IELTS Score for Australia Immigration
The IELTS band you need to immigrate to Australia, scored against the Points-tested skilled migration (Department of Home Affairs). Official thresholds, a full conversion table, and how to check your band before you book the test.
What IELTS score do I need for Australia immigration?
Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each section) is the floor for skilled migration and earns 0 points. Proficient English (7.0 each) earns 10 points; Superior English (8.0 each) earns 20 points.
Australian skilled migration is points-tested, and the Department of Home Affairs awards points based on your IELTS band in each of the four sections (IELTS Academic and General Training are both accepted). Competent English — 6.0 in each section — is the minimum to be invited for the main skilled visas (subclass 189, 190 and 491) and earns 0 points. Proficient English — 7.0 in each section — earns 10 points, and Superior English — 8.0 in each section — earns 20 points. Because the points test is competitive, most applicants aim for Proficient or Superior English to lift their ranking.
Which IELTS test: IELTS Academic or General Training (both accepted).
Australia IELTS requirements by pathway
| English level | IELTS (each section) | Migration points |
|---|---|---|
| Competent EnglishMinimum to be invited for subclass 189, 190 and 491 | 6.0 in each section | 0 points |
| Proficient English | 7.0 in each section | 10 points |
| Superior English | 8.0 in each section | 20 points |
| Student visa (subclass 500)Depends on the course and education provider | 5.5 – 6.0 overall | n/a |
Points and thresholds are set by the Department of Home Affairs and can change. Some occupations and licensing bodies set higher requirements. Confirm the current points test on the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au page before applying.
Official source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
Australia IELTS immigration requirements - common questions
What IELTS score do I need for Australian PR?
The floor for most skilled-migration visas (subclass 189, 190 and 491) is Competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. That earns 0 points, so competitive applicants usually target Proficient English (7.0 each, 10 points) or Superior English (8.0 each, 20 points).
How many points is IELTS 7 for Australian immigration?
IELTS 7.0 in each of the four sections is classed as Proficient English and earns 10 points on the Australian skilled-migration points test. You must score at least 7.0 in every section — a single section below 7.0 drops you to the Competent (0-point) band.
What is Superior English for Australian skilled migration?
Superior English is IELTS 8.0 in each of the four sections and earns the maximum 20 points on the points test. Because 20 points is a large share of a competitive score, many applicants who can reach it do so to improve their invitation chances.
Does Australia accept IELTS Academic or General Training for migration?
Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are accepted for Australian skilled-migration English evidence. Choose whichever you are stronger in — the per-section requirement (Competent 6.0, Proficient 7.0, Superior 8.0) is the same for both modules.
How long is an IELTS result valid for Australian PR?
It depends on the visa subclass, and Home Affairs is explicit that there is no single answer. Its guidance states that the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed on 7 August 2025, and that if you completed a test before that date your results may still be valid for up to three years, depending on the subclass you apply for. So treat three years as an upper bound rather than a guarantee, and check the published evidence requirements for your specific subclass before you rely on an older sitting. If your result is close to the edge, sitting again is cheaper than having an application refused on evidence that had expired for your particular visa.
Should I take PTE or IELTS for Australian PR?
Either, because acceptance is not the deciding factor. Home Affairs lists PTE Academic alongside IELTS among the tests approved for Australian visa purposes, so both produce valid evidence and neither is scored more generously by the points test: the points come from your English level, not from which test produced it. Choose on the things that actually differ for you, which are the question formats you handle better, test-centre availability near you, and turnaround time. The other approved options are the Michigan English Test including its Single Section Retake, the Occupational English Test, and TOEFL iBT.
Can I take IELTS Online for Australian PR?
No. Home Affairs states that the test must take place in a secure testing centre, which rules out a remotely proctored sitting even though IELTS Online is a genuine IELTS product. Book IELTS at a test centre. This catches people out because IELTS Online is sold alongside the centre-based test and the booking flow makes the two easy to confuse, and discovering the problem after the result arrives usually costs weeks.
Does taking TOEFL instead need anything special for Australia?
Yes, and it is easy to miss. TOEFL iBT is accepted, but Home Affairs warns that you must select the option for taking TOEFL for Australia when you register for the test, and that results not registered under that pathway may not be accepted for Australian visa purposes. There is no equivalent trap with IELTS, where a centre-based sitting is simply accepted. If you have already sat TOEFL without choosing that pathway, check the registration before assuming the result is usable.