Australia | Changes to English language test requirement for certain visas

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs announced that more English Language Tests (ELTs) are now accepted for Australian visa purposes and that ELT requirements will be updated for the Skills in Demand (SID) visa.

Key Points:

• Nine ELTs are accepted for Australian visa purposes as of Aug. 7, 2025, an increase from the five tests previously accepted. In addition, three more tests will be available to meet SID visa English requirements starting Sept. 13, 2025.
• These changes are intended to ensure consistent scoring across test providers and give more flexibility to visa applicants.
• Some existing test and scoring criteria will also change for applicants to meet SID visa English requirements on or after Sept. 13, 2025:
  • Test requirements for SID visa purposes will be aligned with the vocational level of English proficiency outlined in the Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) Instrument 2025 (LIN25/016).
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Tests will no longer be accepted for SID visa purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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