From 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs introduced new English language requirements for skilled migration visas, including the Subclass 491 Skilled Regional visa. Since this visa is designed for skilled employees who want to live and work in regional Australia, meeting the right English test scores is essential. The updates cover which tests are now accepted and what scores you need to qualify or to claim extra points that strengthen your position in the migration points test.

Newly Accepted English Tests

Applicants can now also take results from three additional English tests:

1. CELPIP General means Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
2. LanguageCert Academic
3. Michigan English Test (MET)

Updated Score

These changes apply to:

1. PTE Academic
2. C1 Advanced (*no longer accepted for Vocational English)
3. OET
4. TOEFL iBT

491 Visa CELPIP General Requirements

1. The minimum CELPIP General score required for a 491 visa is a minimum of 7 in each band.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for CELPIP General is 9 in listening, 8 in Reading, 10 in writing, and 8 in speaking.
3. To receive an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you must demonstrate Superior English skills. CELPIP General scores for superior English are 10 in listening, 10 in Reading, 12 in writing, and 10 in speaking

LANGUAGECERT Academic Requirement for Subclass 491

1. The minimum LANGUAGECERT score you need for a 491 visa is 57 in listening, 60 in Reading, 64 in writing, and 70 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for LANGUAGECERT academic scores are 67 in listening, 71 in Reading, 78 in writing, and 82 in speaking.
3. For an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you need superior English. LANGUAGECERT academic scores for superior English are 80 in listening, 83 in Reading, 89 in writing, and 89 in speaking

MET Requirement for Subclass 491 Visa

1. The minimum Michigan English Test (MET) score you need for a 491 visa is 56 in listening, 55 in Reading, 57 in writing, and 48 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for MET scores are 61 in listening, 63 in Reading, 74 in writing, and 59 in speaking.

491 Visa IELTS Requirements

1. The minimum IELTS score required for a 491 visa is a minimum of 6 in each band.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for IELTS is 7 in each band score.
3. To receive an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you must demonstrate Superior English skills. IELTS scores for superior English are a minimum of 8 in each band score across all four components: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

PTE Academic Requirement for Subclass 491

1. The minimum PTE score you need for a 491 visa is 47 in listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in writing, and 54 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for PTE academic scores are 58 in listening, 59 in Reading, 69 in writing, and 76 in speaking.
3. For an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you need superior English. PTE academic scores for superior English are 69 in listening, 70 in Reading, 85 in writing, and 88 in speaking

C1 Advanced Requirement for 491 Visa

1. The minimum C1 Advanced score you need for subclass 491 is 163 in listening, 163 in Reading, 170 in writing, and 179 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for C1 Advanced is 175 in listening, 179 in Reading, 193 in writing, and 194 in speaking.
3. For an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you need superior English. C1 Advanced scores for superior English are 186 in listening, 190 in Reading, 210 in writing, and 208 in speaking.

OET Requirement for 491 Visa

1. The minimum OET score you need for subclass 491 is 290 in listening, 310 in Reading, 290 in writing, and 330 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for OET is 350 in listening, 360 in Reading, 380 in writing, and 360 in speaking.
3. For an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you need superior English. OET scores for superior English are 390 in listening, 400 in Reading, 420 in writing, and 400 in speaking

TOEFL Requirement for 491 Visa

1. The minimum TOEFL score you need for subclass 491 is 16 in listening, 16 in Reading, 19 in writing, and 19 in speaking.
2. For 10 extra points for a 491 visa, you need proficient English. Proficient English for TOEFL is 22 in listening, 22 in Reading, 26 in writing, and 24 in speaking.
3. For an extra 20 points for a subclass 491 visa, you need superior English. TOEFL scores for superior English are 26 in listening, 27 in Reading, 30 in writing, and 28 in speaking

Why Your English Score Matters

Your English level can determine whether you only meet the minimum eligibility or gain valuable extra points to improve your ranking for an invitation.

1. Proficient English awards 10 extra points.
2. Superior English awards 20 extra points.

For example, if you currently have 60 points, reaching Proficient English can push you to the 70-point mark, making your application much stronger.

FAQs for the 491 Visa English Requirements

1. What English score do I need for the 491 visa?
   To qualify, you must meet the minimum English score requirement and also achieve at least 65 points in the overall points test.
2. Can I still use an old English test result for my 491 visa application?
   Yes, if your test was taken before 7 August 2025 and is still within the validity period (generally two years), it can be used under the previous rules.
3. Are all applicants required to take an English test?
   No. Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland are considered to have competent English and are exempt from testing.
4. Does a higher English score improve my chances of getting a 491 visa?
   Absolutely. Achieving Proficient or Superior English not only meets the requirement but also gives you extra points in the migration points test, which can increase your chances of receiving an invitation.
5. Do regional nomination requirements affect English scores for the 491 visa?
   While the English score requirement is set nationally by the Department of Home Affairs, individual states or territories may have additional nomination criteria you should review before applying.

Meeting the English language requirement is a critical step in applying for the 491 Skilled Work Regional visa. Strong English skills not only prove eligibility but can also give you valuable points that bring you closer to an invitation.

If you are planning to live, work, and build your future in regional Australia, book an appointment with us today to get expert guidance on your 491 visa journey.

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