Depending on your nationality and location at the time of lodgement of your application, you may be asked to undertake biometrics. For most applicants, biometrics involves the provision of fingerprints and a facial photograph at a designated biometrics centre in, or near, your country of residence. You will generally have 14 days from lodgement of your application to provide biometrics.
The biometrics information is used by the Australian government to verify your identity. The information may also be shared with other prescribed local and foreign governments and international organisations to allow the cross-checking of some biometric information.
If you wish to know more, please read the Department’s information sheet on collecting personal identifying information.
There are limited exemptions to providing biometrics. Children under five are not required to have their fingerprints taken but do need to provide their facial photograph.
Competent English
*Holders of passports from Canada, UK, Ireland, USA and NZ are eligible for an exemption to English testing.
| English test | Minimum scores for English test components | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | |
| IELTS | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| OET | B | B | B | B |
| TOEFL iBT | 12 | 13 | 18 | 21 |
| PTE | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| CAE | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
Proficient English
| English test | Minimum scores for English test components | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | |
| IELTS | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| OET | B | B | B | B |
| TOEFL iBT | 24 | 24 | 23 | 27 |
| PTE | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| CAE | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 |
Superior English
| English test | Minimum scores for English test components | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | |
| IELTS | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| OET | A | A | A | A |
| TOEFL iBT | 28 | 29 | 26 | 30 |
| PTE | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 |
| CAE | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
Evidence of current employment may be one of the following:
- Statement of Service or work reference letter
- Payslips (most recent)
- Tax records – P60 (UK) or other records
- Bank statements showing payment of wages
- Government labour books or employment records
- Other documents linking you to the relevant employe
Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (one of the following)
Eligible passport holder
Holders of passports from Canada, UK, Ireland, USA, and NZ are eligible for an exemption to English testing.
English Test
The following scores will satisfy the minimum requirement for this visa. Follow the link in the table below to the relevant test website.
STSOL Occupation Requirement
| Test Name | Minimum band score | Minimum score | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | ||
| IELTS | Overall band score 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| OET | – | B | B | B | B |
| TOEFL iBT | Total band score 35 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 |
| PTE | Overall band score 36 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| CAE | Overall band score 154 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 |
MLTSSL Occupation Requirement
| Test Name | Minimum band score | Minimum score | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | ||
| IELTS | Overall band score 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| OET | – | B | B | B | B |
| TOEFL iBT | Total band score 35 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 14 |
| PTE | Overall band score 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| CAE | Overall band score 154 | 154 | 154 | 154 | 154 |
5-years study in English
If you have studied for at least 5 years cumulatively in English at a secondary school or higher education institution, you may be eligible for an exemption to English testing. Please provide a letter from the institution (secondary school or university/college only) stating that the language of instruction was English and the duration of your studies at the institution along with any other certificates or mark sheets.
An applicant required to demonstrate they have at least functional English can provide any one of the following (Evidence can be provided before or after lodgement of the visa):
- Achievement of the minimum band score in an approved English test conducted not more than 12 months before lodging their application or during the processing of the application. See below for approved tests and required scores –
English test Minimum band score IELTS Overall band score 4.5 TOEFL iBT Total band score 32 PTE Overall band score 30 CAE Overall band score 147 - Payment of English charge of $4,890;
- Holding an award, being a degree, a higher degree, a diploma or a trade certificate, that required at least 2 years of full-time study or training; and all instruction (including instruction received in other courses for which the person was allowed credit) for that award was conducted in English;
- Successful completion, in Australia, at least 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study towards a degree, higher degree, diploma or associate diploma at an institution or institutions where all the instruction was conducted in English;
- Completion of all primary education and at least 3 years of secondary education at an educational institution where all instruction was conducted in English;
- Completion of least 5 years of secondary education at an educational institution where all instruction was conducted in English
Once you lodge a Judicial Review application to the Federal Circuit or Federal Court, the Department of Home Affairs will engage their lawyers to assist. If you are not successful or withdraw the FCC appeal, you will be required to pay the Department’s lawyers their costs in assisting the Department. These are determined by a scale as follows:
Application withdrawn
| Event | Amount |
|---|---|
| Withdrawn at least 14 days before Directions Hearing | $744 |
| Withdrawn less than 14 days before Directions Hearing, or at least 15 days before other interim hearing | $1,864 |
| Withdrawn less than 15 days before interim hearing or final hearing | $3,737 |
| Any other case | $5,227 |
Application decided or discontinued
| Event | Amount |
|---|---|
| Decided or concluded before the Directions Hearing | $1,495 |
| Decided or concluded after the Directions Hearing or at or before an interim hearing | $3,737 |
| Decided or concluded at final hearing | $7,467 |
Applicants who have spent 28 days or longer in the countries listed below since 5 May 2014 should provide a current polio vaccination certificate. This is in response to the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, noting recent outbreaks of polio in these 10 countries.
If you have not yet provided the department with a current certificate of vaccination against polio with your visa application, you should bring the certificate to your biometrics appointment. If you do not provide the vaccination certificate, the processing of your application may be unnecessarily delayed.
Countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Indonesia, Niger, Mozambique.