Q: I need a visa for migration

Permanent migration There are a number of options to stay in Australia permanently. People often refer to these as Permanent Residency or PR. We’ll list some of the popular visas. Employer Nominated migration The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for qualified and skilled workers. They could be eligible for Australian permanent residency and live and work in Australia indefinitely. The Subclass 186 visa requires you to be nominated by an approved Australian employer. You will also need to have competent English skills. Regional migration The Regional Sponsorship Migration Scheme (subclass 187) is suitable for skilled employees. Additionally, an Australian regional employer should nominate you. This visa lets you live and work in Australia permanently. With IELTS you can demonstrate your English language proficiency. 8 Australian PR visas you need to know about .

Question 1

I need a visa for study

Accepted Answer

Want to join more than 620,000 international students to get world-class education? You’ll need a student visa (subclass 500). A student visa lets you study in Australia. You can also work for a limited number of hours. Check our 8 easy steps to get your Student Visa. After you’ve graduated, you can also apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). This visa lets you work in Australia after completing your studies.
Learn more about student visas

Question 2

I need a visa for work

Accepted Answer

There are a number of options if you want to live or work in Australia. If you’re a student in Australia, you could be eligible for a graduate visa. There are also a number of points-based visas if you have a skill Australia needs.
Employer Sponsored Workers

An employer-sponsored visa lets Australian businesses sponsor and employ workers. You need to have qualifications, skills and experience required in Australia. Depending on your visa, you can get work on a permanent or temporary basis. In the past, this was subclass 457. However, in March 2018 the Government replaced it by the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482). It requires people to demonstrate English language proficiency. IELTS can help you demonstrate this.
Graduate visas – 485 Visa

The Temporary Graduate visa 485 lets you live and work in Australia on a temporary basis after you’ve finished your studies. You need to demonstrate a level of English proficiency for this visa. You can book your IELTS test here.

Question 3

I need a visa for migration

Accepted Answer

Permanent migration
There are a number of options to stay in Australia permanently. People often refer to these as Permanent Residency or PR. We’ll list some of the popular visas.

Employer Nominated migration

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for qualified and skilled workers. They could be eligible for Australian permanent residency and live and work in Australia indefinitely. The Subclass 186 visa requires you to be nominated by an approved Australian employer. You will also need to have competent English skills.

Regional migration

The Regional Sponsorship Migration Scheme (subclass 187) is suitable for skilled employees. Additionally, an Australian regional employer should nominate you. This visa lets you live and work in Australia permanently. With IELTS you can demonstrate your English language proficiency.

8 Australian PR visas you need to know about.

Question 4

IELTS for the Skilled Independent visa

Accepted Answer

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) requires an expression of interest. The higher your score on your IELTS test, the more points you can get towards your migration application. See our 5 tips to get superior English for your Points Test Visas.
IELTS and the Department of Home Affairs:

complete the test within 3 years from the date of submitting a valid visa application

achieve the required test scores in a single attempt at the test

Book your IELTS test for the Skilled Independent visa

Question 5

IELTS for the Skilled Regional visa

Accepted Answer

The Skilled Regional sponsored visa (subclass 489) requires an expression of interest. The higher your score on your IELTS test, the more points you can get towards your migration application. See our 5 tips to get superior English for your Points Test Visas.
IELTS and the Department of Home Affairs:

complete the test within 3 years from the date of submitting a valid visa application

achieve the required test scores in a single attempt at the test

Book your IELTS test for the Skilled Regional visa

Question 6

IELTS for the Skilled Nominated visa

Accepted Answer

Finally, the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) also requires an expression of interest. The higher your score on your IELTS test, the more points you can get towards your migration application. See our 5 tips to get superior English for your Points Test Visas.
IELTS and the Department of Home Affairs:

complete the test within 3 years from the date of submitting a valid visa application

achieve the required test scores in a single attempt at the test

Book your IELTS test for the Skilled Nominated visa

Question 7

IELTS for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)

Accepted Answer

Are you applying for the Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa? You need to demonstrate that you meet certain minimum standards of English language proficiency (unless exemptions apply). IELTS helps you prove your language proficiency.
Required results for Short Term Skills Shortage Stream

Overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 4.5 in each of the test components.

Required results for Short Term Skills Shortage Stream

Overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 5.0 in each of the test components.

Generally, you must: complete the test within 3 years from the date of submitting a valid visa application. Also, you need to achieve the required test scores in a single attempt at the test.

