Skilled Migration Application: English Language Requirement
When applying for Skilled Migration, you are required to prove your English language competence. There are 4 different levels of English which are applicable, and this is based on the visa subclass you are applying for:
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/RSMS Direct Entry
Vocational English: threshold requirement for ENS/RSMS Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Functional English: for secondary applicants seeking to avoid paying the English Language Charge
When should you take the test?
The timing of the test is based on the visa type.
General Skilled Migration: at the time of invitation
RSMS and ENS visas: at the time of application
Please plan ahead of time, as it can take some time to obtain a booking for a test and to receive the results.
Validity of English Test Results
The Department of Immigration will accept results of tests conducted up to 3 years prior to lodgement of an application.
An exception to this is for the functional English test which requires testing to have been done a maximum of 12 months before lodgement.
Acceptable English Tests
• The IELTS test is the most common way of demonstrating your competence in the English language. Both the Academic or General Training versions of the test are acceptable to the Department of Immigration. However, some skills assessing authorities require applicants to sit the Academic version. Note that 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) also demonstrates evidence of proficient and superior levels of English. This is only applicable for medical and allied health professionals.
• Two other tests, the Pearson Academic Test of English (Pearson PTE) and TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) are now accepted for all skilled subclasses. These tests are recognised by most state and territory governments, as well as some skills assessment authorities.
• The Cambridge Test of English has also been accepted since January 2015.
Vocational English
Those who have held a 457 visa for 2 years with the employer must demonstrate proficiency in Vocational English to obtain ENS and RSMS visa through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream .
The minimal scores for Vocational English tests 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
Those who are applying for most skilled visas will need to show at least Competent English as a minimal acceptable threshold. Applicants who hold a passport from one of the following 5 countries can establish competent English without appearing for an English test:
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
Ireland
Applicants from other countries must complete a recognised English language test and obtain the following minimal 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 |
Note that Competent English gives you 0 points in the Skilled Migration Points Test, but it is an essential requirement for lodging a skilled visa.
Proficient English
Those who demonstrate proficient English will get 10 points for English language ability.
Applicants who are native English speakers must still undertake English language testing in order to obtain points for proficient English or higher.
The minimum scores required to establish 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
Candidates who demonstrate superior English can get the maximum of 20 points for English language ability.
The minimum scores required to establish 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 below functional English, then you must pay an additional "English Education Charge" for English language tuition, while applying for skilled migration.
Functional English ability can be established 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 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.
There are special conditions under which functional English can be established through an interview.
Abilities in functional English can also be demonstrated 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 |
As Skilled migration applications can be very complex, we would advise you to contact us to check your likely eligibility for skilled migration before you proceed to apply.
