What IELTS score is required for Australia immigration?
Quick answer
It depends on the visa, because the Department of Home Affairs defines five English levels. As published on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and read on 30 September 2026, IELTS needs an average of 4.5 for functional English, and at least 5, 6, 7 and 8 in each of the four skills for vocational, competent, proficient and superior English.
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Requirements change, and the Department of Home Affairs page for your visa is the authority. What follows is the table as published on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and read on 30 September 2026.
The five levels in IELTS
The department groups English evidence into five levels. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the IELTS scores it lists are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
| Level | IELTS score required |
|---|---|
| Functional English | An average band score of at least 4.5 |
| Vocational English | At least 5 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking |
| Competent English | At least 6 in each of the four components |
| Proficient English | At least 7 in each of the four components |
| Superior English | At least 8 in each of the four components |
Functional English is the only level set as an average across the four skills. From vocational up, the lowest of your four skills decides the level.
Which level your visa needs
The five levels are the same across visas, but the visa decides which one you must show. The department says to check the eligibility page of the relevant visa subclass for the level of English and the evidence required. Read that page first, then match your result to the table above.
Test type and timing
The department accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training taken at a secure test centre. It states that it does not accept tests delivered completely online, and lists IELTS Online among the examples. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may still be used until 6 August 2028 for some visas, depending on the visa.
The timeframe for a score is set on each level’s page: the 3 years before your visa application for vocational and above, or 12 months for functional English. The department says this depends on the visa subclass.
Practical steps
Work out which level your visa needs, then check the score needed in each skill. The band score calculator can show your overall band, but for most of these levels it is the lowest single skill that decides the outcome.
What this means for your score
A visa page asks for competent English. Listening 7.0, Reading 6.5, Writing 5.5 and Speaking 6.5 is an overall band of 6.5, but Writing is below the 6 needed in each component, so the result does not meet competent English. For levels from vocational up, Home Affairs looks at every skill, not the average.
Frequently asked questions
Which IELTS versions does Australia accept for visas?
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs lists both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake for eligible visas. It does not accept tests delivered completely online, and it names IELTS Online as an example. The test must take place in a secure test centre.
Do I need the same score for every Australian visa?
No. Each visa states which level of English it requires, and the department tells applicants to check the eligibility page of the relevant visa subclass. The five levels are the same across visas, but which one applies to you, and how recent the test must be, depends on the visa you apply for.
How recent must my IELTS result be?
For vocational, competent, proficient and superior English, the pages say the score must be achieved in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass. For functional English the page says 12 months. Read the page for your visa, since the department states the timeframe depends on the subclass.
Can I meet the level without taking a test?
For functional, vocational and competent English, the department lists another route: being a citizen of, and holding a valid passport from, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States. Functional English also has education-based routes. Proficient and superior English are shown as test results only.
Sources
- English language visa requirements — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
- Functional English — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
- Vocational English — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
- Competent English — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
- Proficient English — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
- Superior English — Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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