Subclass 407 Training Visa Australia English Requirement – IELTS, PTE & More

Many applicants still search old score tables for the Subclass 407 visa. That is risky now, because the training visa 407 English Requirement has changed. The current requirement is functional English, not the old version that most blogs seem to quote from. This is usually IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and an overall band score of no lower than 4.5, or PTE Academic and a score of no lower than 24 if sat on or after 7 th August 2025. New Online English tests are not accepted. The Test date is important as Test scores from before this date will have a different score table.

 

Quick answer

Item	Current rule for Subclass 407
English standard	Functional English
IELTS Academic	Average band score of at least 4.5
IELTS General Training	Average band score of at least 4.5
PTE Academic	Overall score of at least 24 for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
Older PTE result	Total score of at least 30 for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025
Online tests	Not accepted if delivered completely online or at home
Timing	Approved test scores must generally be from the 12 months before the visa application

Just a quick check-the current 407 visa english requirement is competent english. If you are using IELTS the usual target is 4.5 average. If you are using PTE and sat the test on/after 7 August 2025 the usual target is 24 overall.

 

What Is Australia‘s 407 Visa English Requirement?

The 407 visa English requirement presently is functional English. The Subclass 407 visa entry on 10 March 20126, the English requirement has become much clearer for new applying 407 visa applicants. For 407 visas a sponsor and nomination are required for the applicant before they can apply. This makes early planning increasingly crucial.

That change matters because a 407 application is not just about booking an English test. Your sponsor, nomination, training plan, and English evidence all need to line up before lodgement. At Stepping Stones Career Solutions, this is usually where applicants save time: checking the visa criteria as one complete file, not as separate tasks. 

 

407 Visa IELTS Requirements

The current 407 visa ielts requirements are straightforward. For Subclass 407 functional English, the department accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, and the score needed is an average band score of at least 4.5. That means you do not need a high academic-style result just to meet the English threshold for this visa. 

 

IELTS score table for Subclass 407

IELTS test type	Minimum score for functional English	Works for Subclass 407?
IELTS Academic	Average band score of at least 4.5	Yes
IELTS General Training	Average band score of at least 4.5	Yes

Both IELTS options can be accepted for functional English at the same minimum average score. 

A lot of applicants assume the 407 Visa Australia IELTS Requirement is stricter for Academic than General Training. It is not, at least for the functional-English threshold. The key issue is not Academic versus General. The key issue is making sure the result is valid for visa purposes and still within the accepted time window when you apply. 

The department also accepts One Skill Retake in IELTS for Eligible Visas. That‘s good, but don‘t take it for granted. Make sure you look up the current Subclass 407 visa entry and that your particular result setting is valid for that visa prior to lodging. 

 

407 Visa English Requirement PTE

The current 407 visa English requirement pte score depends on your test date. The functional-English requirement for PTE Academic taken on or after 7 August 2015 is an overall score of at least 24.

That date is important as the department considers different score tables for PTE results determined before and after that date. If your PTE Academic test was taken on or before 6 August 2025, the older Functional English table applies, with the score must be a total band score of at least 30.

PTE score for Subclass 407 Visa

PTE Academic test date	Score needed for functional English
On or after 7 August 2025	Overall score of at least 24
On or before 6 August 2025	Total band score of at least 30

This is one of the simplest mistakes to be made in a 407 file, and is much more common where a customer has used an old blog site or test-prep website as opposed to the current visa requirements.

 

Accepted English Tests for the Training Visa 407 English Requirement

If you do not wish to use IELTS there are other approved means of satisfying the training visa 407 English Requirement.

Accepted evidence type	Current functional-English setting
IELTS Academic	Average band score of at least 4.5
IELTS General Training	Average band score of at least 4.5
PTE Academic	Overall score of at least 24 for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
TOEFL iBT	Total score of at least 26
CELPIP General	Overall band score of at least 5
MET	Overall band score of at least 38
LANGUAGECERT Academic	Overall band score of at least 38
OET	Overall band score of at least 1020
Cambridge C1 Advanced	Older test-date pathway only, subject to the older table and validity rules

These are the approved functional-English options the department currently recognises, with the older Cambridge C1 Advanced path sitting under the pre-7 August 2025 table. For TOEFL iBT, the registration must be set up under “Taking TOEFL for Australia” or the result may not be accepted for visa purposes. OET is a health-professions test, so it is more relevant in those settings. 

