Minimum IELTS score to work in Australia and get PR in 2025

There are three main pathways of obtaining Australian PR, which include permanent visa options for work, business or investment, and families. To become an Australian Permanent Resident, you have to apply for a visa that best suits your needs and eligibility. The visa type may allow a temporary, provisional or permanent status.  

Here are several visa subclasses which can set you up for a successful migration pathway: 

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) - Post-Higher Education Work stream 

• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) 

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 

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

• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) 

• Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) 

Several visa pathways to PR are points-tested to meet their eligibility, particularly subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. 

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

• Age 

• English language skills 

• Work experience (in and outside of Australia) 

• Level of education 

• Study in Australia 

• Specialist education 

• Spouse skill points 

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

To be eligible to receive an invitation to apply to those visas, you need a minimum of 65 points. 

You can calculate your points using the official calculator from the Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA). 

IELTS is one of the critical components for obtaining the best possible points score in your visa application. While a minimum overall score of 6.0 for the Listening, reading, writing, and speaking tests is required for the visa application, a higher IELTS score of 7.0 and above will gain you more points. 

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

It is important to note that for Australia universities, including the top-ranked institutions, most undergraduate or postgraduate courses already require you to attain an overall band score of 6.0 to 6.5 for your IELTS test. 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requires proof of English proficiency through an IELTS test to apply for Australian Permanent Residency:  

1. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) - Post-Higher Education Work stream    

This visa authorises you as an international higher education graduate to live, study, and work in Australia for between 2 to 3 years, with post-study work rights that allow you to stay on to work after you complete an eligible degree, regardless of your field of study.  

You must be aged 35 years or under, have held a student visa in the last 6 months, and show the required proficiency level of English. You will have to attain an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 for each of the 4 test sections. 

Depending on your level of study in Australia, your post-study work visa entitles you to a stay period of: 

• Up to 2 years for all bachelor’s degrees. 

• Up to 2 or 3 years for master’s degrees by coursework and by research, respectively 

• Up to 3 years for all doctoral degrees 

 
No further extension of post-study work rights is allowed. 

Only current Temporary Graduate visa holders who have studied and lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years are eligible to apply for a Second Temporary Graduate visa, which may grant them a stay period between 1 to 2 years.  

This extension in the duration of the post-study work period requires you to have completed a degree in an eligible qualification listed by occupational category. Some occupations include allied health, ICT and teaching professions. 

2. Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) 

This visa replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage visa in December 2024 and grants employer-sponsored workers who possess skills considered in demand in Australia a stay period of up to 4 years. 

Introduced alongside the updated 482 visa was the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which outlines over 450 jobs deemed necessary to tackle local skill shortages in critical sectors. It aims to attract skilled migrants across industries like agriculture, construction, cybersecurity, health, and education. 

The list will apply specifically to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa. 

The Core Skills stream requires you to be nominated for a role on CSOL, have at least 1 year of relevant work experience, pass a skills assessment, and meet a minimum level of English language proficiency. 

A second stream of the Skills in Demand pathway, the specialist skills stream, targets high-paying and highly skilled professions with a minimum salary threshold of AUD 135,000. 

For both the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, you will have to achieve a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 overall and a 5.0 in each of the 4 test sections. 

3. Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 

This visa allows workers with key skills to work and live permanently anywhere in Australia. You are required to fulfill a skills assessment that will check if you meet the standards set to work in a relevant occupation such as an actuary or engineer or nurse practitioner. 

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 each of the 4 test sections. 

4. Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 

This permanent 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 hospitality managers, 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 each of the 4 test sections. 

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

This provisional visa is for skilled workers who want to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. You’ll be able to stay for 5 years with a nomination or sponsorship for the visa. However, you’ll need to work in a relevant skilled occupation and pass a skills assessment as well. 

These occupations include accountants, civil engineers and dentists. 

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 test sections. 

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

This visa covers two available specific pathways: 

Extended stay pathway 

This temporary 4-year 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 of the family unit of someone who holds a subclass 475, 487, 489, 495 or 496 visa. Valid visa holders can study or work in a specified regional area of Australia, with no specific occupation requirement. 

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

The Skilled Regional ( Provisional) visa (subclass 489), on both pathways, is also an eligible visa to apply for permanent residency (PR) later through the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887). 

7. Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) 

This permanent 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 test sections. 

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

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