Australia To Allow More Language Test Options For Visas

Australia’s Department of Immigration has said that it will accept English-language test scores issued by a larger number of exam boards across its visa programs from November 2014.

Currently, applicants for most visa subclasses that require language proficiency must provide scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). The new alternatives will be the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) and the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), both from November 2014, and the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test, from early 2015.

However, in the case of the CAE, scores from tests taken before the implementation date will not be eligible. All these tests are already accepted under the Student Visa Program.

The change will affect various visa subclasses from the Temporary Graduate, Skilled and Work and Holiday visa program, and will also apply to intending migrants submitting an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. However, the Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (subclass 457) visa is not included, as the 457 Program is currently undergoing an independent review.

The following visa subclasses from the Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident and Work and Holiday visa programmes will accept a TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic test score as evidence of English ability from November 2014:

Distinguished Talent (Australian support) (subclass 124)
Business Talent (subclass 132)
Former Resident (subclass 151)
Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 160)*
Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 161)*
Investor (provisional) (subclass 162)*
State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 163)*
State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 164)*
State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional) (subclass 165)*
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
Business Innovation & Investment (provisional) (subclass 188)
Skilled – Independent (subclass 189)
Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
Work and Holiday (temporary) (subclass 462)
Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)
Skilled – Regional (provisional) (subclass 489)
Distinguished Talent (subclass 858)
Skilled – Regional (subclass 887)
Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) (subclass 888)
Business Owner (Residence) (subclass 890)
Investor (Residence) (subclass 891)
State/Territory Sponsored Business owner (Residence) (subclass 892)
State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (subclass 893)

The department will continue to accept scores from TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) for the Student visa programme. Student visa applicants can also continue to provide test scores from IELTS and OET tests.

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) visa is not included in this list at this time because the subclass 457 visa programme is currently undergoing an independent review. Any updates about English language testing for the subclass 457 visa will be published on the department’s website later this year.

The department will accept test scores from the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test for all visa programmes from early 2015 (final implementation date to be confirmed). Scores from a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test taken before the 2015 implementation date will not be accepted by the department.

Minimum required test scores for the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test will be published on the department’s website later this year.

From November 2014, intending migrants submitting an EOI through SkillSelect will be able to provide test scores from the TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic tests.

From November 2014, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic test scores will be benchmarked against the IELTS equivalent score for each English language proficiency level (Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient or Superior). A summary of test score equivalencies for all English language tests accepted by the department from November 2014 is provided below.

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