English Language Requirement for Skilled & Employer Nominated Visas

English Language Requirement for Skilled & Employer Nominated Visas

If you are applying for Skilled Migration, you must prove your English language proficiency. The required level of English varies depending on the visa subclass you are applying for. There are four different levels of English that may be relevant:

  1. Superior English: Awards 20 points on the General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test.
  2. Proficient English: Awards 10 points on the GSM points test.
  3. Competent English: This is the minimum requirement for General Skilled Migration and the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)/187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Direct and Transition stream visas.
  4. Vocational English
  5. Functional English: Required for secondary applicants to avoid paying the English Language Charge.

Starting from December 14, 2022, the IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) option is available for certain test takers. OSR allows individuals to retake one of the four test components—reading, writing, speaking, or listening—one time only.

For Australian visa purposes, the Department of Home Affairs will accept IELTS test results that include an OSR, except for visa subclasses 476, 482, and 485, which require scores from a single sitting.

Timing of the English Language Requirement

The timing of the English language requirement depends on the type of visa you are applying for:

  • General Skilled Migration: Proof of English proficiency is required at the time of invitation.
  • RSMS 187 Visa and ENS 186 Visas: Proof of English proficiency is required at the time of application.

Since booking a test and receiving results can take some time, it is advisable to plan and take the English test well in advance.

Validity of English Tests

The Department of Immigration accepts English tests taken up to three years before the application lodgment. However, for Functional English, the test must have been taken no more than 12 months before lodgment.

Acceptable English Tests

  • IELTS Test (IELTS Australia/computer-delivered IELTS): This is the most common way to demonstrate English proficiency. Both the Academic and General Training versions are accepted by the Department of Immigration, but some skills-assessing authorities require the Academic version. You must achieve a minimum score in each IELTS band (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) in a single sitting.
  • Occupational English Test (OET): Accepted as evidence for proficient and superior levels of English. This test is suitable for medical and allied health professionals.
  • Pearson Academic Test of English (Pearson PTE) and TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT): These tests are accepted for all skilled visa subclasses and are also recognized by most state and territory governments and some skills-assessing authorities.
  • Cambridge Test of English: Accepted since January 2015.

You can find more details about the advantages and disadvantages of each English test in our article here.

Remote or ‘At-Home’ English Language Tests Not Acceptable

When applying for student, skilled, and some permanent visas, you must meet the English language requirements. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept scores from remote or ‘at-home’ English language tests as proof of English competency. For more information on acceptable English language test scores for visa purposes, please refer to our English language guidelines.

Vocational English

To qualify for the RSMS 187 visa through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream, you must achieve Vocational English if you have held a TSS visa for 3 years with the same employer.

The required scores for demonstrating Vocational English are:

Test Type Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS (Overall 5.5) 5 5 5 5
TOEFL iBT 4 4 14 14
PTE Academic 36 36 36 36
OET B B B B
Cambridge (CAE) 154 154 154 154

Competent English

Most skilled visas require at least Competent English to meet the minimum criteria. This level is also required for the 186 Direct and Transition streams. You can demonstrate Competent English without taking a test if you hold a passport from one of these countries:

  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Ireland

If not, you must take an approved English test and achieve the following scores:

Test Type Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS 6 6 6 6
TOEFL iBT 12 13 21 18
PTE Academic 50 50 50 50
OET B B B B
Cambridge (CAE) 169 169 169 169

Competent English does not earn points on the Skilled Migration Points Test but is necessary to lodge a skilled visa.

Proficient English

Demonstrating Proficient English provides 10 points for English language ability. Even native English speakers must take an English test to qualify for Proficient English or higher. The required scores for Proficient English are:

Test Type Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS 7 7 7 7
TOEFL iBT 24 24 27 23
PTE Academic 65 65 65 65
OET B B B B
Cambridge (CAE) 185 185 185 185

Superior English

Achieving Superior English earns the maximum of 20 points for English language ability. The minimum scores for Superior English are:

Test Type Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS 8 8 8 8
TOEFL iBT 28 29 30 26
PTE Academic 79 79 79 79
OET A A A A
Cambridge (CAE) 200 200 200 200

Functional English

If your spouse or partner has less than Functional English, you will need to pay the “English Education Charge” to cover English language tuition when applying for skilled migration.

You can demonstrate Functional English by providing evidence of one of the following:

  • Completion of a degree, higher degree, diploma, or trade certificate requiring at least 2 years of study in English.
  • Completion of all primary education and at least 3 years of secondary education in English.
  • Completion of at least 5 years of secondary education in English.
  • Scoring an average of at least 4.5 across all components of the IELTS test within 12 months before application or during processing.
  • Completion in Australia of at least 1 year of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study) towards a degree, higher degree, diploma, or associate diploma in English.

In some cases, Functional English can be established via an interview.

You can also demonstrate Functional English by taking an English test and achieving the following average scores:

Test Type Average Score
IELTS 4.5
TOEFL iBT 8
PTE Academic 30
OET n/a
Cambridge (CAE) 147

Applying for migration to Australia can be complex, so it’s advisable to book a consultation to assess your eligibility before proceeding with an application.

Popular Australian Visas with English Requirements:

English tests apply to the following visas:

  • General Skilled Migration: Skilled Independent Subclass 189, Skilled Nominated Subclass 190, Skilled Regional Sponsored Provisional Subclass 489, Graduate Temporary Subclass 485
  • ENS Subclass 186
  • RSMS Subclass 187
  • Business Migration
  • Distinguished Talent Subclass 124
  • Former Resident Subclass 151

TOEFL iBT

The TOEFL iBT is an internet-based test with over 50 test dates annually and numerous locations worldwide. The test duration is approximately 4.5 hours, consisting of:

  • Reading: 60-80 minutes
  • Listening: 120-180 minutes
  • Speaking: 20 minutes
  • Writing: 50 minutes

Scores are available online around 10 days after the test, and a hard copy is sent about 13 days post-test. You can designate recipients for your scores online, but this cannot be changed after the test date. The cost of the TOEFL iBT in Australia is currently $240, which is lower than the IELTS fee of $330.

PTE Academic

The Pearson Test of English Academic is structured as follows:

  • Speaking and Writing: 77-93 minutes
  • Reading: 32-41 minutes
  • Listening: 45-57 minutes

The entire test takes 3 hours, and results are typically available within 5 working days via an online account. Scores can also be sent to institutions through the online account. This process is more convenient than IELTS, where results take about 2 weeks to be available and do not offer an online account facility for test-takers. The cost of the PTE Academic test in Australia is $330, the same as IELTS, but there are fewer locations and test dates compared to TOEFL.