Get IELTS to show you have competent English

Question 8

IELTS for the Employer Nomination (Subclass 186)

Accepted Answer

Are you applying for the Employer Nomination (Subclass 186) visa? You need to demonstrate that you meet certain minimum standards of English language proficiency (unless exemptions apply). IELTS helps you prove your language proficiency.
Required IELTS results for the Direct Entry Stream

You must have at least competent English to be granted this stream of the visa.

Required IELTS results for the Temporary Residence Transition stream

You must have at least competent English to be granted this stream of the visa.

Get IELTS to show you have competent English

Question 9

IELTS for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187)

Accepted Answer

Are you applying for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) visa? You need to demonstrate that you meet certain minimum standards of English language proficiency (unless exemptions apply). IELTS helps you prove your language proficiency.
Required IELTS results for the Direct Entry Stream

You must have at least competent English to be granted this stream of the visa.

Required IELTS results for the Temporary Residence Transition stream

You must have at least competent English to be granted this stream of the visa.

Get IELTS to show you have competent English

Question 10

Check if you’re exempt from the English language proficiency requirement:

Accepted Answer

Sometimes you are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement. This could be the case:

When you completed at least five years of study in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or the Republic of Ireland.

You’re a citizen and passport holder of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.

Successfully completed the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, or study at Certificate IV level or higher in Australia within two years of applying for a student visa.

You enrol full time in school studies as a principal course (including secondary exchange programs), postgraduate research or a standalone English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) program.

If you are not on this list, you probably need to provide evidence of English language proficiency for your visa application.

Book IELTS for your visa

Question 11

Functional English

Accepted Answer

If your visa application requires you to show you have Functional English, you need to have an overall IELTS score of 4.5. Not sure what this means? Read our explanation of IELTS band scores. IELTS can help you achieve this score with free support tools.
Access IELTS support tools

Just remember, this is guide only. The IELTS score you require will depend on which visa you need when moving to Australia. Find out what IELTS score you need at the Department of Home Affairs. Before you book your IELTS test, we recommend that you check with your university, workplace or Australian Government in order to understand the level of skill you need to demonstrate, and which version of IELTS you need.

Question 12

Vocational English

Accepted Answer

If your visa application requires you to show you have Vocational English, you need to have at least an IELTS score of 5.0 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing). Not sure what this means? Not sure what this means? Read our explanation of IELTS band scores. IELTS can help you achieve this score with free support tools.
Access IELTS support tools

Just remember, this is guide only. The IELTS score you require will depend on which visa you need when moving to Australia.Find out what IELTS score you need at the Department of Home Affairs. Before you book your IELTS test, we recommend that you check with your university, workplace or Australian Government in order to understand the level of skill you need to demonstrate, and which version of IELTS you need.

Question 13

Competent English

Accepted Answer

If your visa application requires you to show you have Functional English, you need to have an overall IELTS score of 6.0. Not sure what this means? Read our explanation of IELTS band scores. IELTS can help you achieve this score with free support tools.
Access IELTS support tools

Just remember, this is guide only. The IELTS score you require will depend on which visa you need when moving to Australia. Find out what IELTS score you need at the Department of Home Affairs. Before you book your IELTS test, we recommend that you check with your university, workplace or Australian Government in order to understand the level of skill you need to demonstrate, and which version of IELTS you need.

Question 14

Proficient English

Accepted Answer

If your visa application requires you to show you have Functional English, you need to have an overall IELTS score of 7.0. Not sure what this means? Read our explanation of IELTS band scores. IELTS can help you achieve this score with free support tools.
Access IELTS support tools

Just remember, this is guide only. The IELTS score you require will depend on which visa you need when moving to Australia. Find out what IELTS score you need at the Department of Home Affairs. Before you book your IELTS test, we recommend that you check with your university, workplace or Australian Government in order to understand the level of skill you need to demonstrate, and which version of IELTS you need.

Question 15

Superior English

Accepted Answer

If your visa application requires you to show you have Functional English, you need to have an overall IELTS score of 8.0. Not sure what this means? Read our explanation of IELTS band scores. IELTS can help you achieve this score with free support tools.
Access IELTS support tools

Just remember, this is guide only. The IELTS score you require will depend on which visa you need when moving to Australia. Find out what IELTS score you need at the Department of Home Affairs. Before you book your IELTS test, we recommend that you check with your university, workplace or Australian Government in order to understand the level of skill you need to demonstrate, and which version of IELTS you need.

Migrate to Australia

Find out all that you need to know about Australian visas and the IELTS band scores you need for migration.

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Migrate to Australia

Find out all that you need to know about Australian visas and the IELTS band scores you need for migration.

Featured articles