English language test requirements for the subclass 482 visa: LIN 25/082

The Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) Instrument 2025 was signed on 8 September 2025 by the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, under subclauses 482.222(1) and 482.232(1) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994. It commenced on 13 September 2025 (section 2) and repealed the Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024, LIN 24/099 (Schedule 1). The current text is Compilation No. 0, the instrument as made.

The explanatory statement describes its purpose as specifying the approved tests, required scores, test period and exempt applicants for the Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams, following the Department’s Request for Expression of Interest process that commenced in July 2022. It records that consultation feedback acknowledged the positive impact for test takers by introducing more test providers, increasing competition and ensuring more available options.

Approved tests and minimum scores

Section 6(3) approves eight tests: CELPIP General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. Section 6(4) sets a minimum score for each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, with no overall score.

Section 6(4) – required test scores

Test	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
CELPIP General	5	5	5	5
IELTS Academic	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
IELTS General Training	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
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

Under section 6(2)(b), the scores can come from one sitting on the test day or, where the applicant re-sat a component on a later day, from the test day and the re-sit day together. The explanatory statement links this to the Single Skill Retake pathway offered by certain test providers. Under section 6(2)(c) the test day must be within the 3 years before the day the applicant provided the evidence.

Exempt applicants

The definition of exempt applicant in section 4 covers:

• a citizen holding a valid passport issued by Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
• an applicant who has completed at least 5 years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution where instruction was in English;
• an applicant nominated by a standard business sponsor for an occupation performed at a diplomatic or consular mission of another country, or at an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan in Australia;
• an applicant holding a licence, registration or membership required for the nominated occupation, where its grant required English at least equivalent to the required test scores; and
• an applicant employed by a company operating an established business overseas, nominated by that company or an associated entity as standard business sponsor, with annual earnings of at least AUD 96,400.

For higher education, section 4 defines full-time study as at least 3 subjects in each semester or trimester.

Tests taken before 13 September 2025

Section 7 accepts five older tests for an application made on or after 13 September 2025, where the test was taken before that day, within 3 years before the application, and the scores were achieved in a single attempt.

Section 7(2) – tests undertaken before 13 September 2025

Test	Required scores
IELTS	Overall 5.0; 5.0 in each component
OET	B in each component
TOEFL iBT	Overall 35; listening and reading 4; speaking and writing 14
PTE Academic	Overall 36; 36 in each component
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)	Overall 154; 154 in each component

Which applications it applies to

Section 8 applies the instrument to a visa application made on or after its commencement on 13 September 2025.