English language requirements for some working holiday visas
Find out how you can meet our English language requirements if you are applying for a working holiday visa.
When you apply
You must show that you can speak and understand English when you apply for the following working holiday visas:
- China Working Holiday Visa
- Philippines Working Holiday Visa
- Thailand Working Holiday Visa
- Turkey Working Holiday Visa
- Vietnam Working Holiday Visa.
You can also choose to show that you can speak and understand English when you apply for the Peru Working Holiday Visa. This will reduce the amount of money you need to bring with you to cover your living costs.
There are no English language requirements for any other working holiday visas.
Find out more about the visa you are applying for:
- a tertiary qualification from an institution where all the tuition was in English, or
- an acceptable English language test result. Check the 'English language tests' section.
- were taught in English for all the years you were at primary school and for at least 3 years of secondary school
- were taught in English for 5 years at secondary school
- attended full-time study or training, taught in English, at a higher level than secondary school, for 2 years or more.
- a tertiary qualification from an institution where all the tuition was in English, or
- an acceptable English language test result. Check the 'English language tests' section.
You must take an English language test. Check the 'English language tests' section.
There are no English language requirements when you apply for this visa. You can, however, choose to take an English test.
Achieving an acceptable score will reduce the amount of money you need to bring with you to cover your living expenses. Normally you would need to have $7,000 for your stay, but this is reduced to $4,200 with a successful English test.
After you apply online, we will ask you to provide an acceptable English language test result, if you have one. Check the 'English language tests' section.
After you apply online, we will ask you to provide evidence that you have either:
There are 2 ways you can show us you speak and understand English.
Speaking English
After you apply online, we will ask you to provide evidence that one of the following apply, you:
If you cannot provide this information, we can test your English by talking to you about yourself, your family and your background.
Taking a test
Alternatively, you can take an English language test. Check the 'English language tests' section.
After you apply online, we will ask you to provide evidence that you have either:
You must take an English language test. Check the 'English language tests' section.
English language tests
You can meet the English language requirement by taking a test.
You will need to sit the test in person at a test centre, and your result must be no more than 2 years old at the time you apply. Tests taken remotely outside of a test centre, such as 'at home' tests are not acceptable. You can choose which test to take.
Approved English language tests
We accept the following English language tests:
- General or Academic module — International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- One Skill Retake (OSR) — International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
- B2 First — Cambridge English (B2 First)
- B2 First for Schools — Cambridge English (B2 First for Schools)
- Occupational English Test (OET) — designed for health care professionals
Your English language test results
If you take an English language test, there is a minimum score you need to achieve.
China Working Holiday Visa
For the principal applicant for a China Working Holiday Visa. You must take an English language test.
| Test | Principal applicant |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 or more |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 46 or more |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 42 or more |
| B2 First | Overall score of 162 or more |
| B2 First for Schools | Overall score of 162 or more |
| OET | Grade C or higher in all 4 skills — listening, reading, writing and speaking. |
Peru Working Holiday Visa
For the principal applicant for a Peru Working Holiday Visa. You can choose to take an English language test.
| Test | Principal applicant |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.0 or more in Speaking and 1 other skill area — listening, reading or writing |
| TOEFL iBT |
14 or more in speaking, and 1 of the following scores:
|
| PTE Academic | 36 or more in speaking and 1 other skill area — listening, reading or writing |
| B2 First | 154 or more in speaking and 1 other skill area — listening, reading or writing |
| B2 First for Schools | 154 or more in speaking and 1 other skill area — listening, reading or writing |
| OET | Grade C or higher in speaking and 1 other skill area — listening, reading or writing |
Other working holiday visas
For the principal applicant for:
- Philippines Working Holiday Visa
- Thailand Working Holiday Visa
- Turkey Working Holiday Visa
- Vietnam Working Holiday Visa.
When you apply for a Philippines Working Holiday Visa or a Turkey Working Holiday Visa you must either provide evidence that you have a tertiary qualification from an institution where all the tuition was in English, or take an English language test.
When you apply for a Thailand Working Holiday visa you must either provide evidence that you already speak and understand English, or take an English language test.
When you apply for a Vietnam Working Holiday Visa you must take an English language test.
| Test | Principal applicant |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Overall score of 4.5 or more |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 32 or more |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 30 or more |
| B2 First | Overall score of 147 or more |
| B2 First for Schools | Overall score of 147 or more |
| OET | Grade C or higher in all 4 skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. |
There are no English language requirements for any other working holiday visas.
About the Occupational English Test
The Occupational English Test (OET) is a paper or computer-based test. You need to reach the required score in all 4 skills because there is no overall grade for this test.