The Department of Home Affairs has introduced the Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/082). This instrument outlines important changes to English language test options, scoring requirements, and retake policies for Subclass 482 visa applicants across the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams.
The new English language test requirements for the Subclass 482 visa, under Instrument LIN 25/082, will begin on 13 September 2025. These requirements apply to any Subclass 482 visa application lodged on or after that date.
New English Test Providers Added:
The following providers are now formally recognised across the updated instruments:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program – General (CELPIP General)
- LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic)
- Michigan English Test (MET)
Terminology Updates:
- Instruments now specify both IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic.
- The Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) test has been updated to Cambridge Advanced Test (C1 Advanced).
The new instrument (LIN 25/082) abolishes the Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/099).
Test providers and score requirements (LIN 25/082).
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| IELTS General Training/ Academic | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| CELPIP General | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| PTE Academic | 33 | 36 | 29 | 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | 8 | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| C1 Advanced | 154 | 154 | 154 | 154 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 41 | 44 | 45 | 54 |
| OET | 220 | 240 | 200 | 270 |
| MET | 49 | 47 | 45 | 38 |
Guidelines for Test Attempts and Validity:
Applicants who sat their English test before 13 September 2025 must have completed all components in one sitting, with no option to re-take individual skills. In contrast, for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025, the updated instrument (LIN 25/082) provides more flexibility, allowing candidates to re-sit specific components instead of repeating the entire test. This means that options such as IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) and MET Single Skill Retake (SSR) are now accepted for tests undertaken after this date.
Regardless of whether a candidate re-sits a single component, English test results are valid for three years from the date of the original full test sitting. The validity period does not reset or extend if a component is re-sat at a later stage.
Click here:
LIN 25/082 – Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) (2025)