Australia has recently taken important steps to modernize its English-language visa requirements, and if you’re planning to study, work, or settle there, you’ll want to understand what’s changed, what’s new, what’s still valid, and how to navigate the new standards with confidence.
1. New Tests Added to the Approved List (from 7 August 2025)
As of 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs expanded its list of approved English-language tests from five to nine. Now recognized assessments include:
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- CELPIP General
- IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake)
- IELTS General Training (including One Skill Retake)
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET), including Single Section Retake
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
This expanded flexibility gives applicants more options, making it easier to choose a test that fits access, format, or personal strengths.
2. Updated Scoring Thresholds, More Nuanced Requirements
The changes didn’t just add new tests, they also refine the scoring benchmarks across different visa categories: Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient, and Superior English. For instance:
- PTE Academic (new scores effective 7 August 2025):
- Functional English: increased from 30 to 24 (lower threshold, ironically)
- Competent English: from 50 to 51
- Proficient English: from 65 to 66
- Superior English: from 79 to 84
- Across other tests like IELTS, OET, CELPIP, MET, and Cambridge C1 Advanced, component-level requirements have also been adjusted, often becoming more stringent, especially at higher levels like Proficient or Superior.
These nuanced shifts mean that if your English score was just at the previous cutoff, you might now fall below the new standard. It’s essential to check your visa subclass’s required level and review the updated component scores.
3. What About Tests Done Before 7 August 2025?
If you sat your English test before 7 August 2025, your result may still be valid, for up to three years, depending on which visa you’re applying for.
That means if your test date falls between mid-2022 and August 2025, and you met the relevant score thresholds at the time, your application might still be accepted without retaking the exam. This transitional arrangement brings welcome stability for those already in the pipeline.
4. Exemptions for Certain Passport Holders
For those fortunate enough to hold passports from these five countries:
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
the English test requirement is waived, for at least Functional or Vocational English levels on many visa subclasses. But be aware: if you’re applying for skilled migration points that require Proficient or Superior English, you still need to take and pass a test.
5. Lowered “Functional English” Scores Spark Debate
In some visa categories, such as training visas or Work-and-Holiday visas, the government lowered the minimum requirements for Functional English, notably:
- TOEFL iBT: dropped from 32 to 26
- PTE Academic: dropped from 30 to 24
IELTS remains at 4.5 overall
These adjustments attracted criticism: opposition lawmakers argue they dilute language standards and threaten integration and workplace readiness. Yet, officials say the move aligns better with test difficulty and statistical equivalence across different tests.
6. Why All These Changes? Behind the Scenes
The government’s motivations include:
- Fairness and consistency: As exams like PTE and TOEFL evolve, score equivalences must be realigned to ensure fairness.
- Flexibility: More test options help applicants in diverse regions or with distinct strengths.
- Modernization: The old 2015-based instrument was in need of refresh; the 2025 instrument includes updated requirements, clarity, and expanded criteria.
7. Tips for Applicants: What You Should Do Now
- Check which English level your visa subclass requires, whether Functional, Competent, Proficient, or Superior.
- Verify if your current test is still recognized and if its score meets the new requirements.
- Note your test date, if it’s pre, August 2025 and within three years, you could still use it. Otherwise, you may need to retake the test under the new criteria.
- Choose the test that plays to your strengths, you now have more recognized options, including those with flexible formats or local availability.
- Keep component scores strong, many visas specify listening, reading, writing, and speaking separately. Don’t just rely on the overall score.
8. What This Means for Your Journey
Whether you’re seeking a student visa, skilled migration, temporary graduate pathway, or employer sponsorship—the landscape has shifted. The broadening of tests is promising, but stricter scores and nuanced standards mean planning and precision are more important than ever. Approach your application with clarity and updated guidance.
In fact, many applicants rely on experts, like the team at Avian Global, to help interpret and apply these changes with confidence, ensuring applications not only meet compliance but also stand out.
9. In Summary
Australia’s updated English-language visa rules, effective 7 August 2025, bring significant changes:
- Nine approved tests now accepted
- Refreshed score thresholds, often higher
- Pre-August 2025 test results still valid up to three years
- Passport-based exemptions remain for some countries
- Functional English scores lowered for certain visas, sparking controversy
- Greater flexibility, but also heightened precision in requirements
If you’re navigating Australia’s migration pathways, knowing these details can help you stay one step ahead. The key is to match your test, timing, and visa subclass in full compliance with the new rules, because a well-prepared application can make all the difference in opening your next chapter Down Under.