Minimum IELTS score to work in Australia and get PR in 2023

With its vibrant culture, beautiful landscape, and strong economy, Australia is a popular destination for those looking to work and study there. It’s no wonder that gaining permanent residency is a goal sought by many graduating students and professionals all across the world.

To work and permanently settle in Australia, you’ll need to prove that you can meet a minimum language standard for day-to-day conversations, be it ordering a flat white or talking to your colleagues.

Taking the IELTS test with IDP is an excellent way to meet the Australian language requirement. IELTS is the preferred test for migration to Australia accepted by almost all professional entities, and is integrated into the point-based immigration system.

To obtain a visa for Australian permanent residency, you can take either the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. However, you need IELTS Academic for professional registration and work in Australia.

Getting Australia permanent residency

There are three main pathways of work-based immigration to Australia, namely employer-sponsored workers, general skilled migration, and skill select.

To become an Australian Permanent Resident under the General Skilled Migration Program, there are 7 visa subclasses, all of which use a point-based immigration system.

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

• Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190)

• Graduate Temporary visa (subclass 485)

• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)

• Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)

• Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

There are several criteria in the point-based immigration system you must be aware of:

• Age

• English language proficiency

• Work experience (in and out of Australia)

• Level of education

• Study in Australia

• Specialist education

• Spouse skill points

• Other (nominations, community language accreditation, etc.)

To successfully gain a visa through the skilled migration program, you need a minimum of 65 points in the Point Assessment Grid.

You can calculate your points using the official calculator from the Australian government’s department of home affairs.

IELTS is one of the critical components in the system. While a minimum score of 6 in each area (Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing) is required, a higher score will gain you more points.

There are three bands of IELTS scores (competent, proficient and superior) which correspond to the number of points allocated.

Point allocation table for IELTS scores

It is important to note that most undergraduate or postgraduate courses already require you to attain an overall band score of 6 or 6.5 for your IELTS test.

While IELTS remains the preferred test, other language tests such as TOEFL iBT, CTE, PTE Academic and OET are also accepted by DIBP. OET is only approved for medical and allied health professionals.

Score requirements for Australian PR language tests

Here are the different score requirements for the various language tests for permanent residency in Australia.

IELTS requirements for visas to work and attain Australian PR in 2023

1. Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

This visa allows workers with key skills to work and stay in Australia. You will be subjected to a skills assessment that will check if you meet the standards set to work in a relevant occupation such as a hospitality manager, actuary or engineer.

You will have to score at least 65 points on the point-based immigration system as well as attain a level of competent English.

This will mean a minimum of 6.0 for your overall IELTS score and a 6.0 in every category as well.

2. Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190)

This visa allows you to work and study anywhere in Australia. You must have a relevant occupation as well as pass the skills assessment check. The relevant occupations include lawyers and biomedical engineers.

You will also have to score at least 65 points on the point-based immigration system as well as attain a level of competent English.

This will mean a minimum of 6.0 for your overall IELTS score and a 6.0 in every category as well.

3. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

This visa authorises you as an international higher education graduate to live, study and work in Australia, with post-study work rights that allow you to stay on to work after you complete your studies. The Australian government has extended post-study work rights from 1 July 2023 for eligible graduates:

• 4 years for selected bachelor’s degrees (up from 2 years previously)

• 5 years for selected master’s degrees (up from 3 years previously)

• 6 years for all doctoral degrees (up from 4 years previously)

You must be under 50 years of age, have held a student visa in the last 6 months and have a qualification relevant to an occupation in a list that includes biotechnologists, actuaries and chemical engineers.

You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.0 for each of the 4 sections.

This will show the specific required level of English proficiency which is required.

If you’re an international students working while studying, you are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight (up from the previous 40 hours), from 1 July 2023.

4. Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)

This visa covers two available specific pathways

Extended stay pathway

This temporary visa is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. There is no specific occupation requirement.

There is no current English language requirement for this pathway.

However, you must hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa to be eligible.

Subsequent entry pathway

This visa is for a member who wants to live and work in regional Australia. There is no specific occupation requirement.

You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 4.5 with a minimum score of 4.5 for each of the 4 parts.

This will show a level of functional English proficiency which is required.

In addition, this visa is for a member of the family unit of someone who holds a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) or a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa.

5. Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)

This visa is for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa. You must have lived for at least 2 years and worked full time for at least 1 year in a specified regional area.

There is no specific occupation requirement.

You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 4.5 with a minimum score of 4.5 for each of the 4 parts.

This will show that you have a functional level of English proficiency.

6. Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)

This visa allows business owners and managers to conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in the country. It allows you to stay for up to 5 years.

There is no occupation requirement. However, for the Business Innovation stream, you must operate a new or existing business in Australia.

For the investor stream, you must invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory.

Both streams require you to be nominated by an Australian government agency.

You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 4.5 with a minimum score of 4.5 for each of the 4 parts.

This will show a level of functional English proficiency, which is required for this visa.

7. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

This provisional visa is for skilled workers who want to live and work in Australia. You’ll be able to stay for 5 years. However, you’ll need to work in a role on the relevant skilled occupation list and also pass the skills assessment for it as well.

These occupations include civil engineers and actuaries.

You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 with a minimum score of 6.0 for each of the 4 parts.

This will show a level of competent English proficiency that is required for this visa.

Pursue your career and PR in Australia with IDP

Ready to embark on your journey to work and live in Australia?

At IDP, we help students and professionals take the first step by helping you sit for IELTS.

Here’s how we can help you effectively prepare and why IDP is the best choice for passing your IELTS test.

Book your IELTS test with IDP today.