 

Accomplish the IELTS requirement for Australia 407 Visa without doing IELTS?

Yes. You are able to fulfill the 407 visa australia ielts requirement without IELTS with an alternative accepted test of English or alternative approved “functional-english” proof. For example a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States, or sometimes study in an English-medium institution. 

Here is the easiest way to think about it:

Pathway	Can it meet functional English for 407?
IELTS	Yes
PTE Academic	Yes
TOEFL iBT	Yes
CELPIP General	Yes
MET	Yes
LANGUAGECERT Academic	Yes
OET	Yes, where relevant
Passport from approved English-speaking country	Yes
Qualifying English-medium study	Yes, if it fits the department’s rules

Which is the right choice will vary depending on your situation. In some cases, no new IELTS or PTE booking is necessary; the passport or study records fulfill the requirement for functional English.

 

English Test Mistakes That Can Delay a 407 Visa Application

A clean English result can still cause trouble if it is used the wrong way. These are the problems we watch for most often at Stepping Stones Career Solutions.

Using an at-home or remote-proctored test

No, online versions of English tests are accepted by the Department, be it IELTSOnline, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, OET@Home, CELPIPOnline, MET Digital at home or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

Mixing up the old and new score tables

The English test settings changed on 7 August 2025. If you took a test before that date, your result may still be valid for visa purposes for a limited period, but the old score table may apply. This is a major issue for PTE and Cambridge C1 Advanced results. 

Thinking should have different functional-English scores for IELTS Academic and IELTS General

In the current 407 functional-English context, both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training can be accepted at an average band score of not less than 4.5.

Booking too early and letting the result age out

The department says functional-English test scores must generally be achieved in the 12 months before your visa application. If your sponsor and nomination are not ready, an early test booking can become a timing problem instead of a benefit. 

Lodging before the sponsor and nomination are approved

From 11 March 2026, 407 applicants will require an approved sponsor and nomination prior to application and any applications submitted through department systems after 11 March 2026 will not be valid until the approvals are in place. 

 

Are You Qualified for a 407 Visa?

The 407 visa is a temporary visa for people who want to participate in workplace based occupational training in Australia. Can be for training to enhance your skills in your current employment, area of previous study or area of expertise. The official 407 material also shows there are three occupational training types under this visa: training required for registration, training to improve skills in an eligible occupation, and training for capacity building overseas. 

In practical terms, a strong 407 case usually has these core parts in place:

Core item	What it means for the applicant
Occupational training purpose	The training must fit one of the recognised 407 training types
Sponsor	The sponsor must be approved in the temporary activities sponsorship system
Nomination	The sponsor must have an approved 407 nomination before the visa application is lodged
English	The applicant must meet functional English
General visa criteria	Health, character, and other standard checks still apply

This is why a Subclass 407 file needs more than a test score. The visa is built around a real training arrangement, backed by sponsorship and nomination, with English sitting inside that bigger structure. 

 

What duration is the 407 Australia Visa?

The Subclass 407 visa may provide an Australian stay of up to 2 years. This depends on the approved training program and the specifics of the case. 

 

Is it possible to obtain PR after the 407 visa?

The 407 is a temporary training visa so there is no PR built into the actual visa itself. If there is a later PR step (as is often the case) then this would normally involve moving to a different visa subclass. A 407 can still be useful because it gives structured Australian training experience, but it should not be treated as an automatic PR route. 

 

How Stepping Stones Career Solutions Can Help With Your Subclass 407 Visa

At Stepping Stones Career Solutions, a strong 407 file usually starts with four checks:

What we review	Why it matters
English requirement check	To confirm your IELTS, PTE, passport, or study evidence fits the current functional-English rules
Sponsor and nomination review	To make sure the application is not lodged before the required approvals are in place
Document planning	To line up training documents, identity records, and supporting evidence in the right order
Application readiness review	To catch timing gaps, invalid test formats, and weak supporting material before lodgement

This kind of review is especially helpful for applicants using older PTE results, applicants relying on non-IELTS evidence, and sponsors who are preparing a 407 nomination for the first time. Need help checking your 407 visa English evidence before you apply? Book a consultation with Stepping Stones Career Solutions.

 

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