English tests for Australian visas: the complete guide

The eight approved English tests (from 7 August 2025)

Home Affairs updated its list of accepted English tests on 7 August 2025. The following tests are recognised for visa purposes when the test was taken at a secure, in-person test centre on or after that date:

- IELTS — Academic and General Training; One Skill Retake is also accepted where applicable
- PTE Academic — Pearson Test of English Academic
- TOEFL iBT — when registering, you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" to ensure results are directed correctly
- OET — Occupational English Test, accepted specifically for healthcare professionals
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- CELPIP General
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- MET — Michigan English Test; Single Section Retake is also accepted where applicable

Each test has its own score scale, component structure, and booking process. Home Affairs publishes the specific score thresholds for each test and each proficiency level at the links in the primary sources section below.

The in-person requirement: online tests are not accepted

From 7 August 2025, only results from secure, in-person test centres are recognised for Australian visa purposes. Remote-proctored and at-home test formats are explicitly excluded, regardless of which provider offers them.

Tests that are not accepted under the new rules include:

- IELTS Online (the remote-proctored version of IELTS)
- OET@Home (the at-home version of the Occupational English Test)
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition (the remote-proctored version of TOEFL)

If you have already booked or taken one of these formats, the result cannot be used to satisfy an Australian visa English requirement for applications lodged on or after 7 August 2025 (subject to the transition rule described below). Book at a registered test centre from the outset to avoid this issue.

The three Home Affairs proficiency levels

Home Affairs uses three defined English proficiency levels for most visa subclasses. From lowest to highest, they are competent, proficient, and superior. A fourth and fifth level — vocational English and functional English — apply to certain visa subclasses at lower bands; the specific thresholds for those are set out in the individual subclass requirements on the Home Affairs website.

The three main levels and their IELTS equivalents are:

- Competent English — minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- Proficient English — minimum score of 7.0 in each component
- Superior English — minimum score of 8.0 in each component

These are per-component minimums, not averages. A score of 7.5 in three components and 6.5 in one does not meet the proficient standard — each band must individually reach the threshold.

The exact score thresholds for PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT, and MET at each level are published in the Home Affairs tables. For a detailed breakdown of the component scores for competent English across the major tests — and why citing the current Home Affairs table matters for proficient and superior PTE/TOEFL — see the companion article on competent, proficient, and superior English explained.

How English levels translate to skilled-migration points

For applicants under the points-tested skilled visa stream (subclasses 189, 190, 491, and related), English proficiency contributes directly to your points total:

Competent English — 0 (baseline requirement, no points bonus)
Proficient English — 10 points
Superior English — 20 points

Competent English is the floor — you need it to be eligible for most skilled visas in the first place. Proficient and superior scores earn you additional points on top of your base score from age, skills assessment, qualifications, and other factors. The 10-point gap between proficient and superior can be the difference between receiving and not receiving an invitation to apply, particularly in competitive occupations where the score cutoff in a given round is high.

The points are awarded based on the Home Affairs level you achieve, not the test you use. IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and the other accepted tests are treated as equivalent once they meet the relevant threshold.

Test result validity and the August 2025 transition

English test results are generally valid for up to three years from the date of the test for most Australian visa purposes. This means a test taken in mid-2023 would still be valid for an application lodged in mid-2026.

The 7 August 2025 rule change introduced a specific transition provision: results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may continue to be used for visa applications until 6 August 2028, subject to the normal three-year validity period and the rules of the specific visa subclass. This protects applicants who sat tests under the old accepted-formats list, including remote-proctored formats that are no longer accepted for new tests.

If your existing result expires before you plan to lodge your application, you will need to re-sit at an in-person test centre.

Passport-based exemptions

Holders of passports from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland are generally treated as meeting the English language requirement for many Australian visa subclasses without sitting a test. The exact visa subclasses and conditions for each passport exemption are listed on the Home Affairs website, as the exemption does not apply uniformly across all subclasses.

An important distinction: the passport exemption satisfies the English requirement, but it does not earn you the 10 or 20 points available for proficient or superior English in the skilled-migration points test. To claim those points, you must sit an approved test and achieve the relevant score, even if your passport would otherwise exempt you from the base English requirement.

Which English level does each visa type require?

The required English level varies by visa subclass. The following is a general guide — always confirm the specific requirement for your subclass on the Home Affairs website, as conditions change and some streams have additional requirements.

