CELPIP for Australian Visas: Accepted Visas, Scores and Points
By CELPass Editorial Team · Updated
CELPIP was built for Canadian immigration, but Australia's Department of Home Affairs has accepted CELPIP-General for visa applications since 7 August 2025. This guide sets out the CELPIP scores in Home Affairs' published rules at the time of writing. Australian requirements change, so confirm the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before you book or apply.
Does Australia accept CELPIP?
Yes. From 7 August 2025, Home Affairs added CELPIP-General to its list of accepted English tests, alongside IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test.
The change came in the instrument that sets Australia's English test scores (LIN 25/016) and a separate one for the Temporary Graduate visa (LIN 25/089). Both name CELPIP General, the four-skill test. CELPIP-General LS, the Listening and Speaking test used for Canadian citizenship, is not the same test.
What CELPIP score do I need for Australia?
It depends on the English level your visa asks for. Competent English, the usual minimum for skilled migration, needs at least CELPIP 7 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Proficient and Superior English need higher scores, especially in Writing.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Competent | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Proficient | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Superior | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Each skill is checked on its own. Your level is set by the lowest skill, so Listening 10, Reading 10, Writing 9 and Speaking 10 counts as Competent, not Proficient, because Writing is below 10.
How many Australian PR points does a CELPIP score give?
In the points test for skilled visas such as the 189, 190 and 491, Competent English earns 0 points but meets the minimum, Proficient English earns 10 points and Superior English earns 20 points.
| English level | Points | CELPIP needed (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|
| Competent | 0 (meets the minimum) | 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 |
| Proficient | 10 | 9 / 8 / 10 / 8 |
| Superior | 20 | 10 / 10 / 12 / 10 |
English is one of the easiest places to gain points after you have applied for skills assessment, so many applicants retake an English test to move from Competent to Proficient or Superior. Check the current points table on the Home Affairs website, as the points can change.
What CELPIP score do I need for the 485 Temporary Graduate visa?
LIN 25/089 sets an overall CELPIP score of at least 8, with at least 6 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and the test must have been taken in the year before you apply.
Lower scores apply to Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders, and citizens of some countries do not need to show test results at all. CELPIP reports a level for each skill, so check with Home Affairs how it reads the overall score for your result before you rely on it.
Which other Australian visas accept CELPIP?
CELPIP-General is now accepted wherever Home Affairs asks for Vocational, Competent, Proficient or Superior English, which covers most skilled, employer-sponsored and graduate visas. Some visas set their own scores in separate instruments: the 482 Skills in Demand visa asks for at least CELPIP 5 in each skill, and student visas have their own rules.
State nominations (190 and 491) and some occupations can also ask for more than the visa minimum. Read the English section of the Home Affairs page for your visa, and your state's nomination criteria, before you choose a target.
How long is a CELPIP result valid for Australia?
Home Affairs sets its own time limit, which is not the same as CELPIP's two-year validity for Canada. For skilled visas the test generally needs to have been taken within three years before you are invited or apply; for the 485 visa it is one year before you apply.
Because the limit depends on the visa, check the date rule on your visa's page and plan your test so your result is still recent enough at the point Home Affairs measures it.
Can I take CELPIP in Australia?
Yes. Paragon, which runs CELPIP, lists Australian test centres and booking on the official CELPIP website. The test is taken on a computer at a test centre, with all four sections in one sitting of about three hours.
Is CELPIP a good choice for Australian applicants?
It can be, especially if you are aiming for Competent English or find a face-to-face speaking interview stressful. The catch is Writing: Proficient needs CELPIP 10 and Superior needs 12, the top of the scale, while the other skills need less.
- Everything is on a computer, including Speaking, which you record into a headset instead of talking to an examiner.
- The content is everyday Canadian life: workplaces, neighbours, community events. You do not need to know anything about Canada, but expect Canadian accents and spelling choices.
- Writing and Speaking are rated by trained human raters on four dimensions each, not by an automated scorer.
- Listening and Reading use multiple choice only; there are no fill-in-the-blank answers.
If you already have a strong IELTS or PTE result, there is little reason to switch. If you are starting fresh, take a practice test in each format and compare how close you are to your target in every skill, not just on average.
How do I prepare for CELPIP for Australia?
Prepare exactly as Canadian test takers do, because it is the same test. Find your weakest skill first, since one skill below your target decides your level, then practise the task types that hold it back.
The free CELPass diagnostic estimates your level in each skill in about 25 minutes. CELPass shows results as CLB levels; for CELPIP these are the same numbers as your CELPIP level, so a CLB 9 estimate is a CELPIP 9.
Frequently asked questions
Is CELPIP-General LS accepted in Australia?
Home Affairs' instruments name CELPIP General, the four-skill test. CELPIP-General LS covers only Listening and Speaking, so it does not meet a requirement that needs all four skills.
Can I combine CELPIP scores from two tests for Australia?
Do not assume so. Home Affairs sets the rules on which results it accepts, so check its website before relying on scores from more than one sitting.
Does Australia use CLB levels?
No. Home Affairs uses CELPIP levels directly. Because each CELPIP level equals the same CLB level, a CLB 9 in a practice tool is the same as a CELPIP 9 for Australian purposes.
More guides
- CELPIP FAQ: Quick Answers About the CELPIP Test
- How CELPIP Is Scored: Levels, CLB and the Four Rating Dimensions
- CELPIP Score Requirements for Express Entry and Citizenship
- CELPIP vs IELTS General: A Detailed Comparison for Canadian Immigration
- A 30-Day CELPIP Study Plan
- CELPIP vs IELTS for Australian Visas: Scores, Format and Which to Choose
- CELPIP vs PTE Academic for Australian Visas: Scores, Scoring and Which to Choose
- CELPIP vs IELTS vs PTE Core: Which English Test for Canadian PR?
- CELPIP for the 482 Skills in Demand and 485 Temporary Graduate Visas
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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.