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Visa English Requirement for 482 Visa, 494 Visa, and 186 Visa

Updated

English Requirement for Australian Sponsored Work Visa – 482, 494 and 186 Visa

The English requirement is a crucial criterion for Australian visas, particularly for Australian-sponsored work visas like the 482, 494, and 186 visas. The specific English requirement for these visas is determined by the visa subclass and stream you’re applying for.

ONE derland Consulting has summarised the visa English requirement specifically for the Employer-sponsored scheme working visa below, together with the latest update on English requirements in general.

Latest Updates on English Requirements for Australian Visa

The Australian Government has updated the English requirements for Australian Visa application purposes. Most of these updates are effective on 07 August 2025, except for the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482), which will take effect on 13 September 2025.

  • The Department of Home Affairs will accept the following English test results for an Australian visa application. The test may be taken on or after 07 August 2025:
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test (C1 Advanced)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General)
    • International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic), including One Skill Retake (OSR)
    • International English Language Testing System General Training (IELTS General Training), including One Skill Retake (OSR)
    • LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic)
    • Michigan English Test (MET), including Single Section Retake (SSR)
    • Occupational English Test (OET)
    • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
  • You may still use the test result taken before 06 August 2025 until 06 August 2028. However, it depends on the visa subclass.
  • The Department of Home Affairs will not accept any English test results taken online or at home. It includes:
    • CELPIP Online
    • IELTS Online
    • LANGUAGECERT Academic Online
    • MET Digital (taken at-home)
    • OET@Home
    • TOEFL iBT – Home Edition
  • As of 07 August 2025, the OET point system uses numerical points. Also, the OET doesn’t provide the overall test results in their score reports. You can directly contact OET to get the overall test results.  

Read more: English Requirement for Australian Visa – General Information

Updated English Requirements for the Australian 482 Visa

The English requirement for the Australian 482 Visa is specified according to the visa stream: core skills stream, specialist skills stream, and labour agreement stream.

The current English requirement for 482 Visa is as follows:

1. English requirement for 482 Visa – Core Skills and Specialist Skills stream

As of 13 September 2025, the following English requirements will apply to Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Visa:

English Test English Components
Listening Reading Writing Speaking
CELPIP General 5 5 5 5
IELTS Academic & General Training 5 5 5 5
LANGUAGECERT Academic 41 44 45 54
MET 49 47 45 38
OET 220 240 200 270
PTE Academic 33 36 29 24
TOEFL iBT 8 8 9 14

2. English requirement for 482 Visa (Labour agreement stream)

The English requirement for the 482 Visa—Labour Agreement stream would depend on your nominated occupation. The Labour agreement between your employer and the Commonwealth might also specify English requirements

So, checking your nominated occupation first and the labour agreement is best.

This is a friendly reminder that your English test for the Core Skills stream and Specialist Skills stream should be completed at least three years before your visa lodgment. You must also get the minimum score in a single attempt.

English language requirement exemption for 482 Visa applicants

You may be exempted from meeting the English requirements when applying for the 482 Visa if you meet one of the following situations:

  • You’re a passport holder of Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
  • You have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in at least a secondary-level institution, and most classes were held in English.
  • Your nominated occupation in Australia will be performed at a diplomatic or consular mission of another country or an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan.
  • Your nominated occupation requires you to hold a licence, registration or membership, or that you were granted the licence, registration, or membership, or that you had to prove that you had equal or higher English language proficiency as specified for the 482 Visa to be granted the licence, registration or membership.
  • You are an employee of an overseas business, or the business or its associated entity has nominated you to work in Australia, or you will receive a guaranteed annual earnings of at least AUD 96,400.

Visa english requirement

Latest English Requirement for 494 Visa

To be eligible for the 494 Visa, you must have at least Competent English proficiency. As of 07 August 2025, the Competent English proficiency has been updated to:

1. English Requirement for 494 Visa – Employer-Sponsored Stream

English Test English Components
Listening Reading Writing Speaking
C1 Advanced 163 163 170 179
CELPIP General 7 7 7 7
IELTS Academic & General Training 6 6 6 6
LANGUAGECERT Academic 57 60 64 70
MET 56 55 57 48
OET 290 310 290 330
PTE Academic 47 48 51 54
TOEFL iBT 16 16 19 19

2. English Requirement for 494 Visa – Labour Agreement Stream

For the labour agreement stream, you must meet the minimum English level specified in the Labour agreement. You can check the specific English level here.

The exam should have been taken no more than three years before the date of the visa, and you must show proof of meeting the English language requirement at the time of visa application.

Latest 186 Visa English Requirement

Similar to the 494 Visa, you are also required to have at least Competent English proficiency as a requirement to apply for the 186 Visa. This English requirement applies to both the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition stream of the 186 Visa. See the table below for the details:

1. Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition stream

Both these streams require you to have at least a Competent Level of English:

English Test English Components
Listening Reading Writing Speaking
C1 Advanced 163 163 170 179
CELPIP General 7 7 7 7
IELTS Academic & General Training 6 6 6 6
LANGUAGECERT Academic 57 60 64 70
MET 56 55 57 48
OET 290 310 290 330
PTE Academic 47 48 51 54
TOEFL iBT 16 16 19 19

2. Labour Agreement stream

You must achieve the minimum English proficiency required for the labour agreement stream. You may check your specific English level here.

You must provide evidence of the English requirement at the time of visa lodgment, and the test should have been taken at most 3 years prior the lodgment date.

Read more: English Requirements for GSM Visa – All You Need To Know

What if there are dependents in my applications?

In some cases, the dependent must also meet the minimum visa English requirements, which is Functional English. The evidence of their English proficiency should be taken at most 12 months before visa lodgment. If they don’t meet the English requirement, you might need to pay more to include them as your dependent on your visa application.

We know that you may have many questions about the English requirements that seem simple yet are still complicated for your visa applications, especially for you, the nominated employer skilled workers. Here, find the solutions:

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Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will assist you and give you complete suggestions about the English requirements you’d like to take for your visa application in Australia.

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Take the first step and contact us. Our team members are honest, accountable and professional. Contact us via email at visa@onederland.com.au, by phone at 1300 827 159, or through WhatsApp at +61494372414. Alternatively, you can book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money-Back Guarantee Program.

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