CELPIP Test Booking in Australia: How to Book, Fees and Dates
By Natania · Booking and test day · Published · 4 min read
Booking CELPIP from Australia is done online in about fifteen minutes, but a few choices matter more than they first appear: the test version, the date relative to your visa deadline and the name on your passport. This post walks through booking step by step for test takers in Australia. Fees, centres and policies are set by the test owner and change, so confirm every detail on the official CELPIP website before you pay. CELPass is an independent practice platform and does not sell CELPIP bookings.
How do I book the CELPIP test in Australia?
Create an account on the official CELPIP website, choose CELPIP-General, pick an Australian test centre and date, enter your details exactly as they appear on your passport and pay the fee online.
- Create your account on the official CELPIP website and confirm your email address.
- Choose CELPIP-General (the four-skill test). Do not choose CELPIP-General LS.
- Filter the test sessions by Australia and compare centres and dates.
- Enter your name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your passport.
- Read the cancellation, transfer and ID policies shown before payment.
- Pay the fee and save the confirmation email.
- Add the date, start time and centre address to your calendar.
Which CELPIP test should I book for an Australian visa?
CELPIP-General. Home Affairs accepts CELPIP-General, the test of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking; CELPIP-General LS covers only Listening and Speaking and is used for Canadian citizenship, so it cannot be used for an Australian visa.
You must also sit the test in person at a test centre. For results dated from 7 August 2025, Home Affairs does not accept tests taken online at home.
Where can I book a CELPIP test in Australia?
CELPIP-General is offered in Australia's major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The booking page on the official CELPIP website lists every current centre with its address and open dates.
There are fewer CELPIP centres than IELTS or PTE centres, and some sessions sell out. If you live outside a major city, check dates early and budget for travel, and look at more than one city if your deadline is tight.
How much does it cost to book CELPIP in Australia?
At the time of writing, the official CELPIP website lists CELPIP-General in Australia at AUD 355, plus taxes where they apply. The price shown when you book is the one that counts.
Each attempt is paid separately, and transfers and re-evaluations cost extra, so budget for a possible second attempt if you are close to your target.
How far ahead should I book CELPIP for my visa deadline?
Book so that you have time to prepare, receive your results and still retake once before you need to apply or lodge an Expression of Interest. For most people that means booking six to ten weeks ahead.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 10–12 weeks before | Find your level in each skill with a diagnostic or mock test |
| 8–10 weeks before | Book your first CELPIP date |
| 4–6 weeks of study | Practise every task in the real format and timing |
| About a week after the test | Check your results in your CELPIP account |
| Remaining weeks | Buffer for a retake if one skill falls short |
Check the date rule for your visa too: most skilled visas accept results from the three years before you are invited or apply, and the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa needs a test from the year before you apply.
What ID do I need to book CELPIP in Australia?
A valid passport. Outside Canada and the United States, the passport is generally the only accepted ID, and the name in your CELPIP account must match it exactly.
Check middle names, spelling and the order of your names before you pay. A mismatch or an expired passport on test day can mean you are turned away and lose the fee.
Can I reschedule or cancel a CELPIP booking in Australia?
Yes, within limits. At the time of writing, CELPIP refunds half the fee if you cancel at least about a week before the test and nothing after that, and a transfer to another date costs a fee and must also be requested well ahead.
The official pages have shown slightly different deadlines, so read the policy shown when you book and the one in your account before you change anything. If your plans may move, book a date you are sure about rather than paying to change it later.
What should I do after booking CELPIP?
Check the confirmation for the right test, date, centre and name, then spend the weeks before the test on your weakest skill in the real CELPIP format.
CELPIP uses Canadian English and its own task types, so practice from IELTS or PTE only partly carries over. The free CELPass diagnostic estimates your level in each skill in about 25 minutes, and full mock tests copy the real test's format and timing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book CELPIP in Australia through an agent?
Some resellers sell CELPIP vouchers, but the booking itself is made in your own account on the official CELPIP website. Your results appear in that account, so set it up with an email address you control.
Can I book CELPIP in Australia for a Canadian application?
Yes. It is the same CELPIP-General test, so a result from an Australian centre can be used for Canadian permanent residence as well.
Keep reading
CELPass is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises. CELPIP is a trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Check the official CELPIP website and IRCC for current test rules and requirements.