What Duolingo says about validity
Duolingo's help centre says results are valid for two years. After two years you can no longer share the result or view the certificate, and institutions can no longer view it either, so an expired score cannot be sent late.
The test is taken online with no appointment, and Duolingo says results arrive in two days and that it is trusted by 6,500+ institutions worldwide, per its test-taker page. Those are mostly universities and colleges choosing it for admission.
Who accepts the Duolingo English Test, and for how long
Each row was read on the organisation's own page on 6 October 2026. Universities set their own limit; visa bodies and regulators were checked for whether DET appears on their approved list at all.
| Organisation / purpose | Is DET accepted, and maximum age | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London (admission) | Accepted; taken within 2 years of the intended course start date | imperial.ac.uk |
| McMaster University, Canada (undergraduate admission) | Accepted; typically written within 2 years of starting, and for September 2026 entry valid when you apply | future.mcmaster.ca |
| York University, Canada (undergraduate admission) | Accepted; English proficiency tests valid for 2 years | futurestudents.yorku.ca |
| UK Visas and Immigration | Not on the list of approved Secure English Language Tests | gov.uk |
| IRCC Canada: Express Entry and PGWP | Not listed; the English tests are CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core | canada.ca |
| Australia Home Affairs (all visas) | Not on the list of approved English tests | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Immigration New Zealand: skilled residence visas | Not on the list of approved English tests | immigration.govt.nz |
| Ahpra (Australian health practitioner registration) | Not among the accepted English tests | ahpra.gov.au |
| NMC (UK nurses and midwives) | Not accepted; the NMC takes only IELTS Academic and OET | nmc.org.uk |
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →A university offer is not a visa
A university accepting your DET score answers the admission question only. If your visa needs a separate English test, it has to come from that government's own list. Australia, for example, approves tests such as IELTS, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT taken at a secure test centre, and does not accept tests delivered completely online, per Home Affairs.
So check two lists before you book: the university's page for admission, and the visa body's page for the visa. Where both apply, one test that satisfies both saves a second fee.
Planning around the two-year limit
Universities measure the two years from different moments. Imperial counts back from the intended course start date, while McMaster's September 2026 rule only needs the score to be valid when you apply. If you defer a place, a score that was fine at application can lapse before enrolment.
If you are comparing a DET score with an IELTS requirement, BandLadder's Duolingo to IELTS converter gives an approximate band, but always use the university's own published DET minimum.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Duolingo English Test score valid?+
Duolingo says results are valid for two years. After that you can no longer share the result or view the certificate.
Can a university still see my Duolingo certificate after two years?+
No. Duolingo says institutions lose the ability to view an expired certificate.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for a UK visa?+
No. It is not on UK Visas and Immigration's list of approved Secure English Language Tests.
Can I use Duolingo for Australian or Canadian immigration?+
No. It is not on Home Affairs' list of approved English tests, and IRCC lists only CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for Express Entry and the PGWP.
Do universities accept Duolingo scores older than two years?+
Not the ones checked here: Imperial wants the test within two years of the course start, and York says English tests are valid for two years.
Keep reading
Related
- How long is IELTS valid?
- Duolingo to IELTS converter
- English test score comparison
- Free IELTS mock test
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 6 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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