Is CELPIP Valid in Australia?
Yes! Following an official policy update by the Department of Home Affairs, CELPIP General is now officially recognized for Australian visa and immigration applications.
Great News for Applicants: Effective August 7, 2025, the Australian Department of Home Affairs added CELPIP General to its official list of approved English language proficiency tests alongside IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, and Cambridge C1 Advanced.
1. Which CELPIP Test is Accepted?
The Australian government accepts the CELPIP General test for various visa streams—including Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), Employer Sponsored (subclass 482), Temporary Graduate (subclass 485), and Student visas (subclass 500).
Crucial Condition: The test must be completed in-person at an official secure test centre. Online or remote-proctored versions of any language test are strictly not accepted for Australian visa applications.
2. CELPIP Score Equivalencies for Australian Visas
Depending on your visa subclass and points requirement, you must satisfy one of the recognized English proficiency levels defined by Home Affairs:
| Proficiency Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional English | Overall band score of at least 5 | |||
| Vocational English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Competent English | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Proficient English (+10 Points) | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Superior English (+20 Points) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
3. Advantages for Dual-Country Applicants
If you are exploring immigration options for both Canada and Australia, taking CELPIP General now allows you to use a single test score for both destinations! This saves substantial preparation time and money compared to sitting separate exams for each country.
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