Changes to the Subclass 457 visa program - English language requirements
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A new English language requirement was introduced to the Subclass 457 visa program on 1 July 2007.
What are the English language requirements?
Since 1 July 2007, certain primary Subclass 457 visa applicants have been required to have proficiency in English equivalent to an average band score of 4.5 across the four test components in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Applicants must meet a higher level of English proficiency where this is required for licensing or registration in their nominated occupation. Applicants will need to detail their English language skills on their visa application form.
Important: You may be required to take an IELTS test to demonstrate your English language skills.
What is IELTS?
IELTS is a test designed to assess an applicant’s English language ability. It has an academic test and a general training test – applicants only need to take the general training test unless advised otherwise by a registration or licensing body.
IELTS examinations are available worldwide. Information on fees, available test dates and application forms are available on the IELTS website.
See: International English Language Testing System
English for Registration/Licensing/Membership
A higher level of English is required for certain occupations where it forms part of registration/licensing or membership. You can find out if your occupation requires a higher level of English by contacting the assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Contact details for assessing bodies and skills recognition are available on the Department’s website.
See: Australian skills recognition information (ASRI)
Why was the requirement introduced?
The English language requirement will help to ensure overseas workers are able to respond to occupational health and safety risks, raise any concerns about their welfare with appropriate authorities and benefit Australia by sharing their skills with other workers.
Who must meet the requirement?
All primary applicants must meet the English language requirement unless they have been nominated for a position that does not require English language for licensing or registration and any one of the following exempted person categories apply:
- their first language is English and they are a passport holder from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America
- their nominated occupation is within the highly skilled major groups 1-3 of the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO), comprising managers, administrators, professionals and associate professionals
- they are to be paid at least a salary specified in a legislative instrument (initially a gross base salary of $77 850 excluding all deductions and based on a 38 hour week) and the grant of the visa is in the interests of Australia. This salary is the minimum required to be paid for the duration of the visa.
See: Nomination eligibility - they have completed at least five years of continuous full time secondary and/or tertiary education at an institution where at least 80 percent of instruction was conducted in English
- they hold a Subclass 457–Business (Long Stay) visa that was granted before 1 July 2007 and have applied for a new Subclass 457–Business (Long Stay) visa with a proposed period of stay that would not extend beyond the end date of their current visa.
Important: If you completed study at an institution where instruction was in English, you should provide the following information with your application:
- Name and location of the institution
- Level of qualification
- Official transcript from the secondary and/or tertiary institution
- Number of contact hours of instruction per week delivered in English
- Number of years of continuous study.
Do current Subclass 457 visa holders need to meet these requirements?
Current visa holders will not be required to demonstrate their English skills while on their current visa (unless required by licensing or registration).
Current visa holders who apply for a further Subclass 457–Business (Long Stay) visa after 1 July 2007 will need to meet the English language requirement, unless they are in an exempted person category described above.
Applicants that do not meet the English language requirement will not meet the criteria to be granted a further Subclass 457–Business (Long Stay) visa and will be required to make arrangements to depart Australia or apply for another visa that is appropriate to their continued stay in Australia.
See: Minimum salary levels and occupations for the business long stay visa (193KB PDF file)