485 Visa English Requirements — Complete Score Guide (2026)
English Language Requirements for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Important: Higher English score requirements apply for all tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. If your test was taken before this date, different thresholds may apply. Check the table below for your test date and confirm your scores meet the current 485 visa English requirements before lodging.
Minimum Scores — Standard Stream (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025):
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Overall/Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 average band |
| TOEFL iBT | 12 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 81 |
| PTE Academic | 40 | 42 | 41 | 39 | 55 |
| OET | 260 | 280 | 260 | 310 | 1310 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 49 | 54 | 56 | 62 | 67 |
| MET | 53 | 51 | 51 | 43 | 58 |
| CELPIP General | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
485 Visa English Requirements — Applications Lodged On or After 23 March 2024
For all subclass 485 visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024, the Department of Home Affairs applies increased English language thresholds:
- The minimum overall score rises from IELTS 6.0 to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent in other accepted tests)
- The minimum score for each individual band (reading, writing, speaking and listening) rises from 5.0 to 5.5
Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders are exempt from the increased requirement. Their threshold remains at IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum score of 5.0 in each band (or equivalent).
English test results must come from a test taken no more than 12 months before you lodge your 485 visa application. The Department reduced this validity window from three years to one year for all Temporary Graduate visa applications. Plan your test date carefully — results expire faster than most applicants expect.
Regulation Update: Increased English Language Test Scores for Subclass 485 Visas
The Migration (English Language Requirements for Subclass 476 and Subclass 485 Visas) Instrument (LIN 24/021) 2024 formally increased the English language test scores that apply to the 485 visa and reduced the test validity period from three years to one year. This instrument took effect for all applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
The table below shows both the previous and current required scores. The new required scores appear in the right-hand columns.
Previous vs Current 485 Visa English Score Requirements (effective 23 March 2024)
| Test name | Old required test score | New required test score |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | (a) an overall band score of 6; and (b) a score of at least 5 for each test component | (a) an overall band score of at least 6.5; and (b) a score of at least 5.5 for each test component |
| Cambridge English: Advanced test (CAE) | (a) an overall band score of at least 169; and (b) a score of at least 154 for each test component | (a) an overall band score of at least 176; and (b) a score of at least 162 for each test component |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | a score of at least B for each test component | a score of at least B for each test component |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) | (a) an overall band score of at least 50 (b) for listening a score of at least 36; and (c) for reading a score of at least 36; (d) for speaking a score of at least 36 (e) for writing a score of at least 36 | (a) an overall band score of at least 57; and (b) for listening a score of at least 43; and (c) for reading a score of at least 48; (d) for speaking a score of at least 42 (e) for writing a score of at least 51 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)* | (a) a total overall score of at least 64; and (b) for listening a score of at least 4 (c) for reading a score of at least 4 (d) for speaking a score of at least 14 (e) for writing a score of at least 14 | (a) a total overall score of at least 83; and (b) for listening a score of at least 7 (c) for reading a score of at least 8 (d) for speaking a score of at least 16 (e) for writing a score of at least 18 |
If you took your English test before 23 March 2024, your results may have already expired (tests are now only valid for 12 months). Retake your test and ensure your new results meet the current thresholds shown in the right-hand column before lodging your subclass 485 visa application.
Hong Kong and BNO passport holders face no increase in their English thresholds. Their required scores remain at an overall band score of 6.0 for IELTS (or equivalent), with a minimum of 5.0 in each component. All other conditions — including the 12-month test validity window — apply equally to this cohort.
This instrument took effect on 23 March 2024 and applies to every subclass 485 visa application lodged on or after that date. Applications lodged before 23 March 2024 remain subject to the previous thresholds, though the 12-month test validity window means most pre-2024 test results have already expired.
The new instrument repeals 8MB 15062 (Migration Regulations 1994 – Specification of English Language Tests, Scores and Passports 2015). However, 8MB 15062 continues to apply to any subclass 485 application lodged before 23 March 2024 that the Department had not yet finally determined at that date.
How to Prove Your English for the 485 Visa
To satisfy the 485 visa English requirements, you must either hold a passport from an exempt country or provide results from an accepted English test taken within the past 12 months.
Passport exemptions — no English test required if you hold a passport from:
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- United States of America
- Canada
- New Zealand
If you do not hold one of these passports, you must provide results from one of the accepted English tests listed in the tables below.
Current 485 Visa English Test Scores (applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024)
English test | Minimum overall Score | Total overall score | Minimum scores for English test components | |||
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | |||
IELTS (General or Academic) | 6 | – | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
OET | B | – | B | B | B | B |
TOEFL iBT | – | 64 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 14 |
PTE Academic | 50 | – | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken on or after 1 January 2015) | 169 | – | 154 | 154 | 154 | 154 |
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Important note on test scores: The scores shown in the table above apply to all subclass 485 visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. If you took your English test before this date and your results are from a test sitting more than 12 months before your intended lodgment date, you must retake your test and achieve the current minimum scores. A VisaAid migration consultant can confirm which score table applies to your specific situation.
To demonstrate English proficiency for your 485 visa eligibility, provide results from an accepted test taken within the 12 months immediately before your lodgment date. Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland are exempt from the English test requirement entirely.
Plan Your English Test Early
The 12-month test validity window means timing matters as much as your score. Most applicants find that booking their English test at least 6–8 weeks before their intended lodgment date gives them enough time to receive results, confirm they meet the 485 visa English requirements, and arrange a retest if needed — without burning through their 6-month application window after course completion.
Check your 485 visa processing time and work backward from your target lodgment date to schedule your test. If you are close to the 6-month application deadline, contact a VisaAid migration consultant before booking — the timing of your test and lodgment date must align precisely to avoid an automatic refusal.
NOTE: The information provided is general in nature and should not be considered migration advice. As every individual’s circumstances are different, we recommend contacting VisaAid for personalised advice.