485 Visa English Requirement: the IELTS Score You Need
The IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and CELPIP scores the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) accepts, how recent the test must be, and who does not need a test at all.
What is the English requirement for the 485 visa?
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, from a test taken in the 12 months before you apply. Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders need 6.0 overall with at least 5.0 in each section.
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) requires IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four sections. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are both accepted, and so is a result that includes an IELTS One Skill Retake, provided the retake is finished before you lodge the application. The test must have been taken in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply, which is much shorter than the two-year validity printed on an IELTS Test Report Form. The same scores apply to the Post-Higher Education Work stream and the Post-Vocational Education Work stream. You do not need a test at all if you are a citizen of, and hold a valid passport from, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.
Which IELTS test: IELTS Academic or General Training (both accepted, One Skill Retake allowed).
485 visa English requirement by test
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS AcademicOne Skill Retake accepted if completed before you lodge | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| IELTS General TrainingSame scores as IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 55 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 39 |
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 17 |
| CELPIP General | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OETOET does not print an overall score on the report, so ask OET for it | 1310 | 260 | 280 | 260 | 310 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 67 | 49 | 54 | 56 | 62 |
| Michigan English Test (MET)Single Section Retake accepted if completed before you lodge | 58 | 53 | 51 | 51 | 43 |
| Cambridge C1 AdvancedNot accepted for this visa for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 | Not accepted |
Scores are for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, when Home Affairs changed its approved English tests. Tests delivered entirely online or at home, including IELTS Online, are not accepted. Confirm the current table on the Home Affairs 485 page before you book.
Official source: Department of Home Affairs
485 visa English requirement for Hong Kong and BNO passport holders
Holders of a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport have a lower English requirement for the 485 visa. The test must still be taken in the 12 months before you apply.
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 33 | 36 | 29 | 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| OET | 1210 | 220 | 240 | 200 | 270 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 41 | 44 | 45 | 54 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 53 | 49 | 47 | 45 | 38 |
Scores are for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Source: Department of Home Affairs.
485 visa English requirement - common questions
What IELTS score do I need for a 485 visa?
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are both accepted. The test must have been taken in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply.
What are the 485 visa English requirements for PTE?
PTE Academic 55 overall, with at least 40 in Listening, 42 in Reading, 41 in Writing and 39 in Speaking, for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. The component minimums are different from each other, so check all four against your score report rather than assuming one number.
How old can my English test be for the 485 visa?
No more than 12 months. Home Affairs requires the result to come from a test taken in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply. An IELTS Test Report Form says it is valid for two years, but that is not the rule this visa uses, and it is the most common reason a test that looks valid is refused.
Can I use an IELTS One Skill Retake for the 485 visa?
Yes. Home Affairs accepts IELTS results that include a One Skill Retake for the Temporary Graduate visa, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. The retake must be completed before you lodge your application.
Does the 485 visa accept IELTS General Training?
Yes. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Home Affairs table lists IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training separately with the same minimums: 6.5 overall and 5.5 in each section. IELTS Online, which is taken at home, is not accepted.
Who is exempt from the 485 visa English test?
Citizens who hold a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland meet the requirement with the passport alone. Everyone else needs a test result, including graduates who studied in English in Australia.
Is the English requirement the same for both 485 streams?
Yes. The Post-Higher Education Work stream and the Post-Vocational Education Work stream publish the same minimum scores: IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each section, or the equivalent on the other accepted tests.
Can I use a test taken before 7 August 2025 for the 485 visa?
Not for a new application. Home Affairs still publishes the older score table, but the 485 visa needs a test taken in the 12 months before you apply, so a test sat on or before 6 August 2025 is now too old. Book a test under the current table.
What is the 485 visa English requirement for Hong Kong passport holders?
Lower than the standard one. Holders of a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport need IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.0 in each section, or PTE Academic 47 overall with at least 33 in Listening, 36 in Reading, 29 in Writing and 24 in Speaking.
How can I check that I will score 6.5 before I book?
Take a free full-length IELTS practice test on this site to get an AI-graded band for each section, then compare each one against the 5.5 minimum and the average against 6.5. Because the test must be less than 12 months old when you apply, it pays to know you are ready before you spend the test fee.