English Language Requirement for Australian visas
Find out which English level and test score you may need for your Australian visa.
English language requirements can vary depending on your visa type, eligibility criteria and circumstances.
MCA can help you understand the English requirement that may apply to your visa pathway, including accepted English tests, required scores and evidence.
English Language Requirement for Australian Visas
If you are applying for Australian visa, you will need to prove your English language ability. Different visa subclasses require different levels of English. Some only need basic functional English (common for family visa applicants). Others demand competent, proficient, or even superior English. Understanding where your visa sits in this framework is the first step.
The Department of Home Affairs has specific score thresholds across specific tests, and getting even one component wrong can delay or derail your application.
Why English Language Requirements Matter for Australian Visas
English proficiency isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. The Australian Government uses it as a genuine measure of your ability to integrate into the workforce and community. For skilled visas, your English level directly affects your eligibility. For points-tested visas, it can mean the difference between 0 and 20 bonus points on the Australia points test.
Levels of English in Australian Visas
The Department of Home Affairs recognises five distinct levels of English proficiency for visa purposes. Each level has its own set of minimum test scores, and the level you need depends entirely on which visa you’re applying for.
Functional English
This is the lowest threshold and typically applies to secondary applicants on skilled visas, such as partners or dependent family members. For IELTS, you need an average band score of at least 4.5 across all four components. You don’t need to hit 4.5 in every individual component, just the overall average. Functional English test results are valid for 12 months from the test date.
Vocational English
Vocational English is a higher level of English proficiency that applies to certain visa pathways and circumstances.
Competent English
Competent English is commonly relevant to Australian skilled migration and other visa pathways.
Proficient English
Proficient English requires higher scores than Competent English and can be relevant to visa eligibility and points-based migration requirements.
Superior English
Superior English represents a higher level of English proficiency and may be relevant to certain skilled migration pathways and points calculations.
English Test Changes from 7 August 2025
On 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs overhauled the approved English language tests for visa purposes. This wasn’t a minor tweak. The changes affected which tests are accepted, how scores are calculated, and even which test formats are valid.
Here’s what happened:
New tests were added.
CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and the Michigan English Test (MET) are now accepted alongside the previously approved tests.
Score requirements changed for several tests.
PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, and Cambridge C1 Advanced all received updated minimum scores. For PTE Academic, the old uniform score of 50 for competent English was replaced with component-specific minimums (47, 48, 51, and 54).
OET moved from letter grades to numerical scores.
Previously, you needed a “B” in each component. Now, OET uses specific numerical thresholds (290, 310, 290, 330 for competent English).
Online and at-home test versions were explicitly banned.
If you took your test before 7 August 2025, your results may still be valid under the old scoring framework, provided they haven’t expired. Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 remain valid until 6 August 2028 (subject to the standard 3-year validity window).
English requirements for Australian visas
Not every visa requires the same level of English. Here’s a general overview of common visa subclasses and the English level typically required:
- Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand visa): Competent English for most streams. Some concessions exist for certain salary levels or passport holders. See our 482 visa key requirements guide.
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme): Competent English. This is a permanent residency visa through employer sponsorship, so getting English right is critical.
- Subclass 189 and 190 (Skilled Independent and Skilled Nominated): Competent English is the minimum to be eligible, but proficient or superior English earns 10 or 20 bonus points respectively on the points test.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): Same as 189/190. Competent is the minimum, higher levels earn more points.
- Subclass 500 (Student visa): Generally requires IELTS 5.5 overall (or equivalent) for most courses, though this varies by institution. See our student visa guide.
- Partner and family visas: Typically require functional English for the secondary applicant, or payment of a second instalment fee if they can’t meet this level.
Always check the specific requirements for your visa subclass on the Department of Home Affairs English language page, as some visa conditions have unique concessions or exemptions.
How Long is an English Test Valid for Australian Immigration?
Test validity depends on the English level being assessed:
- Competent, proficient, and superior English: Test results are generally valid for 3 years from the date of the test.
- Functional English: Test results are valid for 12 months from the test date.
For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 under the old scoring framework, those results remain valid until 6 August 2028, provided they fall within the 3-year window.
This is important for timing your application. If your test is approaching its expiry date, factor in current visa processing times in Australia to make sure your results won’t expire while your application is being assessed. In some cases, the Department may ask you to provide a new test result if yours expires during processing.
Don’t assume your old score is still valid.
If you already have an English test result, Migration Centre of Australia (MCA) can help you understand whether it may be relevant to your proposed visa pathway.
Exemptions: Who Doesn’t Need a Test?
Not everyone needs to sit an English language test. Citizens of certain countries are exempt from the English testing requirement entirely, provided they hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
If you hold a valid passport from any of these countries, you’re generally considered to have the required level of English without needing a test result. However, this exemption applies to the passport holder specifically. If your partner or secondary applicant holds a different passport, they may still need to demonstrate their English level separately.