Enter your test, exam date and scores — see instantly which Home Affairs English level you meet, which visas your result unlocks, and how long it stays valid.
Scores must come from a test taken at a secure test centre — online / at-home versions (IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition, PTE Online, OET@Home…) are not accepted for Australian visas.
Citizens holding a valid passport of those countries automatically meet Functional, Vocational and Competent English (and the 485 / 500 / 482 requirements) without any test — but Proficient (+10 points) and Superior (+20 points) claims always need test scores.
Thresholds mirror the Department of Home Affairs English-language pages and legislative instruments LIN 25/016, 25/082 and 25/089, current at August 2026. Always cross-check the official requirements — and let us verify your result free. General information only, not migration advice.
IELTS and PTE Academic minimums for the visas we handle most — for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 (482: on or after 13 September 2025).
| Visa | Requirement | IELTS (Academic or General) | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled 189 · 190 · 491 | Competent English at time of invitation · 0 points |
6.0 in each component | L 47 · R 48 · W 51 · S 54 |
| — for +10 points | Proficient English | 7.0 in each component | L 58 · R 59 · W 69 · S 76 |
| — for +20 points | Superior English | 8.0 in each component | L 69 · R 70 · W 85 · S 88 |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Own threshold test within 1 year before applying |
Average 6.5 and 5.5 in each | Overall 55 and L 40 · R 42 · W 41 · S 39 |
| 500 Student | Own threshold test within 2 years · overall scores |
Overall 6.0 5.5 with 10+ wks ELICOS · 5.0 with 20+ wks |
Overall 47 39 with 10+ wks ELICOS · 31 with 20+ wks |
| 482 Skills in Demand | Own threshold test within 3 years · Core & Specialist streams |
5.0 in each component | L 33 · R 36 · W 29 · S 24 |
| 186 ENS (DE & TRT) | Competent English test within 3 years before applying |
6.0 in each component | L 47 · R 48 · W 51 · S 54 |
| Visa | IELTS | PTE Academic (old scale) |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled 189/190/491 & 186 (Competent) | 6.0 each | 50 each |
| Proficient / Superior | 7.0 / 8.0 each | 65 / 79 each |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Average 6.5 + 5.5 each | Overall 57 + L 43 · R 48 · W 51 · S 42 |
| 500 Student | Overall 6.0 / 5.5 / 5.0 | Overall 50 / 42 / 36 |
| 482 (test before 13 Sep 2025) | Overall 5.0 + 5.0 each | Overall 36 + 36 each |
Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 remain usable until 6 August 2028 (each visa's own validity window still applies).
Skilled 189/190/491: test within 3 years before invitation · 485: within 1 year before applying · 500: within 2 years · 482 & 186: within 3 years before applying.
One extra band can be worth 10 points — see the points calculator, or take the free assessment and we'll map the fastest route.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Competent English and related pages · instruments LIN 25/016, 25/082, 25/089 · current at August 2026. General information only, not migration advice.