What IELTS score do you need for the Australian Work and Holiday visa (462)?

Home Affairs: "You must have undertaken your English language test or assessment within 12 months of submitting your application." It adds that a result of functional or higher cannot be accepted if the test is older than 12 months at the time of application (Home Affairs). This is shorter than the validity period many people expect from IELTS, so time your test.

Other ways to show functional English on this visa include a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland; an Israeli passport with the English Bagrut exam at 3 study units; or study at an institution where all instruction was in English for the periods Home Affairs sets.

You must be 18 to 30 (inclusive), hold a passport from an eligible country, apply from outside Australia, apply on your own and not be accompanied by dependent children. China, India and Vietnam passport holders must be selected in a pre-application ballot. The page also sets country-specific education requirements, and some countries need a government letter of support (Home Affairs).

The first visa lasts 12 months and costs AUD840. You can study for up to 4 months. Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current requirement on the Home Affairs 462 page before you book a test or apply. This guide restates the official page; it is not legal or immigration advice.