For most applicants, 186 Visa English Requirements come down to two levels: Competent English for the main applicant and Functional English for any partner or adult family member (18+) included in the application (or a second instalment charge is payable if Functional English can’t be shown). Competent English can be shown via an eligible passport or a test result from the last 3 years. Functional English can be shown via passport, education, or a recent test result (generally within 12 months). If you’re using PTE, note that PTE score settings changed from 7 August 2025 for visa purposes.
Why English proof matters for Subclass 186
Subclass 186 is a permanent visa, so the Department expects clear evidence you meet the English level tied to your role in the application (main applicant vs. partner/adult dependent). The Department also sets rules about test providers, secure test centres, and banned at-home test formats.
This is why we treat 186 Visa English Requirements as a “must lock in early” item—especially if your employer is ready to nominate and you’re trying to keep timelines tight.
186 Visa English Requirements by Applicant Type
Here’s the practical breakdown we use at Stepping Stones Career Solutions:
Main applicant
Most main applicants must show Competent English. Competent English can be shown by:
- Holding a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, UK, or USA, or
- Providing an approved English test result meeting Competent English scores (test taken within 3 years before the visa application, subject to visa rules).
Partner or adult family members aged 18+
This is where many people miss a detail: 186 Visa secondary applicant english requirements are usually Functional English for applicants aged 18+. Functional English can be shown through:
- An eligible passport, or
- Certain English-medium education, or
- A recent test score meeting Functional English settings.
If Functional English can’t be shown, the Department may request the second instalment before grant.
Children under 18
Children under 18 are not assessed the same way for Functional English. The usual pain point is adult dependents or partners aged 18+.
Competent English for Subclass 186
Competent English is the standard most Subclass 186 main applicants need. The Department confirms:
- Competent English can be shown by eligible passport or test scores (meeting the table for your test date), and
- The test score must be from the 3 years before the visa application (timing can depend on the visa subclass).
Tests accepted for Competent English
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Department accepts several approved tests taken at a secure test centre, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and others.
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Also Read: The Essential Guide to 186 Visa Requirements and Eligibility |
186 Visa English Requirements via PTE
PTE for Competent English
If your PTE Academic test was taken on or after 7 August 2025, Competent English requires at least:
- Listening 47
- Reading 48
- Writing 51
- Speaking 54
If your PTE was taken on or before 6 August 2025, Competent English used the earlier settings of 50 in each component, and older results may remain usable within the Department’s validity rules (check timing carefully).
Common PTE traps we see
From our casework at Stepping Stones Career Solutions, these are repeat issues:
- Applicants used score charts from before 7 August 2025 but gave the test after on or after 7th August 2025 for visa purposes. For example before 7th August 50 each works, but on or after 7th August you need 51 in writing and 54 in speaking, this can lead to confusion and lodging the visa files without scoring proper points.
- Taking an at-home test version (not accepted).
- Sitting the right test but missing the 3-year timing window for Competent English evidence.
186 Visa English Requirements for Partner and Adult Dependants
This is where many ENS applications get an unexpected request later in processing.
Functional English basics
Functional English can be shown by:
- Eligible passport (Canada, NZ, Ireland, UK, USA), or
- Certain English-medium education (rules include study time and institution type), or
- Approved test scores (usually within 12 months before the visa application, subject to subclass settings).
Functional English test settings (including PTE)
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Functional English includes:
- IELTS Academic or General Training: average band 4.5
- PTE Academic: overall band 24
The Department also spells out that fully online test formats (at-home) are not accepted.
The Second Instalment Charge Tied to Functional English
If an applicant aged 18+ included in the visa application can’t show Functional English, the Department can request a second instalment before grant.
- The Department’s current pricing material states a second instalment of AUD 4,890 applies for an applicant who is 18+ at time of application and assessed as not having Functional English.
- The ENS 186 stream pages also reference AUD 4,890 for family members in this context.
For many families, paying for a Functional English test attempt is far cheaper than the second installment—so it’s often worth planning this early.
186 TRT Visa English Requirements
People moving from an employer sponsored temporary visa often ask about 186 TRT Visa English Requirements.
The TRT stream still points back to the same Competent English standard for the main applicant, with Home Affairs noting stream-specific settings and changes over time.
In practice: prepare to show Competent English the same way—eligible passport or a compliant test result within the Department’s timing rules.
186 DAMA Visa English Requirements
For the Subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream, Home Affairs states you must meet the age, skills, and English language requirements under the labour agreement.
That means English can vary by agreement. Some agreements allow concessions; some don’t. This is one of the first things we check when someone approaches Stepping Stones Career Solutions for a DAMA-linked PR plan.
How to Handle English Proof Cleanly
Here’s the approach that reduces back-and-forth with the Department:
- Confirm who needs which level
Main applicant: Competent English. Partner/adult dependents: Functional English. - Pick the right test and sit it at a secure test centre
The Department is clear the test must be undertaken at a secure test centre, and at-home formats are not accepted. - Match your scores to the correct date rules
Score tables changed from 7 August 2025, and older charts can be wrong now. - Watch timing windows
Competent English evidence is tied to a 3-year window; Functional English commonly uses 12 months (subject to subclass rules).
If you want, Stepping Stones Career Solutions can check your English evidence against your stream before you lodge—so you don’t get surprised late in processing.
Scenario from the kind of cases we see
A candidate on an employer sponsored temporary visa is nominated for ENS TRT. They assume their partner’s English doesn’t matter because the main applicant already meets Competent English. Later, the Department requests proof of the partner’s Functional English or triggers the second instalment request before grant.
Planning ahead—getting the partner to sit a Functional English test early or using eligible passport/education evidence—often prevents that last-minute cost and delay.
Ready for a professional check?
If you’re unsure about 186 Visa English Requirements, or you want someone to confirm your PTE score report is assessed under the correct post-7 August 2025 table, Stepping Stones Career Solutions can review your stream settings and family composition and flag risks early.
FAQs on 186 Visa English Requirements
In most cases, the main applicant must show Competent English via an eligible passport or approved test scores from the last 3 years (subject to subclass settings).
For PTE Academic taken on or after 7 August 2025, Competent English requires 47/48/51/54 across Listening/Reading/Writing/Speaking.
Partners and adult dependents aged 18+ usually need Functional English evidence, or a second instalment can be requested before grant.
Partners aged 18+ are typically assessed for Functional English (passport, education, or test).
Points-tested skilled visas generally require at least Competent English. Home Affairs notes you may need an English test, and a valid passport from Canada, Ireland, NZ, UK or USA is accepted as evidence of Competent English.
If you only need Competent English, use the Competent English table for your test date (post-7 August 2025 PTE settings differ from older settings).
For points, the 189 points table awards 10 points for Proficient and 20 for Superior English.
PTE Academic (on/after 7 August 2025) settings include:
- Proficient: 58/59/69/76
- Superior: 69/70/85/88
For Competent (and higher) English evidence, Home Affairs states test scores must be achieved in the 3 years before the visa application (timing depends on subclass).
Functional English uses a shorter timing rule in many cases (commonly 12 months).
Yes. Home Affairs accepts several approved tests and also accepts eligible passports as evidence for Competent English.
The Department states it does not accept tests delivered completely online (remote-proctored/at-home), and gives examples like IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
For the Subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream (often used in DAMA pathways), you must meet the English requirement set under the relevant labour agreement.
