Four ways to prove Functional English
The Functional English page accepts any one of these: you are a citizen holding a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States; you completed a degree, higher degree, diploma or trade certificate that needed at least 2 years of full-time study or training, with all instruction in English; you completed one of the study patterns below; or you reached one of the test scores in the 12 months before your visa application.
Study patterns that count: all years of primary and at least 3 years of secondary education where all instruction was in English; at least 5 years of secondary education in English; or at least 1 year of full-time study (or the part-time equivalent) in Australia, in English, towards a degree, higher degree, diploma or associate diploma.
Functional English test scores (tests from 7 August 2025)
These are overall or average scores, not per-skill minimums. Cambridge C1 Advanced is not listed for tests from this date. For TOEFL iBT, select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when you register.
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | Average band of at least 4.5 |
| PTE Academic | Overall at least 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | Total at least 26 |
| OET | Overall at least 1020 |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall at least 38 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | Overall at least 38 |
| CELPIP General | Overall at least 5 |
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For tests on or before 6 August 2025, the old table was IELTS average 4.5, PTE Academic total 30, TOEFL iBT total 32 and Cambridge C1 Advanced total 147. Home Affairs says those results could be used until 6 August 2026, inclusive, depending on the visa. That date has passed, so a Functional English test result now has to come from a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, within 12 months of the application.
The legal detail sits in the Migration (Evidence of Functional English Language Proficiency) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/014), listed on the English language requirements page.
The second instalment (VAC2) for family members
On the skilled visa pages we read, every family member aged 18 or over who applies with you must have functional English, or you pay a second instalment of the visa application charge when Home Affairs asks, which it does only if it is going to grant the visa. The amounts listed: AUD4,885 on the 189 and 190 pages, and AUD4,890 on the 491 and 186 Direct Entry pages. Dependants under 18 do not need to prove functional English.
Home Affairs uses Functional English on other visas too; each visa's own page says whether it applies and what the charge is.
Home Affairs changes these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the Home Affairs Functional English page before you book a test or lodge an application. This guide restates the department's pages; it is not migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score is Functional English?+
An average band score of at least 4.5 across the four skills, Academic or General Training, taken in the 12 months before the visa application.
Is PTE accepted for Functional English?+
Yes. PTE Academic needs an overall score of at least 24 for tests from 7 August 2025.
How long is a Functional English result valid?+
The test must be taken in the 12 months before the visa application.
Is a passport holder from the UK exempt?+
A citizen holding a valid UK, Irish, US, Canadian or New Zealand passport meets Functional English without a test.
How much is the second instalment if my partner lacks Functional English?+
AUD4,885 on the 189 and 190 visa pages and AUD4,890 on the 491 and 186 pages, charged only if the visa is going to be granted.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the 189, 190 and 491 visas
- IELTS for the 186 visa
- PTE for Australia
- IELTS score calculator
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 30 September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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