What ETS says about TOEFL validity
ETS's score guide says TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date and that ETS will not report or send scores after two years. Scores appear in your ETS account three days after the test.
Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a 1–6 scale in half-point steps. For a two-year transition period, ETS also shows a comparable overall score on the 0–120 scale. The validity period itself did not change; see the 2026 TOEFL scale change.
How old can your TOEFL result be? By organisation
Each row was read on the organisation's own page on 6 October 2026. Where a body does not accept TOEFL at all, the row says so.
| Organisation / purpose | Maximum age of TOEFL result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Home Affairs: skilled visas (TOEFL iBT) | Achieved in the 3 years before the visa application, depending on the subclass; must be registered under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Australia Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) | Within 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level), or before the decision if requested (Streamlined Evidence level) | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Immigration New Zealand: skilled residence visas (TOEFL iBT) | No more than 2 years old when you apply; sat in person at a test centre | immigration.govt.nz |
| Ahpra (Australian health practitioner registration, TOEFL iBT) | 2 years before you lodge the registration application; older results only in listed cases of continuous practice or study in English | ahpra.gov.au |
| UK Visas and Immigration | Not accepted: TOEFL is not on the list of approved Secure English Language Tests | gov.uk |
| IRCC Canada: Express Entry and PGWP | Not accepted: the English tests listed are CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core | canada.ca |
| Imperial College London (admission) | Taken within 2 years of the intended course start date; Home Edition accepted, MyBest scores not | imperial.ac.uk |
| McMaster University, Canada (undergraduate admission) | Valid for 2 years; Home Edition accepted, TOEFL Essentials and MyBest not | future.mcmaster.ca |
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Home Affairs says that for a TOEFL iBT result to be valid for Australian visa purposes you must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when you register, and its Competent English page says results not registered under this pathway are not eligible. Home Affairs does not accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition or any other test delivered completely online.
Older results still count for a while: a TOEFL iBT from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa, per Home Affairs.
UK and Canada: a different test is needed
For a UK visa, the approved Secure English Language Tests come from the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson, PSI Services and Trinity College London, per gov.uk. A UK university may still accept TOEFL for admission, as Imperial does, but that is an admission decision, not a visa one.
For Canadian permanent residence and the PGWP, IRCC lists CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core in English. If you hold a TOEFL score, BandLadder's TOEFL to IELTS converter gives a rough idea of the IELTS band to aim for.
Frequently asked questions
How long are TOEFL scores valid?+
ETS says TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date. After two years ETS will not report or send them.
Is TOEFL valid for 3 years in Australia?+
For most skilled visas, Home Affairs accepts a TOEFL iBT score achieved in the three years before the application, depending on the subclass, if you registered under 'Taking TOEFL for Australia'. The Student visa uses two years.
Is TOEFL accepted for a UK visa?+
No. TOEFL is not on UK Visas and Immigration's list of approved Secure English Language Tests.
Can I use TOEFL for Canada PR?+
No. IRCC's approved English tests for Express Entry are CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core.
Did the 2026 TOEFL scale change affect validity?+
No. Scores are still valid for two years. Universities such as Imperial judge tests taken before 21 January 2026 on the old requirement while they are within two years.
Keep reading
Related
- How long is IELTS valid?
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
- TOEFL new score scale 2026
- English test score comparison
- 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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