CELPIP® for Australian visas: the scores you need
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs accepts CELPIP-General as an English test for visa applications made on or after 7 August 2025. CELPIP joined its list that day, together with LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test. This page sets out the CELPIP scores for each English level Home Affairs uses, which visas take CELPIP, how long a result counts and where to take the test.
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CELPIP scores for each English level
Home Affairs describes English in levels. For CELPIP-General, each level needs at least these scores in every skill:
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | – |
| Competent | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Proficient | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Superior | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 20 |
Competent English is the usual minimum for skilled visas and earns no points. In the points test, Proficient English earns 10 points and Superior English 20.
Both higher levels ask for more in Writing than in the other skills: 10 for Proficient and 12 for Superior. Functional English, which some visas ask for, needs an overall CELPIP score of at least 5.
Which visas accept CELPIP
- Skilled visas and the points test: the visas that ask for Competent English, such as subclasses 189, 190, 491, 186 and 494.
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): at least 5 in each skill, for applications made on or after 13 September 2025.
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): an overall score of at least 8, with at least 6 in each skill. Holders of a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport need an overall 7, with at least 5 in each skill.
- Student visa (subclass 500): an overall score of at least 7; 6 with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or a foundation or pathway course; 5 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS.
- Visas that ask for Functional English: an overall score of at least 5.
Not every visa lists CELPIP yet: the Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192) and the MATES program (subclass 403) do not. Check your own visa’s requirements on Home Affairs’ English language page before you book.
How long a result counts
Each visa counts the time from the day you took the test:
- Competent or Vocational English: no more than 3 years before your invitation to apply or, without one, before you apply.
- Proficient or Superior English, for points: no more than 3 years before your invitation to apply.
- Skills in Demand (482): no more than 3 years before you give the evidence.
- Student (500): no more than 2 years before you apply.
- Temporary Graduate (485): no more than 1 year before you apply.
- Functional English: no more than 12 months before you apply.
If you took CELPIP for Canada before 7 August 2025, check with Home Affairs whether that result can be used.
Where to take the test
Book CELPIP-General at a test centre: the at-home version, CELPIP Online, does not count for Australian visas. In Australia, Paragon lists sittings in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, and CELPIP-General is also held in many other countries.
The test is the same CELPIP-General that Canada’s immigration programs use: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in one sitting of about 3 hours on a computer. Read the CELPIP test format for every part.
How to practise for it
Prepiva’s free CELPIP mock test has all four skills in the real order and timing, and your report gives a CELPIP level for each skill. Compare it with the table above: 7 in every skill for Competent English, and Writing 10 or 12 if you are aiming for points.
Start with the skill furthest from your target. The CELPIP score chart shows what each level means.
Sources: the English language instruments on legislation.gov.au, including the list of tests from 7 August 2025 and the Skills in Demand instrument, and Home Affairs’ English language page. Rules change: check them before you apply.
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FAQ
Does Australia accept CELPIP?
Yes. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs accepts CELPIP-General for visa applications made on or after 7 August 2025, including skilled, Skills in Demand, graduate and student visas. Take it at a test centre: CELPIP Online does not count.
What CELPIP score do I need for Competent English?
At least 7 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
What CELPIP score gives 20 points?
Superior English, worth 20 points in the points test, needs Listening 10, Reading 10, Writing 12 and Speaking 10. Proficient English, worth 10 points, needs Listening 9, Reading 8, Writing 10 and Speaking 8.
How long is a CELPIP result valid for an Australian visa?
It depends on the visa, counted from the day you took the test: 3 years for skilled visas and the Skills in Demand visa, 2 years for the student visa, 1 year for the Temporary Graduate visa and 12 months where Functional English is asked for.
Where can I take CELPIP in Australia?
Paragon lists CELPIP-General sittings in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Book a sitting at a test centre: CELPIP Online is not accepted for Australian visas.
More on CELPIP
- Free CELPIP practice testTake a free full CELPIP-General mock test in the test's order and timing. Get a level and CLB for each skill, CRS points and AI-rated Writing and Speaking.
- CELPIP score chartCELPIP levels 0–12 and their CLB, approximate Listening and Reading raw-score charts, how Writing and Speaking are rated and the CRS points each level earns.
- CELPIP test formatCELPIP-General part by part: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, with question counts, timing, what each screen asks and how the LS test differs.
- CELPIP vs IELTSCELPIP-General or IELTS General Training for Canada: format, accents, timing, scoring, CLB conversion, fees and results time, and how to choose between them.