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At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-tested stream
This visa lets invited workers with skills Australia need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
Covid-19 and at home language tests
Some testing centres are providing versions of their tests that you can take at home, such as TOEFL iBT – Special Home Edition, OET@Home and IELTS Indicator. The Department of Home Affairs does not currently accept these tests.
See the tests they do accept in the tables below.
At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English.
Points attributed toward EOI:
Competent English/ IELTS Band 6 = 0 points toward EOI
Proficient English/ IELTS Band 7 = 10 points toward EOI
Superior English/ IELTS Band 8 = 20 points toward EOI
What to provide
To prove that you have competent English, you must provide evidence that either:
| Test | Required score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training) | At least 6 for each of the 4 components |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | At least 50 for each of the 4 components |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 components |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | At least 169 in each of the 4 components |
To prove that you have Proficient English, you must provide evidence that in the 3 years before the Department invites you to apply for the visa, you have scored one of the following:
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training) | At least 7 for each of the 4 test components |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | At least 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | At least 65 for each of the 4 test components |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 test components |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | At least 185 in each of the 4 test components |
To prove that you have Superior English, you must provide evidence that in the 3 years before the Department invites you to apply for the visa, you have scored one of the following:
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training) | At least 8 for each of the 4 test components |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) | At least 28 for listening, 29 for reading, 30 for writing and 26 for speaking |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | At least 79 for each of the 4 test components |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least A for each of the 4 test components |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | At least 200 in each of the 4 test components |
*Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation.
*If you are claiming partner points then your partner must also have at least Competent English at time of invitation.
As an Active member of the Australian Immigration Bulletin, you are entitled to gain FREE access to the comprehensive IELTS Express learning platform provided by Career Wise English School. This course is designed to help you pass the IELTS test on the first go, preparing you for all the components tested (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
You can set up your free ‘IELTS Express’ account here.
You can manage your membership and billing method by clicking here
Terms of Service
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Copyright © 2025 Office of Immigration Australia, a private company registered in Australia. All Rights Reserved.