English Requirements for the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) Visa
Applicants for the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) must meet specific English language requirements at the time of application.
These requirements are part of the broader eligibility criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs (Department).
The Subclass 482 is a temporary employer-sponsored visa that allows applicants to live and work in Australia in a nominated occupation for two or four years.
The Subclass 482 consists of various visa streams aimed at accommodating foreign skilled workers with different occupations, qualifications, skills and work experience.
There are also various English requirements depending on the stream relevant to the nominated occupation.
Visa Streams
The Subclass 482 comprises of the following streams:
- Specialist Skills stream – for nominated occupations with the specialist skills income threshold of $135,000 or more.
- Core Skills stream – for nominated occupations in the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- Labour Agreement stream – for nominated occupations that require a labour agreement between the nominating employer and the Department.
The English language requirements vary based on the nominated occupation and the relevant stream.
Specialist Skills Stream English Requirements
For applicants applying under the Specialist Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa, the following English language test scores are required to meet the eligibility criteria:
- IELTS – An overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 4.5 in the test components.
- OET – A score of at least ‘B’ in the four test components.
- TOEFL iBT – A total score of at least 35 with a score of at least 3 for each of the listening and reading test components, and a score of at least 12 for the speaking and writing test components.
- PTE Academic – An overall test score of at least 36 with a score of at least 30 in the test components.
- Advanced CAE test – An overall test score of at least 154 with a score of at least 147 in the test components.
Core Skills Stream English Requirements
Applicants under the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa must achieve the following English language test scores to satisfy the visa requirements:
- IELTS – An overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 5 in the test components.
- OET – A score of at least ‘B’ in the four test components.
- TOEFL iBT – A total score of at least 35 with a score of at least 4 for each of the listening and reading test components, and a score of at least 14 for each of the speaking and writing test components.
- PTE Academic – An overall test score of at least 36 with a score of at least 36 in the test components.
- Advanced CAE test – An overall test score of at least 154 with a score of at least 154 in the test components.
Labour Agreement Stream
The applicant must have English language skills suitable to perform the nominated occupation.
English requirements may be specified in the labour agreement between the employer and the Department.
Do Exemptions Apply?
There are English language exemptions applicable where an English test is not required, including, among others:
- If the applicant holds a valid passport issued by the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland and is a citizen of that country; and
- If the applicant has completed at least five years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution conducted in English.
English Requirements for Additional Applicants
Dependent applicants such as members of the family unit, are exempt from meeting the English language criteria, regardless of age.
Contact Us
For more information and guidance on the Subclass 482 visa English requirements, contact Bambrick Legal today.
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Related Blog – Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)