The Department of Home Affairs has advised that some information relating to English language testing — specifically One Skill Retake (OSR) and Single Section Retake (SSR) — is currently unavailable on its website and is being reinstated. In the interim, the following clarification has been provided.
From 7 August 2025, the Department accepts IELTS and Michigan English Test (MET) results that include OSR or SSR for most Australian visa applications. The exception is the Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, which remains subject to a legislative instrument requiring test results to be obtained in a single sitting.
Prior to this date (on or before 6 August 2025), IELTS OSR was accepted for visa purposes except for Subclass 476, 482 and 485 visas, as these subclasses were subject to legislative instruments mandating test scores from a single attempt.
For clarity:
- IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) allows a candidate to retake one of the four test components (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking) once, within 60 days of the original test.
- Single Section Retake (SSR) permits a candidate to retake one of three components (Listening, Reading, or Writing) once, within 28 days of the original test.
The current legislative instruments — LIN 25/014 and LIN 25/016 — outline the applicable English language score requirements for tests taken both on or before 6 August 2025 and on or after 7 August 2025.
The IELTS proficiency score thresholds themselves have not changed under the new instruments, and continuity has been maintained in this regard.