VisaChief Australian visa English requirements (2026)
Five statutory levels, eight accepted tests, and one table that shows the exact minimum score for each combination - including the scores that changed on 7 August 2025.
The short answer. Australia does not have one English requirement - it has five statutory levels. Competent English (IELTS 6 in each component) is the threshold for skilled migration, Proficient (IELTS 7) adds 10 points and Superior (IELTS 8) adds 20. The student (500) and graduate (485) visas ignore those levels and publish their own score tables.
Every accepted test, every level
These are the minimums the Department of Home Affairs applies to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. That date matters: PTE Academic was rebuilt, OET moved from letter grades to numbers, and every test moved to per-component minimums. A strong overall score no longer rescues one weak component.
| Test | Vocational | Competent | Proficient | Superior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5 in each | 6 in each | 7 in each | 8 in each |
| PTE Academic | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 |
| TOEFL iBT | 8 / 8 / 9 / 14 | 16 / 16 / 19 / 19 | 22 / 22 / 26 / 24 | 26 / 27 / 30 / 28 |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | 220 / 240 / 200 / 270 | 290 / 310 / 290 / 330 | 350 / 360 / 380 / 360 | 390 / 400 / 420 / 400 |
| C1 Advanced (Cambridge) | Not accepted | 163 / 163 / 170 / 179 | 175 / 179 / 193 / 194 | 186 / 190 / 210 / 208 |
| CELPIP General | 5 in each | 7 in each | 9 / 8 / 10 / 8 | 10 / 10 / 12 / 10 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 41 / 44 / 45 / 54 | 57 / 60 / 64 / 70 | 67 / 71 / 78 / 82 | 80 / 83 / 89 / 89 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 49 / 47 / 45 / 38 | 56 / 55 / 57 / 48 | 61 / 63 / 74 / 59 | Not accepted |
Read as listening / reading / writing / speaking, or "X in each" where all four minimums are the same. Scores are for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Functional English is not shown because it is normally evidenced by schooling rather than a test.
What each level is for
Which English level does my visa need?
| Subclass | Visa | English required | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Skilled Independent visa | Competent English | Competent English to lodge; Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20. |
| 190 | Skilled Nominated visa | Competent English | Competent English to lodge; some states set a higher English bar in their own nomination rules. |
| 491 | Skilled Work Regional visa | Competent English | Competent English to lodge; Proficient and Superior add points as with 189. |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme visa | Competent English | Competent English for the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition streams. |
| 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa | Competent English | Competent English. |
| 191 | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa | Competent English | Competent English. |
| 858 | National Innovation visa | Competent English | Competent English, or pay the second instalment charge if you cannot demonstrate it. |
| 820 | Partner visa (onshore 820/801) | Functional English | Functional English at the permanent (801) stage for applicants aged 18+, or pay the second instalment charge. |
| 309 | Partner visa (offshore 309/100) | Functional English | Functional English at the permanent (100) stage for applicants aged 18+, or pay the second instalment charge. |
| 143 | Contributory Parent visa | Functional English | Functional English for applicants aged 18+, or pay the second instalment charge. |
| 103 | Parent visa | Functional English | Functional English for applicants aged 18+, or pay the second instalment charge. |
| 500 | Student visa | Own score table | IELTS 6.0 overall, or 5.5 with 10 weeks of ELICOS, or 5.0 with 20 weeks. |
| 485 | Temporary Graduate visa | Own score table | IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. |
Choose a test
All eight tests are equally valid for the department. They are not equally easy for every applicant, and the gap between them is widest at the top: a Superior result is IELTS 8 in each component, but PTE 69/70/85/88 - a very different distribution of difficulty.
Results taken before 7 August 2025
Legacy results stay usable inside their validity period. Under the old rules Competent English was IELTS 6 in each component, PTE Academic 50 in each, TOEFL iBT 12/13/21/21, OET a B in each component and C1 Advanced 169 in each. If you hold one of those results, check the validity window before you rely on it.
Test results are generally valid for 3 years from the test date for skilled and most permanent visas, and 2 years for the student visa. The result must still be inside its validity period on the day you lodge, not on the day you sat it.
Not sure which level your visa needs? Run the free eligibility check, or see how English converts into points on the points calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is Competent English in Australia?
Competent English means at least IELTS 6 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking (or PTE 47/48/51/54, TOEFL iBT 16/16/19/19, OET 290/310/290/330, C1 Advanced 163/163/170/179, CELPIP 7 in each, LANGUAGECERT 57/60/64/70, MET 56/55/57/48). It is the threshold for skilled migration and scores zero points - it lets you lodge, it does not improve your ranking.
What IELTS score do I need for a 189 visa?
IELTS 6 in each component to be eligible at all. IELTS 7 in each adds 10 points and IELTS 8 in each adds 20 points. Because invitation rounds for the 189 clear well above the 65-point minimum, in practice most successful applicants are at Proficient or Superior.
Is PTE easier than IELTS for Australian PR?
Neither is officially easier - the department treats them as equivalent. The practical difference is the shape of the requirement. PTE Superior needs 69 listening, 70 reading, 85 writing and 88 speaking, so it is unusually demanding in writing and speaking, while IELTS asks for a flat 8 across all four. Pick the test whose weakest-component demand matches your own strongest skills.
Do I need an English test for a partner visa?
You need Functional English at the permanent stage if you are 18 or over. It can be evidenced by schooling rather than a test, and if you cannot demonstrate it you can instead pay the second instalment charge.
How long is an English test valid for an Australian visa?
Generally 3 years from the test date for skilled and most permanent visas, and 2 years for the student visa. The result must still be valid on the day you lodge.
Which English tests does Australia accept in 2026?
Eight: IELTS (Academic or General Training), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test. At-home and online-proctored versions are not accepted, and TOEFL must be booked under the "Taking TOEFL for Australia" pathway.