Skilled visas (189, 190, 491, and related subclasses): At least competent English is required to be eligible. Proficient English earns 10 points; superior earns 20 points.

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): The English requirement varies by stream. Many applicants need to demonstrate competent English or an equivalent standard, but the specific threshold — which is often expressed as IELTS 5.0 overall with 5.0 in each component, or a similar specification — depends on the stream and occupation. Confirm the requirement for your stream directly with Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.

Graduate visa (subclass 485): Competent English is generally required.

Student visa (subclass 500): English evidence is required, but the framework is different from the points test. Both the education provider's own admission threshold and the Home Affairs minimum apply; the provider's threshold is usually higher. This visa uses the broader approved provider list rather than the three-level Home Affairs structure used for skilled visas.

OET for healthcare professionals: OET (Occupational English Test) is accepted across all the above visa subclasses where English testing is required, but it is particularly common for doctors, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare professionals because the test uses clinical scenarios. OET is graded A through E, and a grade of B in each component is commonly accepted as meeting the competent English standard for visa purposes — but confirm this against the specific subclass requirement.

Choosing the right test

No single test is objectively easier than the others — each has a different format, timing structure, and style that suits different test-takers. The choice comes down to your profession, how you study best, and the practical availability of test centres in your location.

A few practical considerations:

Test format: IELTS uses paper-based tasks and face-to-face speaking; PTE Academic is entirely computer-based, including the speaking component (speaking into a microphone). TOEFL iBT is also computer-based. Some people find the computer format less stressful than a face-to-face examiner; others prefer the opposite.

OET for healthcare: If you are a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare professional, OET is worth considering because its reading and listening materials are drawn from clinical contexts. It may feel more relevant to your daily work than a general academic test.

IELTS General Training vs Academic: For most skilled visa pathways, either the Academic or General Training IELTS is accepted. For certain skilled assessments (such as those assessed by Engineers Australia), the specific assessing body may require the Academic version — check your occupational assessing authority's requirements as well as Home Affairs.

Test centre availability: All accepted tests must be taken at an approved, in-person test centre. IELTS and PTE Academic have the broadest network of test centres in most countries. If you are in a location with limited options, check test centre availability before committing to a specific test.

TOEFL registration note: When booking TOEFL iBT for Australian visa purposes, you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" during registration. This is not optional — results sent through without this selection may not be accepted.

How to submit your results to Home Affairs

You do not submit test score certificates directly in most cases. Instead, you provide your test registration number or candidate ID in your visa application, and Home Affairs verifies the result directly with the test provider. Each provider has a portal or system for sharing results with immigration authorities; check the process with your specific test provider after receiving your results.

Keep your original score certificate and any candidate login details until your visa is granted. If there is any discrepancy between what you report and what the provider records, you will need to be able to demonstrate the correct result.

Which English test is accepted for Australian skilled visas?

From 7 August 2025, eight tests are accepted: IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and MET. All must be taken at a secure, in-person test centre — remote-proctored versions are not accepted.

Can I use IELTS Online for my Australian visa application?

No. From 7 August 2025, only in-person test centre results are accepted. IELTS Online, OET@Home, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are explicitly excluded. Results from before 7 August 2025 may be used under the transition provision until 6 August 2028.

What English score do I need for a skilled visa?

You need at least competent English to be eligible — IELTS 6.0 in each component, or the equivalent in other accepted tests. Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 in each component) earns 10 points; superior English (IELTS 8.0 in each component) earns 20 points. Every component must individually meet the threshold; it is not an average.

Do I need an English test if I hold a UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand, or Irish passport?

Holders of these passports are generally exempt from the English test requirement for many Australian visa subclasses. However, the exemption does not award you the 10 or 20 skilled-migration points for proficient or superior English — you must sit a test to earn those points.

How long is my English test result valid for?

Most English test results are valid for up to three years from the test date. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may continue to be used until 6 August 2028, subject to the normal validity period and your visa subclass rules.

What is the difference between competent, proficient, and superior English?

These are the three Home Affairs-defined proficiency levels. Competent (IELTS 6.0 per component) is the baseline for most skilled visas and earns 0 points. Proficient (IELTS 7.0 per component) earns 10 points. Superior (IELTS 8.0 per component) earns 20 points. See the full breakdown with component scores for all tests.