English Language Requirement for Skilled Migration
If you are applying for Skilled Migration, you will need to prove your English language ability.
The required level of English depends on the visa subclass you are applying for and there are 4 different levels of English which may be relevant:
- Superior English: 20 points in GSM points test
- Proficient English: 10 points in GSM points test
- Competent English: threshold requirement for General Skilled Migration and ENS and RSMS
- Vocational English: previously important for General Skilled Migration and Employer Sponsored Visas
- Functional English: for secondary applicants seeking to avoid paying the English Language Charge
Timing of English
The timing of the English language requirement depends on the type of visa being applied for:
- General Skilled Migration: time of invitation
- RSMS and ENS visas: time of application
As it can take some time to obtain a booking for a test and to receive the results, you may wish to plan to take the English test well ahead of time.
Validity of English Tests
Tests conducted up to
3 years prior to lodgement of an application will be accepted by the Department of Immigration.
The only exception to this is for functional English - this requires testing to have been done at most 12 months before lodgement.
Acceptable English Tests
The
IELTS test is the most common way of evidencing English language ability.
Either the Academic or General Training versions of the test are acceptable to the Department of Immigration, but some skills assessing authorities require applicants to sit the Academic version.
You will need to obtain a minimum score in each band of the IELTS (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) in a single sitting.
The
Occupational English Test (OET) is also accepted as evidence of proficient and superior levels of English.
The OET is only appropriate for medical and allied health professionals.
The
Pearson Academic Test of English (Pearson PTE) and
TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) are now accepted for all skilled subclasses.
Most state and territory governments also recognise these tests, as do some skills assessment authorities.
The
Cambridge Test of English is also accepted from January 2015.
Vocational English
Required scores to establish Vocational English are as follows:
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| IELTS | 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
For most skilled visas, you will need to show at least
Competent English to meet the threshold criteria.
If you hold a passport from one of the following 5 countries, you can establish competent English without completing an English test:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Ireland
Otherwise, you would need to complete a recognised English language test and obtain the following score:
| 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 gives you 0 points in the
Skilled Migration Points Test, but is an essential requirement to be able to lodge a skilled visa.
Proficient English
If you demonstrate proficient English, this will give you 10 points for English language ability.
Even native English speakers must undertake English language testing to obtain points for proficient English or higher.
Scores required for Proficient English are:
| 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
If you demonstrate superior English, this will give the maximum of 20 points for English language ability.
Minimum scores for Superior English are:
| 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, then you would need to pay the "English Education Charge" to cover English language tuition in applying for skilled migration.
You can show you have functional English ability by providing evidence of one of the following:
- Completion of a degree, higher degree, diploma or trade certificate that required at least 2 years of study in English medium
- Completion of all years of primary education and at least 3 years of secondary education in English medium; or
- Completion of at least 5 years of secondary education in English medium; or
- Scoring at least 4.5 averaged over the four components of the IELTS test within the 12 months before application, or during processing; or
- 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 medium.
- In some circumstances, functional English can be established via interview
You can also demonstrate functional English by completing an English test and scoring as follows:
| Test component | Average across test components only |
| IELTS | 4.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 8 |
| PTE Academic | 30 |
| OET | n/a |
| Cambridge (CAE) | 147 |
In some cases, scores above the minimum are required in order to meet skill assessment, registration, or points test requirements. We recommend speaking with a Migration Advisor to assess your English language testing needs before proceeding with booking a test.
