Planning to apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) after finishing your studies in Australia? One of the most important things you need to get right is your English language requirement. Miss this, and your application will not proceed, no matter how strong everything else looks.
So, let's discuss every aspect of the 485 visa English requirements for 2026. You will find important information regarding accepted tests, minimum scores, important rule changes, exemptions, and common mistakes to avoid.
What is the 485 Visa and Why English Matters?
Overview of Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is issued by the Department of Home Affairs. It allows eligible international students who have recently completed an Australian qualification to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily after graduation.
As of 2026, the Subclass 485 has three streams. The Post-Higher Education Work Stream is for graduates with a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a CRICOS-registered Australian institution. The Post-Vocational Education Work Stream is for graduates with a diploma, trade qualification, or other vocational course linked to an occupation on the skilled occupation list.
The Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream is for graduates who already held a Subclass 485 visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or Replacement stream and who studied and lived in a designated regional area of Australia for at least two years. This stream grants an additional one to two years of stay, depending on the regional category of the area.
Most applicants must be under 35 years of age. Exceptions apply for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holders and for master's by research and doctoral graduates in certain circumstances.
Why is English Proficiency Mandatory
Australia requires 485 visa applicants to demonstrate that they can communicate effectively in English. The visa grants full work rights across any occupation in Australia, and employers need to be able to work with visa holders every day. English proficiency is also a requirement for many skilled migration pathways to permanent residency, so meeting the standard at the 485 stage is part of a broader migration plan for most applicants.
Who needs to meet English requirements
The English language requirement applies to applicants in the Post-Higher Education Work Stream and the Post-Vocational Education Work Stream. Applicants for the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream are generally not required to sit a new test, as their English was already assessed when their first Subclass 485 visa was granted.
Applicants holding a valid passport from one of five exempt countries are also not required to provide a test result.
Latest 485 Visa English Requirements (2024–2026 Updates)
The English requirements for the 485 visa have been updated twice in recent years. Understanding which rules apply to your situation is essential.
Changes effective from March 2024
From 23 March 2024, the Department of Home Affairs introduced new requirements under Migration Instrument LIN 24/021. For most applicants, the minimum score increased from IELTS 6.0 overall to 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 required in each of the four components. This applied to all applications lodged on or after that date. Test results remained valid for up to three years at this stage.
Hong Kong and BNO passport holders were not affected by this score increase. Their threshold remained at IELTS 6.0 overall, with 5.0 in each component.
Changes effective from 7 August 2025
A major update came into effect on 7 August 2025 under Migration Instrument LIN 25/089, which repealed and replaced LIN 24/021 in full. The most significant change was the reduction of test validity from three years to one year. From this date, test results must have been completed no more than 12 months before the date of application lodgement.
The list of accepted tests was also overhauled, with new providers added and the Cambridge C1 Advanced test removed. Score thresholds for PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT were updated to reflect new concordance data. The OET also moved from alphabetical to numerical scoring from this date.
Accepted English Tests for 485 Visa
List of Approved Tests (2026)
From 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs will accept results from the following tests for the Subclass 485 visa. All tests must be completed at an approved, secure test centre. Online and at-home formats are not accepted.
- IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake)
- IELTS General Training (including One Skill Retake)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT: When registering, you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia"
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- CELPIP General
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET, including Single Section Retake)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) only for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025
Note that C1 Advanced is listed as "not accepted" for the purposes of meeting the 485 English requirement for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, as confirmed in Schedule 1 of LIN 25/089.
[free_consultation]
Book a Consultation
If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Australian Migration Agents for a consultation.
[/free_consultation]
Minimum Score Requirements for Each Test
IELTS Requirements
You need an average band score of at least 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
The IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) is accepted for the 485 visa. If you fall short in just one component, you may retake that component alone. The OSR must be completed before you lodge your application.
Hong Kong and BNO passport holders require an average band score of at least 6.0, with a minimum of 5.0 in each component.
PTE Academic Requirements
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum scores as per LIN 25/089 (Schedule 1) are:
- Overall: 55
- Listening: 40
- Reading: 42
- Writing: 41
- Speaking: 39
For tests taken before 7 August 2025, the previous thresholds apply: overall 57, Listening 43, Reading 48, Writing 51, and Speaking 42. All components must be completed in a single sitting.
TOEFL iBT Requirements
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum scores as per LIN 25/089 (Schedule 1) are:
- Total score: 81
- Listening: 12
- Reading: 12
- Writing: 14
- Speaking: 17
For tests taken before 7 August 2025, the previous thresholds apply: total 83, Listening 7, Reading 8, Writing 18, and Speaking 16. When registering, always select "Taking TOEFL for Australia," as results not registered under this pathway may not be accepted by the Department.
