and the transition window does not help your timeline, you will need to re-sit your chosen test at an in-person test centre.

When booking:

- Select an in-person test centre sitting. Most major test providers — IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, and the others on the accepted list — make a clear distinction between in-person and online options during the booking process.
- For TOEFL iBT specifically, select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering. This ensures your results are directed to the Home Affairs verification system.
- Check test centre availability in your area early, particularly if you are in a country or city where in-person test dates book out weeks in advance.
- Allow enough time between your test date and your intended visa lodgement for results to be processed and available. Processing times vary by test provider but are typically 3–13 days for most tests.

Summary of the August 2025 changes

Effective date — 7 August 2025
New accepted-tests list — 8 tests: IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET
Format rule — In-person test centres only — at-home/remote-proctored versions not accepted for results dated on or after 7 Aug 2025
Excluded formats — IELTS Online, OET@Home, TOEFL iBT Home Edition (and any other remote-proctored variant)
Transition provision — Pre-7-Aug-2025 results usable until 6 Aug 2028, subject to 3-year validity from test date

Is IELTS Online accepted for Australian visa applications?

No. From 7 August 2025, only results from secure, in-person test centres are accepted. IELTS Online is a remote-proctored format and is not recognised for Australian visa purposes for results dated on or after 7 August 2025. Results from IELTS Online taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used under the transition provision until 6 August 2028.

Is OET@Home accepted for an Australian visa?

No. OET@Home is the remote-proctored delivery format and is excluded from the new in-person rule. Results from OET@Home taken before 7 August 2025 remain usable until 6 August 2028 under the transition provision.

I took TOEFL iBT Home Edition in 2024 — can I still use my result?

Yes, under the transition provision. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 — including TOEFL iBT Home Edition — may be used for Australian visa applications until 6 August 2028, provided the result is still within the three-year validity period from your test date.

When do the August 2025 changes take effect?

The changes apply to test results dated on or after 7 August 2025. Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 are covered by the transition provision and can be used until 6 August 2028.

Do I need to resit my test at an in-person centre?

Only if your existing result has expired, is due to expire before you lodge your visa application, or was taken in a format that is no longer accepted and your test date is after 6 August 2025. If your result was from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, it is still valid under the transition provision.