Migration Law Update: New English Language Requirements as of 7 August 2025
On 5 August 2025, the Australian Government introduced important changes to the English language tests accepted for visa applications under migration law, taking effect from 7 August 2025 onward.
These changes effectively increase the overall English language test scores required to meet the existing English language bands (i.e. Functional English, Vocational English, Competent English, Proficient English and Superior English), and affect English language tests undertaken on or after 7 August 2025.
The new English language requirements are outlined in the Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/016), which also contains “grandfathering” provisions for persons who may have undertaken English language tests prior to 7 August 2025.
What are the new English language requirements?
For English language tests undertaken from 7 August 2025 onward (i.e. on and after 7 August 2025), the following English test results are accepted for Australian migration purposes, notably with the addition of the CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program), Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR) and LanguageCert Academic Test:
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) (excluded for Functional English & Vocational English)
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
LanguageCert Academic Test
Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR) (excluded for Superior English)
Occupational English Test (OET)
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
Functional English
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
An overall band score of at least 5
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
An average band score of at least 4.5
LanguageCert Academic Test
An overall band score of at least 38
Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR)
An overall band score of at least 38
Occupational English Test (OET)
An overall band score of at least 1020
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
An overall band score of at least 24
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
A total score of at least 26
Vocational English
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
5 for listening
5 for reading
5 for writing
5 for speaking
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
5 for listening
5 for reading
5 for writing
5 for speaking
LanguageCert Academic Test
41 for listening
44 for reading
45 for writing
54 for speaking
Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR)
49 for listening
47 for reading
45 for writing
38 for speaking
Occupational English Test (OET)
220 for listening
240 for reading
200 for writing
270 for speaking
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
33 for listening
36 for reading
29 for writing
24 for speaking
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
8 for listening
8 for reading
9 for writing
14 for speaking
Competent English
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE)
163 for listening
163 for reading
170 for writing
179 for speaking
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
7 for listening
7 for reading
7 for writing
7 for speaking
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
6 for listening
6 for reading
6 for writing
6 for speaking
LanguageCert Academic Test
57 for listening
60 for reading
64 for writing
70 for speaking
Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR)
56 for listening
55 for reading
57 for writing
48 for speaking
Occupational English Test (OET)
290 for listening
310 for reading
290 for writing
330 for speaking
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
47 for listening
48 for reading
51 for writing
54 for speaking
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
16 for listening
16 for reading
19 for writing
19 for speaking
Proficient English
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE)
175 for listening
179 for reading
193 for writing
194 for speaking
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
9 for listening
8 for reading
10 for writing
8 for speaking
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
7 for listening
7 for reading
7 for writing
7 for speaking
LanguageCert Academic Test
57 for listening
60 for reading
64 for writing
70 for speaking
Michigan English Test (MET) including Single Section Retake (SSR)
61 for listening
63 for reading
74 for writing
59 for speaking
Occupational English Test (OET)
350 for listening
360 for reading
380 for writing
360 for speaking
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
58 for listening
59 for reading
69 for writing
76 for speaking
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
22 for listening
22 for reading
26 for writing
24 for speaking
Superior English
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE)
186 for listening
190 for reading
210 for writing
208 for speaking
CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
10 for listening
10 for reading
12 for writing
10 for speaking
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake (OSR)
8 for listening
8 for reading
8 for writing
8 for speaking
LanguageCert Academic Test
80 for listening
83 for reading
89 for writing
89 for speaking
Occupational English Test (OET)
390 for listening
400 for reading
420 for writing
400 for speaking
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
69 for listening
70 for reading
85 for writing
88 for speaking
TOEFL iBT (internet-Based Test)
26 for listening
27 for reading
30 for writing
28 for speaking
Who Is Affected?
The new English Language test score requirements apply to any English language tests undertaken on or after 7 August 2025, for General Skilled Migration visas and Employer-Sponsored visas, including the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa, the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visa and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, amongst others.
One prominent group affected by these changes include persons who have undertaken, or are undertaking an English language test for points test purposes on or after 7 August 2025 (i.e. to claim points for a General Skilled Migration visa such as a Subclass 189 visa, Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa), and are now unable to claim points for Proficient or Superior English due to the higher English language test score requirements for these English language bands.
What if I took my English test before 7 August 2025?
If you undertook an English language test before 7 August 2025 (i.e. on or before 6 August 2025) and have already lodged your visa application based on these English language test results, you will not be affected by these changes and will still be able to rely on your these English language test results based on the old requirements.
Additionally, if you have undertaken an English language test before 7 August 2025 (i.e. on or before 6 August 2025) in support of an Expression of Interest for a Subclass 189 visa, Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa, you will not be affected by these changes, and will still be able to claim points for your these English language test results based on the old requirements, as long as they are not more than 3 years old at the time you are invited to apply for the visa. On the other hand, if you thereafter seek to rely on English language test results undertaken on or after 7 August 2025, e.g. where you are “renewing” your English language test results or attempting a higher score for points test purposes, the new English language test score requirements will apply.
Have a question? Reach out to our friendly immigration lawyers today!
Our immigration lawyers at Inclusive Migration have extensive experience in advising prospective migrants to Australia about their employer-sponsored, skilled migration and family migration options in Australia. Should you have any questions about your visa application or visa eligibility, please email info@inclusivemigration.com.au, submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website or send us a WhatsApp message at +61 490 704 775.
