Understanding The English Language Requirements for Australia’s 485 Visa 

You’ve finished your Australian qualification, your employer wants you to start ASAP… then you realise your English test is out of date (or you booked the wrong test type). At Stepping Stones Career Solutions, this is one of the most common “last-minute” issues we fix for 485 applicants.

To meet the 485 visa English requirements, you usually need an approved English test result within 12 months of lodging your application (unless you’re exempt due to an eligible passport). From 7 August 2025, the Department updated the approved tests and the score table for the Temporary Graduate visa. 

For IELTS, the requirement is typically 6.5 average with 5.5 in each band. For PTE, it’s overall 55 with minimum component scores. Choose the test that suits your strengths, book a secure test centre (online-at-home tests aren’t accepted), and plan your test date so it stays valid when you apply.

 

What is the English Requirement for a 485 Visa?

The English requirement for 485 visa is your proof that you can function in English at a level set by Australian migration law for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). In plain terms: you must show an accepted test score (or be exempt), and the result must be recent enough at the time you lodge.

This matters because the 485 is often the “bridge” between study and skilled work. If your English evidence is missing, expired, or doesn’t meet the component minimums, you risk delays or refusal.

 

The Current 485 Visa English Requirements 

Your test must be recent  

For subclass 485, the instrument currently requires that you achieve the required score within 1 year before the day you apply.

Approved tests for the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 English Requirement

The current instrument lists these tests for the 485 (post–7 August 2025):

• IELTS Academic
• IELTS General Training
• PTE Academic
• TOEFL iBT
• OET
• CELPIP General
• LANGUAGECERT Academic
• MET

Online-at-home tests are not accepted

Home Affairs does not accept English tests delivered completely online (remote-proctored / at-home). Book a secure test centre. 

Passport Exemptions 

If you hold a valid passport issued to a citizen of Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, UK, or USA, English test requirements do not apply under the instrument.

 

Minimum Scores for the 485 Post Study Work Visa English Requirements 

Below are the standard minimums for most applicants under the current table.

Test	Overall requirement	Minimum in each skill
IELTS Academic / General	Average 6.5	5.5 each
PTE Academic	Overall 55	L 40 / R 42 / W 41 / S 39
TOEFL iBT	Total 81	L 12 / R 12 / W 14 / S 17
OET	Total 1310	L 260 / R 280 / W 260 / S 310
CELPIP General	Overall 8	6 each
LANGUAGECERT Academic	Overall 67	L 49 / R 54 / W 56 / S 62
MET	Overall 58	L 53 / R 51 / W 51 / S 43

 

Special scoring for Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders

A separate scoring exists for eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders with lower minimums in the instrument.

Score highlights:

• IELTS: average 6.0 and 5.0 each
• PTE: overall 47 with component minimums
• TOEFL iBT: total 67 with component minimums

 

485 Visa PTE English Requirements 

If you’re targeting 485 visa english requirements via PTE, the current requirement (tests after 7 Aug 2025) is:

• PTE overall 55
• Listening 40, Reading 42, Writing 41, Speaking 39

What we see at Stepping Stones Career Solutions: PTE is popular because results are often released quickly and the format suits candidates who perform well in computer-based testing. Still, many applicants miss by 1–2 points in a single component (often Reading or Writing), so plan time for a re-sit inside your lodgement window.

 

485 Visa IELTS English Requirement  

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are both accepted for subclass 485.

For visa 485 english requirement ielts (tests after 7 Aug 2025):

• Average band 6.5
• At least 5.5 in each component

 

If you took your English Test Before 7 August 2025

There are transitional provisions for tests taken before the instrument commenced, but the score must still be achieved within 1 year before you apply (and usually in a single sitting, except OET).

• IELTS: overall 6.5 and 5.5 each
• PTE: overall 57 with component minimums
• TOEFL iBT: total 83 with component minimums
• CAE: overall 176 with component minimums

Common Mistakes That Trip Up 485 Applications

1. Test too old on lodgement day (even if it was valid when you booked your documents).
2. Online-at-home test results submitted instead of secure-centre results. 
3. Missing component minimums (overall looks fine, one skill is under the required mark).
4. Assuming IELTS is mandatory (it’s common, not compulsory).
5. Leaving English evidence until the last week, then having no buffer for a re-sit.

 

A Practical Timeline to Plan Your English Test  

At Stepping Stones Career Solutions, we often use this planning approach:

• 8–10 weeks before planned lodgement: pick your test and book a date
• 6–8 weeks before lodgement: sit the test (gives time for a re-sit)
• 4–6 weeks before lodgement: start compiling evidence (completion letter, insurance, identity docs)
• 1–2 weeks before lodgement: final check that your test date stays inside the 12-month window on the day you apply

 

Need Help Confirming Your 485 English Evidence?

If you’re unsure which test suits you, or your scores are close to the minimum, Stepping Stones Career Solutions can help you out with your queries and visa filing.

 

FAQs on 485 Visa English Requirements