23. Functional English
You have been guided to this page because you are required by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to prove you have functional English:
To prove you have functional English, you can provide evidence of ONE of the following four options:
Option 1
You are a citizen of, and hold a valid passport issued by, one of the following countries: Canada, New Zealand, The Republic of Ireland, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or The United States of America.
OR
Option 2
You completed a degree, a higher degree, a diploma or a trade certificate in an institution in or outside Australia that required at least 2 years of full-time study or training, and all instructions were in English.
OR
Option 3
You completed education at the institutions for the study times set out at Table 1.
OR
Option 4
You achieved one of the test scores in Table 2 or Table 3 in the 12 months before your visa application.
Table 1 – Functional English education institutions and study time
Educational institutions
A primary school and secondary school, in or outside Australia, where all instruction was in English
Study time
All years of primary and at least 3 years of secondary education
Educational institutions
A secondary school, in or outside Australia, where all instruction was in English
Study time
At least 5 years of secondary education
Educational institutions
An institution in Australia, where all instruction was in English, towards one of the following awards:
- a degree
- a higher degree
- a diploma
- an associate diploma
Study time
At least 1 year of full-time study towards an award, or The part-time equivalent of 1 year of full-time study towards an award
Table 2 – Functional English approved tests and scores taken on or after 7 August 2025
Test
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General)
Scores
An overall band score of at least 5
Test
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic)
Scores
An average band score of at least 4.5
Test
International English Language Testing System (IELTS General Training)
Scores
An average band score of at least 4.5
Test
Michigan English Test (MET)
Scores
An average band score of at least 38
Test
Occupational English Test (OET)
This test is developed for health professionals. The OET scoring format was previously alphabetical and changed to numerical on 7 August 2025.
OET does not currently provide overall test results on test score reports. However, you can get your overall OET score results by contacting OET.
Scores
An average band score of at least 1020
Test
LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic)
Scores
An average band score of at least 38
Test
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
PTE Academic has the same name as the previous version of the test that was accepted before 7 August 2025.
However, the test and scores are different.
Scores
An average band score of at least 24
Test
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
Scores
A total score of at least 26
Table 3 – Functional English approved tests and scores taken on or before 6 August 2025*
Test
Cambridge C1 Advanced Test (C1 Advanced)
Previously known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
From 12 February 2024 to 6 August 2025, the department will only accept results from the Cambridge C1 Advanced paper-based test.
The department will still accept tests taken before 12 February 2024 and within specified validity periods, for C1 Advanced paper-based and computer-based tests.
Scores
A total band score of at least 147
Test
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training)
Scores
An average band score of at least 4.5
Test
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
PTE Academic has the same name as the test available from 7 August 2025, however, the test and scores are different.
Scores
A total band score of at least 30
Test
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
From 26 July 2023 to 4 May 2024, the TOEFL iBT test was not approved for Australian visa purposes.
Scores
A total band score of at least 32
If you would like to use option 3 to prove Functional English:
Option 3 is that you completed education at the institutions for the study times set out at Table 1.
Documented proof must contain the following:
-
name and location of the institution/s
-
level of qualification/s
- official transcript from the secondary and/or tertiary institution
- number of contact hours per week in English
- number of years of study
Below is an example of the types of documents and the format that the Australian Department of Home Affairs should accept as proof of Functional English.
Please remember that the proof should cover the study times as stipulated in Table 1
