English Requirement for Australia Visa
You may need to meet English language requirements for certain Australia visas and when submitting your Expression Of Interest for points-tested visas. The table below explains the IELTS tests scores you need to meet the different levels of English proficiency. Please note that you can demonstrate English proficiency with other major English exams as well.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT | IELTS EXAM SCORES |
---|---|
Functional English | Average band score of at least 4.5 for each of the 4 test components |
Vocational English | At least 5 for each of the 4 test components |
Competent English | At least 6 for each of the 4 test components |
Proficient English | At least 7 for each of the 4 test components |
Superior English | At least 8 for each of the 4 test components |
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY | TOEFL IBT | PTE ACADEMIC | OET | CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH ADVANCED |
---|---|---|---|---|
Functional English | Total 32 | 30 each component | N/A | 147 each component |
Vocational English | Listening 4 Reading 4 Writing 14 Speaking 14 | 36 each component | B each component | 154 each component |
Competent English | Listening 12 Reading 13 Writing 21 Speaking 18 | 50 each component | B each component | 169 each component |
Proficient English | Listening 24 Reading 24 Writing 27 Speaking 23 | 65 each component | B each component | 185 each component |
Superior English | Listening 28 Reading 29 Writing 30 Speaking 26 | 79 each component | A each component | 200 each component |
For Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa, there are specific English requirements. For IELTS test scores, the following are required:
- Short-term stream: at least 5.0 overall, and at least 4.5 for each test component
- Medium-term stream: at least 5.0 overall, and at least 5.0 for each component
Did you know?
You can also demonstrate Vocational English or Competent English if :
- You are a citizen of and hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
You can also demonstrate Functional English in other ways below:
- You are a citizen of and hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, OR
- Your English has been assessed as functional by an Australian Adult Migrant English Program service provider, OR
- You completed a degree, a higher degree, a diploma or a trade certificate in an institution in or outside Australia that required at least two years of full-time study and all instructions were in English, OR
- You undertook your education at:
- a primary school and secondary school where all instruction was in English in or outside Australia – All years of primary and at least 3 years of secondary study required
- a secondary school in or outside Australia where all instruction was in English – At least 5 years of study
- an institution in Australia where all instruction was in English – At least 1 year of full-time study towards an award
- an Institution in Australia where all instruction was in English – The part-time equivalent of 1 year of full-time study towards an award
Contact us at Tanson Migration to learn more.

CONTACT US
3/F, Sun House, 181 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2560 7711 (Hong Kong)
Tel: +86 198 9653 6715 (China)
SEND US A MESSAGE
Check out our latest updates
- ACT State Nomination Now OpenOn 11 January, 2021, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has opened their 2021 Skilled Migration Program. There are NO changes to the eligibility criteria for the ACT State nomination and the Matric scoring criteria. The ACT has been allocated the following number of State nomination places for the 2020-21 migration year: 702 places for […]
- WA State Nomination Resumes in January 2021On 4 January, 2021, Western Australia has announced that their State Nomination will resume in January, 2021. They have also announced that there will be some changes to the nomination criteria which will be inline with the State health and economic recovery priorities. You can find more information on the WA Recovery Plan Initiatives. Following […]
- Changes to Business Innovation and Investment Program visas (Subclass 188 and 132) for 2021Starting 1 July, 2021, there will be a number of changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program visas (Subclass 188 and 132). Below are the top 5 changes you need to know. 1. Three streams will be closed The following 3 streams will be closed: Premium Investor (Subclass 188D) Significant Business History (Subclass 132A) […]