This instrument is the Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) Instrument 2025.

This instrument commences on 13 September 2025.

This instrument is made under subclauses 482.222(1) and 482.232(1) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994.

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994, including the following:

(a) AUD;

(b) standard business sponsor.

In this instrument:

approved English language test: see subsection 6(3).

exempt applicant means:

(a) an applicant who is a citizen of, and who holds a valid passport issued by, one of the following countries:

(i) Canada;

(ii) New Zealand;

(iii) the Republic of Ireland;

(iv) the United Kingdom;

(v) the United States of America; or

(b) an applicant who has completed at least 5 years of full‑time study in a secondary education institution or higher education institution where the instruction was delivered in English; or

(c) an applicant who has been nominated by a standard business sponsor in relation to an occupation that will be performed at:

(i) a diplomatic or consular mission of another country; or

(ii) an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan located in Australia; or

(d) an applicant:

(i) who has been nominated in relation to an occupation that requires the applicant to hold a licence, registration, or membership to perform the occupation; and

(ii) who has been granted that license, registration, or membership; and

(iii) who, for the purposes of the grant of that license, registration, or membership, was required to demonstrate a level of English language proficiency that is equivalent to, or better than, the level of English language proficiency that is required to achieve the required test scores for an approved English language test that the applicant would have been required to achieve but for this paragraph; or

(e) an applicant who:

(i) is employed by a company operating an established business overseas; and

(ii) is nominated by a standard business sponsor who is that company or an associated entity of that company; and

(iii) will receive annual earnings of at least AUD 96,400.

full‑time study means:

(a) in relation to a secondary education institution in a particular country—the standard number of contact hours that a student would undertake in that country; or

(b) in relation to a higher education institution—the completion of at least 3 subjects in each semester or trimester of study.

overall band score means a test score calculated from the makeup of the scores received for each of the English test components.

Regulations means the Migration Regulations 1994.

required test scores, for an approved English language test: see subsection 6(4).

test component: each of the following is a test component of an approved English language test:

(a) listening;

(b) reading;

(d) writing.

5 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Part 2—Specified language test requirements

6 Language test requirements

(1) This section specifies language test requirements for the purposes of subclauses 482.222(1) and 482.232(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

(2) The language test requirements for an applicant for a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa in the Specialist Skills stream or Core Skills stream (other than an exempt applicant) are that:

(a) the applicant took an approved English language test; and

(b) the applicant achieved the required test scores for the approved English language test from:

(i) if the applicant achieved the required test scores in all the applicable test components in one sitting on a particular day (the test day)—the test undertaken by the applicant on the test day; or

(ii) if the applicant was required to re-sit a test component on a day after the test day to achieve the required test score for that component (the re-sit test day)—the tests undertaken by the applicant on the test day and on the re-sit test day; and

(c) the test day is not more than 3 years before the day on which the applicant provided evidence of the matter mentioned in paragraph (b).

(3) Each of the following is an approved English language test:

(a) Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General);

(b) International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic (IELTS Academic);

(d) LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic);

(e) Michigan English Test (MET);

(f) Occupational English Test (OET);

(g) Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic);

(h) Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT).

(4) The required test scores for an approved English language test are to be worked out using the following table.

Required test scores

Item

If the approved English language test is …

the required test scores for that test are …

CELPIP General

5 (listening)

5 (reading)

5 (writing)

5 (speaking)

IELTS Academic

5.0 (listening)

5.0 (reading)

5.0 (writing)

5.0 (speaking)

IELTS General Training

5.0 (listening)

5.0 (reading)

5.0 (writing)

5.0 (speaking)

LANGUAGECERT Academic

41 (listening)

44 (reading)

45 (writing)

54 (speaking)

MET

49 (listening)

47 (reading)

45 (writing)

38 (speaking)

OET

220 (listening)

240 (reading)

200 (writing)

270 (speaking)

PTE Academic

33 (listening)

36 (reading)

29 (writing)

24 (speaking)

TOEFL iBT

8 (listening)

8 (reading)

9 (writing)

14 (speaking)

7 Specified evidence of English language proficiency—tests undertaken before commencement of this instrument

(1) For the purposes of subclauses 482.222(1) and 482.232(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, the requirements under subsection (2) are specified in relation to a person (other than an exempt applicant) who makes an application for a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa in the Specialist Skills stream or the Core Skills stream on or after the day this instrument commences, where:

(a) the applicant has undertaken an English language test specified under subsection (2) on a particular day (the test day); and

(b) the applicant has achieved the required test scores specified under subsection (2) for the relevant specified English language test taken by the visa applicant on the test day in a single attempt at that test; and

(c) the test day is in the period of 3 years immediately before the day on which the relevant visa application was made; and

(d) the test was undertaken before the day on which this instrument commences.

(2) For the purposes of this section and subclauses 482.222(1) and 482.232(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, the English language tests and required test scores in the following table are specified.

Required test scores
Item	If the approved English language test is …	the required test scores for that test are …
1	the International English Language Testing System (the IELTS)	(a) an overall band score of at least 5.0; and (b) a score of at least 5.0 for each test component of the IELTS.
2	the Occupational English Test (the OET)	(a) a score of at least B for each test component of the OET.
3	the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test (the TOEFL)	(a) an overall band score of at least 35; and (b) for the listening and reading test components of the TOEFL—a score of at least 4; and (c) for the speaking and writing test components of the TOEFL—a score of at least 14.
4	the Pearson Test of English Academic (the PTE)	(a) an overall band score of at least 36; and (b) a score of at least 36 for each test component of the PTE.
5	the Cambridge English: Advanced test (the CAE)	(a) an overall band score of at least 154; and (b) a score of at least 154 for each test component of the CAE.

Part 3—Application provisions

8 Application of this instrument

This instrument applies in relation to a visa application that is made on or after the day on which the instrument commences.

Schedule 1–Repeals

Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024

1 The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.