OET Requirements
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the OET moved to numerical scoring. The minimum scores as per LIN 25/089 (Schedule 1) are:
- Overall: 1310
- Listening: 260
- Reading: 280
- Writing: 260
- Speaking: 310
For tests taken before 7 August 2025, a score of at least B in each component was required under the previous alphabetical scoring system.
The OET allows combined results from more than one sitting, which is a flexibility not available with any other accepted test for the 485 visa.
Validity of English Test Scores
Current validity rule
From 7 August 2025, English test results must be obtained within 12 months of the date you lodge your 485 visa application. This is confirmed in section 8 of LIN 25/089. Results older than 12 months at lodgement will not be accepted.
Why was the validity reduced
The Department of Home Affairs reduced the validity period to ensure applicants demonstrate current English ability. Language proficiency changes over time, and the 12-month window means the results submitted reflect your ability at the time you apply to live and work in Australia, rather than a test taken years earlier.
When to take your test
Plan your test date with your expected lodgement date in mind. Your results must be less than 12 months old on the day you submit your application. Allow time for results to be released; most providers deliver results within five to ten business days, and ensure your overall application documents are ready before the results window closes.
Who is Exempt from English Requirements?
Passport-based exemptions
As specified in section 9 of LIN 25/089, applicants holding a valid passport issued to a citizen of any of the following five countries do not need to provide English test results:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
The passport must be valid at the time you lodge your application.
Special cases
Applicants for the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream are generally not required to meet the English language requirement again, as their English was already assessed when their first 485 visa was granted. This is confirmed under subclause 485.212(2) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, which provides that clause 485.212 does not apply to applicants meeting certain stream criteria.
Common myths about exemptions
Many applicants believe that completing their degree at an Australian university exempts them from the English test requirement. It does not. Studying in English does not satisfy the 485 visa English requirement unless you hold a valid passport from one of the five exempt countries.
Another common misconception is that secondary applicants included in the application are automatically exempt. The English requirement applies to the primary applicant. Dependants may have separate requirements, which should be confirmed before lodgement.
Old vs New English Requirements
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting results that are more than 12 months old at lodgement is the most common issue. The date that matters is your application lodgement date, not your graduation date.
Using an online or at-home test format is another critical mistake. The Department does not accept results from remote-proctored tests. All tests must be completed at an approved secure test centre.
Not registering TOEFL iBT under "Taking TOEFL for Australia" before sitting the test is an error that cannot be corrected afterwards.
Submitting C1 Advanced results from a test taken on or after 7 August 2025 will result in rejection, as CAE is not accepted for new sittings under LIN 25/089.
Combining scores from multiple sittings, other than for OET, is not permitted. All components must be achieved in a single sitting.
Applying for the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream without first confirming the two-year regional residency requirement is a common oversight that can lead to refusal.
How Australian Migration Agents Can Help
The English requirements for the 485 visa have changed twice in under two years, and the rules now depend on when your test was taken, which stream you are applying under, and what passport you hold. The introduction of numerical scoring for OET and new test providers also means that applicants who relied on older information may have inaccurate expectations.
Our Australian migration agents can review your specific situation and confirm exactly which requirements apply to you. They can check your test results are within the validity window, advise on the right timing for lodgement, and help you understand how your English result fits into your longer-term migration plans if permanent residency is on your horizon.
Reach out to our team to discuss your application today.
[registered_migration_agents] [/registered_migration_agents]
FAQs on 485 Visa English Requirements
How much PTE is required for a 485 visa?
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum PTE Academic scores under LIN 25/089 are an overall score of 55, with Listening 40, Reading 42, Writing 41, and Speaking 39. For tests taken before that date, the previous minimum was an overall 57, with Listening 43, Reading 48, Writing 51, and Speaking 42. All components must be achieved in a single sitting.
What are the documents required for a 485 visa?
A 485 visa application generally requires evidence of your completed Australian qualification, such as a transcript and completion letter, proof of the Australian study requirement, your valid passport, English test results, Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), and health and character documents, including police clearances. The exact documents required vary depending on the stream and your individual circumstances.
What is the new rule about the 485 visa in Australia?
The most significant recent change came into effect on 7 August 2025 under LIN 25/089. Test validity was reduced from three years to one year. New tests, including CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and MET, were added. Cambridge C1 Advanced was removed for new sittings. PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT score thresholds were updated, and OET moved to numerical scoring. Additionally, from 1 March 2026, the base application charge for the primary applicant increased to AUD 4,600.
Does IELTS Online count?
No. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept results from any test delivered completely online or via remote proctoring. IELTS Online is explicitly listed as a format that is not accepted. Your test must be completed in person at an approved secure test centre.
Can I apply for the 485 visa without English results?
Only if you hold a valid passport from one of the five exempt countries: Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America, or if you are applying under the Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream and English was already assessed in your first 485 application. All other applicants must provide a valid English
%20A%20Guide%20to%20Top%20Jobs%20%26%20Visa%20Trends.webp)
.webp)