TOEFL iBT Australia for visas: what Home Affairs accepts
Home Affairs accepts the TOEFL iBT for Australian visas, with conditions. You must take it at a secure test centre and select Taking TOEFL for Australia when you register. The Home Edition does not count.
This page is about the TOEFL iBT and Australian visas and registration. What counts is Home Affairs' own wording, with ETS's statements kept separate and labelled. Where the two sources disagree or go quiet, we say so. It is not immigration advice: Home Affairs decides, and its pages change.
What Home Affairs requires
Three conditions, in Home Affairs' own words.
Home Affairs lists the TOEFL iBT among the tests it accepts for Australian visas. The list comes with conditions that people miss, and a missed condition means a result that does not count. The three that matter are below.
"Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) - To ensure your TOEFL iBT result is valid for Australian visa purposes, you must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when registering for your test. Results not registered under this pathway may not be accepted for Australian visa purposes."
- Take the TOEFL iBT at a secure test centre. Home Affairs says it accepts the listed tests when they are undertaken at a secure test centre.
- When you register, select Taking TOEFL for Australia.
- Do not take the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. It is on Home Affairs' list of online tests it does not accept.
Two wordings for the same rule
The English language page says results not registered under this pathway "may not be accepted". Four of the five level pages, including Competent English, say they "are not eligible". The Functional English page keeps the softer "may not be accepted".
"Results not registered under this pathway are not eligible for Australian visa purposes."
Our reading: treat the stricter wording as the rule. If you did not pick the Australia option when you registered, do not assume the result will be accepted. Ask ETS and your migration adviser before you rely on it.
Home Affairs also dates the rule differently. The Student visa and 482 pages say it applies from 21 January 2026, while the English language page and the English level pages state it with no date. ETS's Information Bulletin says only tests taken before 21 January 2026 and TOEFL iBT Australia are currently approved for Australian visa purposes. The level pages state the Australia rule with no date, so if your test was taken before 21 January 2026, confirm with ETS and your migration adviser before you rely on it.
The Home Edition does not count
Same company, same name, a different rule.
ETS sells the TOEFL iBT two ways: at a test centre, and at home with a live proctor. Home Affairs only takes the first. It does not accept tests that are delivered completely online, and it names the TOEFL iBT Home Edition in its list of examples.
"Examples of online tests that we do not accept for Australian visa purposes include: CELPIP Online IELTS Online LANGUAGECERT Academic Online MET Digital (taken at-home) OET@Home TOEFL iBT – Home Edition."
"Home Edition scores are not currently accepted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs"
The student visa page says the same thing from the other side. From 21 January 2026 applicants must select Taking TOEFL for Australia during registration, and the Home Edition is on its list of online tests that do not count. The nursing and midwifery board takes the same view for registration.
"These tests are currently not accepted by the NMBA"
Tests taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024
A window when the TOEFL iBT was not approved.
Home Affairs says the TOEFL iBT was not approved for Australian visa purposes for a period in 2023 and 2024. A result from that period does not count, even if you passed.
"We will not accept TOEFL iBT tests completed between 26 July 2023, and 4 May 2024 for Australian visa and migration purposes. During this period, the TOEFL iBT test being offered was not an approved test."
If you have an older TOEFL result, check its test date against that window before you think about reusing it.
The scores Home Affairs asks for
One row per English level, new tests and older tests.
Home Affairs sets its English level by level. Functional English asks for a total score. The other four levels set a minimum in each of the four parts of the test. The table gives the TOEFL iBT figures for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 and for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, exactly as Home Affairs prints them.
| English level | TOEFL iBT, taken on or after 7 August 2025 | TOEFL iBT, taken on or before 6 August 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Functional English | Total score of at least 26 | Total score of at least 32 |
| Vocational English | Listening 8, Reading 8, Writing 9, Speaking 14 | Listening 4, Reading 4, Writing 14, Speaking 14 |
| Competent English | Listening 16, Reading 16, Writing 19, Speaking 19 | Listening 12, Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 21 |
| Proficient English | Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 26, Speaking 24 | Listening 24, Reading 24, Writing 27, Speaking 23 |
| Superior English | Listening 26, Reading 27, Writing 30, Speaking 28 | Listening 28, Reading 29, Writing 30, Speaking 26 |
Which row you need depends on your visa. Home Affairs' level pages say the results must be recent: for most levels the score must come from a test in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass, and for Functional English the test must be in the 12 months before. The Student visa page sets a limit of its own, 2 years, which we cover under How long your result lasts. Home Affairs also says older results taken on or before 6 August 2025 may still be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive, depending on the visa. For Functional English that date is 6 August 2026, which has passed. Those dates sit beside the rolling limits, not instead of them: Home Affairs says a result from a test taken before 7 August 2025 may still be valid for up to 3 years (up to 12 months for Functional English), depending on the visa subclass. Our reading: the earlier of the two dates decides. The Student visa (subclass 500) page asks for a test within the 2 years before you lodge, so use that limit for a student application.
