Australia Adds Four Tests — Nine English Exams Now Accepted For Visas

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has broadened the number of English language examinations that can be used for the majority of visa applications. Effective 7 August 2025, individuals can pick from nine recognised tests instead of five, thus allowing more flexibility while ensuring an even standard of results across providers.

Why The Change

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) revised the list of acceptable centre-based English tests for evidence of English language proficiency for visa applications. The intention is to facilitate the choice of a suitable test for applicants and, at the same time, ensure that the test scores are comparable.

The New List — Tests Accepted for Exams Taken on or after 7 Aug 2025

Cambridge C1 Advanced (C1 Advanced)
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General)
IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake)
IELTS General Training (including One Skill Retake)
LanguageCert Academic Test
Michigan English Test (MET, including Single Section Retake)
Occupational English Test (OET)
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
TOEFL iBT.

Important Dates & Validity

Start of new rules: tests taken on or after 7 Aug 2025 must follow the updated list.
Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): this visa will adopt the new rules from 13 Sep 2025.
Older test results: scores from tests taken on or before 6 Aug 2025 may still be used for some visa subclasses — in some cases, they remain valid until 6 Aug 2028 (check your visa subclass).

Process — What Applicants Must Do

Applicants must take any recognised test at a secure test centre.
Refer to the English level that the visa requires: Functional → Superior English (levels vary per visa).
Make sure that you meet the required score for your visa subclass.
Do not use at-home or online test versions (for example: CELPIP Online, IELTS Online, MET Digital at home, OET@Home, TOEFL iBT Home Edition are not accepted).

Who This Affects

The majority of applicants must prove their English skills when applying for Australian visas — for instance, students, skilled migrants, and many temporary visa holders. The change improves test choice globally and helps in managing immigration risk while enabling migrants to integrate. More tests (9 total) are now available to you — choose the secure centre test that best suits your strengths, check your score and validity for your visa, and be aware of Subclass 482’s later start date (13 Sep 2025).