Does Australia accept CELPIP?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs has accepted CELPIP General since 7 August 2025, for PR, skilled, work, graduate and student visas. Here is exactly which visas qualify, what score you need, and the three catches that trip people up.
Updated · CelpipUni Academic Team
Part of Countries & visasOn this page6 sections
The short answer
Australia accepts CELPIP General as one of its approved English tests, alongside IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, LanguageCert Academic and the Michigan English Test. It was added in the Home Affairs English language instrument that took effect on 7 August 2025. A CELPIP result counts the same as an equivalent IELTS or PTE result: same English levels, same points.
The three catches
- In person only. CELPIP Online (the at-home version) is not accepted. Neither is any other remotely proctored test.
- CELPIP General only. CELPIP General LS (Listening and Speaking) is not accepted, because Australia tests all four skills.
- Tests from 7 August 2025 onward. A CELPIP score from before that date cannot be used, even if it is still valid for Canada.
Which Australian visas accept CELPIP?
Permanent residency (skilled migration)
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional, provisional, leads to PR via the 191) all accept CELPIP. The minimum is Competent English, CELPIP 7 in each skill. Proficient and Superior English add 10 and 20 points to your SkillSelect EOI.
Employer-sponsored and work visas
The 482 (Skills in Demand, formerly TSS), 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) and 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) accept CELPIP. They set their own minimums, which for the 482 are lower than PR.
Graduate and student visas
The 485 (Temporary Graduate) and 500 (Student) visas accept CELPIP General results too. Each sets its own overall and per-skill minimum.
Partner, family, business and investor visas
These usually need only Functional English. A CELPIP General result of 5 overall shows it. Otherwise you can pay the second visa application charge instead of proving English.
Australian citizenship
Not needed. Citizenship does not ask for an English test score. You sit the citizenship test instead.
The minimum CELPIP score for every visa above is on CELPIP scores by Australian visa subclass.
CELPIP score equivalents used by Home Affairs
| English level | CELPIP General (per skill) | IELTS | PTE Academic | Points test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | L 10 · R 10 · W 12 · S 10 | 8.0 in each | L 69 · R 70 · W 85 · S 88 | 20 points |
| Proficient | L 9 · R 8 · W 10 · S 8 | 7.0 in each | L 58 · R 59 · W 69 · S 76 | 10 points |
| Competent | L 7 · R 7 · W 7 · S 7 | 6.0 in each | L 47 · R 48 · W 51 · S 54 | 0 points (minimum for 189 / 190 / 491) |
| Vocational | L 5 · R 5 · W 5 · S 5 | 5.0 in each | — | — |
| Functional | 5 overall | 4.5 overall | — | — |
Should you choose CELPIP over PTE or IELTS?
CELPIP makes most sense if you want human ratersfor Speaking and Writing rather than PTE's AI scoring, if you are also applying to Canada, or if you prefer everyday rather than academic topics. PTE has more test dates and faster results, and it rewards test-specific technique. Read our CELPIP vs PTE comparison or CELPIP vs IELTS before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Does Australia accept CELPIP for PR?
Yes. CELPIP General is accepted for the permanent skilled visas: Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and the provisional Skilled Work Regional (491) that leads to PR. The test must be taken in person on or after 7 August 2025. You need at least CELPIP 7 in every skill, and higher scores earn 10 or 20 points.
Is CELPIP online accepted for Australian visas?
No. Home Affairs does not accept any at-home or remotely proctored test, so CELPIP Online cannot be used. You must sit CELPIP General at a test centre in Australia or overseas.
Is CELPIP General LS accepted in Australia?
No. CELPIP General LS covers only Listening and Speaking. Australian visas need Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, so only the full CELPIP General counts.
Do I need CELPIP for Australian citizenship?
No. Australian citizenship by conferral needs no English test score. You sit the citizenship test, which is in English, but CELPIP, IELTS and PTE are not part of it.
Do Australian universities accept CELPIP?
Few do yet. University admission is separate from your visa. Each university sets its own list of English tests, and most still list only IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge. Check with the admissions office before booking CELPIP for study. Your student visa may accept CELPIP even where the university does not.
Can I use a CELPIP test I took before August 2025?
No. Only CELPIP General tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 are approved for Australian visas. An older CELPIP score report is still fine for Canada if it is under 2 years old.
Is CELPIP accepted on equal terms with IELTS and PTE?
Yes. Home Affairs sets an equivalent score for each approved test at every English level. A CELPIP result that meets the Proficient threshold earns the same 10 points as IELTS 7 or the matching PTE Academic score.
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