English Requirements for Australian Visas (August 2025 Update)

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced new English language test options and updated scoring requirements for various visa subclasses. These changes only apply to tests undertaken on or after 7 August 2025. If you sat your English test before this date, your results are still valid under the previous criteria, provided they fall within the accepted time frame for your visa application.

This article outlines the current English language requirements based on the latest legislation, including the newly approved tests and updated score thresholds.

Recognised English Tests (as of August 2025)

You can now use the following 9 approved tests for most visa types:

1. IELTS Academic

2. IELTS General Training

3. PTE Academic

4. TOEFL iBT

5. OET (Occupational English Test)

6. Cambridge English: Advanced (C1 Advanced)

7. CELPIP General (new in 2025)

8. LANGUAGECERT Academic (new in 2025)

9. Michigan English Test (MET) (new in 2025)

Each test includes four components: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. You must meet the required score in each component.

Functional English

You must show basic proficiency via education or minimum test scores.

Accepted Scores (valid for 12 months):

• IELTS: Average band score of 4.5

• TOEFL iBT: Total score of 26

• PTE Academic: Overall score of 24

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Overall score of 38

• MET: Overall score of 38

• CELPIP General: Overall score of 5

• OET: Overall score of 1020

Source: LIN 25/014

Vocational English

Minimum Scores (must be met in each test component):

• IELTS: 5 in each component

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 8, Reading 8, Writing 9, Speaking 14

• PTE Academic: Listening 33, Reading 36, Writing 29, Speaking 24

Source: LIN 25/016

Competent English

Applies to: Most skilled migration visas (e.g. 189, 190, 491)

This is the minimum level required to apply for points-tested skilled visas.

Minimum Scores:

• IELTS: 6 in each component

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 16, Reading 16, Writing 19, Speaking 19

• PTE Academic: Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54

• OET: Listening 290, Reading 310, Writing 290, Speaking 330

• C1 Advanced: Listening 163, Reading 163, Writing 170, Speaking 179

• CELPIP General: 7 in each component

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Listening 57, Reading 60, Writing 64, Speaking 70

• MET: Listening 56, Reading 55, Writing 57, Speaking 48

Proficient English

Applies to: Applicants claiming 10 points for English in General Skilled Migration.

Minimum Scores:

• IELTS: 7 in each component

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 26, Speaking 24

• PTE Academic: Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 69, Speaking 76

• OET: Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 380, Speaking 360

• C1 Advanced: Listening 175, Reading 179, Writing 193, Speaking 194

• CELPIP General: Listening 9, Reading 8, Writing 10, Speaking 8

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Listening 67, Reading 71, Writing 78, Speaking 82

• MET: Listening 61, Reading 63, Writing 74, Speaking 59

Superior English

Applies to: Claiming 20 points for English in GSM.

Minimum Scores:

• IELTS: 8 in each component

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 26, Reading 27, Writing 30, Speaking 28

• PTE Academic: Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, Speaking 88

• OET: Listening 390, Reading 400, Writing 420, Speaking 400

• CELPIP General: Listening 10, Reading 10, Writing 12, Speaking 10

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Listening 80, Reading 83, Writing 89, Speaking 89

• C1 Advanced: Listening 186, Reading 190, Writing 210, Speaking 208

• MET: Excluded

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

English language tests are required unless you're from a listed English-speaking country.

Minimum Scores (no ELICOS):

• IELTS Academic: 6.0

• PTE Academic: 47

• TOEFL iBT: 67

• OET: 1210

• CELPIP General: 7

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: 61

• MET: 53

Lower scores apply if enrolled in 10–20 weeks of ELICOS.

Source: LIN 25/090

Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

From 7 August 2025, higher English scores now apply for tests taken after this date.

Minimum Scores (standard stream):

• IELTS: 5.5 in each component, 6.5 average band score

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 12, Reading 12, Writing 14, Speaking 17, total score at least 81

• PTE Academic: Listening 40, Reading 42, Writing 41, Speaking 39, overall score of 55 at least

• OET: Listening 260, Reading 280, Writing 260, Speaking 310, overall score at least 1310

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Listening 49, Reading 54, Writing 56, Speaking 62, overall 67 at least

• MET: Listening 53, Reading 51, Writing 51, Speaking 43, overall 58 at least

• CELPIP General: 6 in each component, overall 8 at least

Source: LIN 25/089

Who is Exempt?

You do not need an English test if you hold a valid passport from (if you wish to achieve superior or proficient English for points test, it is still needed):

• United Kingdom

• United States

• Canada

• New Zealand

• Republic of Ireland

Final Thoughts

The August 2025 update brings newly approved tests and stricter English requirements for several visa subclasses. If you're planning to take your test from 7 August 2025 onwards, make sure you're preparing for the right test with the right target scores. At the time of writing this article, the Department of Home Affairs website had not been updated yet with the new requirements, but in due course you can find the requirements hopefully here.

Need Help?

At Via Migration, we help clients confidently meet English requirements and avoid delays or refusals.

Book a free consultation to:

• Choose the right test

• Meet the required score

• Apply under the correct visa subclass

We make Australian migration simple—one step at a time.