The Department of Home Affairs has announced changes to the list of accepted English language tests for skilled migration purposes, effective 1 July 2026.
In addition to the existing IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge C1 Advanced tests, DHA will begin accepting the Duolingo English Test (DET) for certain visa subclasses. This expands access for applicants in regions where traditional test centres are limited.
Revised score mapping tables reflect updated equivalency standards:
- •Superior English: IELTS 8.0 / PTE 79 / DET 130+
- •Proficient English: IELTS 7.0 / PTE 65 / DET 115
- •Competent English: IELTS 6.0 / PTE 50 / DET 100
The points allocation for English language ability remains unchanged at 0, 10, and 20 points for Competent, Proficient, and Superior levels respectively.
Applicants who have already lodged visa applications with existing test scores will not be affected by these changes. However, those yet to lodge are encouraged to consider the new test options if they better suit their circumstances. All test scores must be less than 3 years old at the time of invitation.