Australian English Language

New migrants to Australia who already speak English have a better chance of settling and finding employment. English is not a criterion for all migrants but all migrants are encouraged to lean it before or shortly after their arrival.

Who needs to be assessed?
There is no requirement for family stream or humanitarian migrants to have their English assessed as part of the visa process. After arrival they may be tested to assess their need for tuition.

Note: if the main applicant is unable to meet threshold English requirements the application will be refused unless Skilled-Regional Sponsored provisions apply.

Skilled stream applicants may have their English assessed for any of the following reasons:

•  If you are a Skilled- Independent or Skilled- Australian-Sponsored    applicant you must have 'vocational' English or your application will be    refused.
•  If you are applying under the Employer Nomination Scheme, you must    have 'vocational' English unless special circumstances apply.
•  If you are a Skilled-Regional Sponsored applicant you must have at    least 'vocational' English unless you have made acceptable    arrangements with the state government in the state where your sponsor    lives to upgrade your language skills to the 'vocational' level. If you take    up this option, you must have an IELTS overall band score of at least    4.5.

Sometimes a higher level of English is needed for your skills to be recognised in Australia for example, various health professions require ability to pass an Occupational English Test (OET) before skills are recognised.

Evidence of English

The visa officer may need to verify your claims and ask you to take a test. You may need to provide details of:

•  Your primary, secondary or tertiary education
•  The results of an international English Language Testing Sysytem    (IELTS) test
•  The results of an Occupational English Test (OET) or
•  Other evidence

If your application is successful and your English proficiency claims were not verified during application processing, an assessment will be made after you register for an AMEP course in Australia.

Visa application charge

If you, your spouse or adult dependant:
•  Are 18 or older
•  Have less than 'functional' English and
•  Applied under the:

•  Skilled-Independent
•  Skilled-Australian Sponsored (including Skilled-Regional Sponsored)
•  Business skills
•  Employer nomination (excluding religious workers)
•  Labour agreement (excluding religious workers)
•  Distinguished talent
•  Former resident
•  Former citizen

•  Family of New Zealand citizen visa classes, you must pay a second instalment and any    other charges due before visa grant. Other visa sub-class applicants don't pay.

The visa officer will tell you when/how to pay. You can have up to 150 hours of tuition, or as many as it takes to achieve 'functional' English, whichever comes first.
Remember, you must register within three months of arrival, though you do not need ton start at that time.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS tests the four language skills: Reading, writing, speaking and listening.

IELTS test results are used by visa officers when considering your application and by educational organisations for referral and placement in English courses in Australia.

The IELTS test is managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, the British Council and IDP Education Australia with test centres in over 100 countries.

There are two modules of the ILETS test-the academic and the General Training Modules. Person sitting the test for migration purposes need only sit the General training Module. You would only need demonstrate a higher level of English if you are applying under one of the points tested categories (Skilled-Independent and Skilled-Australian-sponsored) where English is connected to the skill component of the points test, such as with various health professions. The assessing authority responsible for your occupation would advise you of this.

Those needing to sit an IELTS test for migration should do so before applying to migrate. Providing a recent IELTS test score when you apply may shorten the processing time of your application.