Covid-19 and at home language tests
Some test providers offer alternative versions of their tests that you can take at home or online, such as TOEFL iBT – Special Home Edition, OET@Home and IELTS Indicator. Home Affairs does not accept any ’at-home’ or ‘online’ test for Australian migration purposes.
Tests accepted by the Department are listed in the table below. If you have questions about a particular test, you must contact the test provider.
What to provide
To prove you have competent English, provide evidence:
- that you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom*, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, with your application. *British National (Overseas) passports are not acceptable as evidence of competent English.
or
- you have an obtained one of the following English language test results:
Specified test results
When to provide proof
When you must have taken your test and how long the test result is valid
| Subclass | Applicant | When to provide |
Validity |
|---|
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Main/primary | By time of application | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of application |
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
| Main/primary | By time of application | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of application |
| Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) subclass 188) (Entrepreneur stream) | Main/primary
| By time of invitation | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189)(Points tested stream) | Main/primary
| By time of invitation | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | Main/primary
| By time of invitation | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation |
| Skilled Regional (provisional) (subclass 489)(first provisional stream) | Main/primary
| By time of invitation | Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation
|
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) (subclass 491)
| Main/primary
| By time of invitation
| Test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of invitation
|
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494)
| Main/Primary
| By time of application
| The test cannot have been undertaken more than 3 years before the date of application
|
For the subclasses 189, 190, 489 and 491 if you are claiming partner points then your partner must also have Competent English at time of invitation.