"* Test results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, may be used as evidence of English proficiency for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, inclusive. This will depend on the visa."
Home Affairs updated the level pages on 21 September 2026, which is the version these figures come from. If you are reading this some time after that date, look at the live page.
Which level your visa needs
Most visa pages name an English level. The Student visa page gives scores instead.
Many visas name an English level, and the level is set by the visa, not by the test. Four examples from Home Affairs' visa pages show how different they can be. The Student visa (subclass 500) page works differently: it gives a minimum overall score for each test instead of a level.
| Visa | What the visa page says |
|---|---|
| Skills in Demand 482, Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams | You must take an English test unless you are exempt, within 3 years before you apply. For tests taken on or after 13 September 2025 the TOEFL iBT minimums are Listening 8, Reading 8, Writing 9 and Speaking 14. The 482 page has a separate table for earlier tests. For tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 you must select Taking TOEFL for Australia. |
| Skilled Independent 189, points-tested stream | At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English. |
| Skilled Work Regional 491 | At the time of invitation, you must have at least Competent English. |
| Training 407 | You must have functional English. |
Our PTE pages list the English requirement visa by visa, and the levels are the same whichever test you take: the 482 visa, the 491 visa and the 189 visa. Read the level there, then come back to the TOEFL row above.
The new 1 to 6 scale and Home Affairs' numbers
ETS changed its score scale in January 2026. Home Affairs' pages still show plain numbers.
ETS's own scores page says its reports changed in January 2026.
"As of January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports feature a new 1 – 6 scale, in half point increments, with a more intuitive alignment to the Common European Framework of References for Language (CEFR)."
ETS also says the report carries a comparable total on the older scale, and that institutions are still catching up.
"Your official TOEFL iBT score report includes both the updated 1 to 6 scores and a comparable 0 to 120 total score estimate, so you can meet either format without converting anything."
That line is about the overall score. ETS says you receive four section scores and an overall score on the 1 to 6 scale, and for a two-year transition period a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale, which it describes as the midpoint of the corresponding total range. ETS's scores page says the report adds a comparable overall score on the 0 to 120 scale. It does not say the report carries section scores on the old scale, although a comparison table on that page lines the 1 to 6 bands up against the old section ranges. ETS's test overview says only that the score report will carry references to the old score scale for two years, without saying which scores. Home Affairs sets a minimum for each part of the test at every level except Functional English, so an old-scale total on its own cannot show that you meet those minimums. Our reading: for a section minimum, put the table below beside the Home Affairs number, and treat any band that sits on the line as unproven.
The Home Affairs figures in the table above are plain numbers such as 16 and 19. The Home Affairs pages we read do not mention the 1 to 6 scale. We found no official page that says how those numbers apply to a 1 to 6 report. What we can show is ETS's own concordance, which lines the 1 to 6 bands up against the older 0-30 section scores and the 0-120 total.
| Band score | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 29-30 | 28-30 | 29-30 | 28-30 | 114+ |
| 5.5 | 27-28 | 26-27 | 27-28 | 27 | 107+ |
| 5 | 24-26 | 22-25 | 24-26 | 25-26 | 95+ |
| 4.5 | 22-23 | 20-21 | 21-23 | 23-24 | 86+ |
| 4 | 18-21 | 17-19 | 17-20 | 20-22 | 72+ |
| 3.5 | 12-17 | 13-16 | 15-16 | 18-19 | 58+ |
| 3 | 6-11 | 9-12 | 13-14 | 16-17 | 44+ |
| 2.5 | 4-5 | 6-8 | 11-12 | 13-15 | 34+ |
Read the table with care. ETS's test overview prints 114 for band 6 and its scores page prints 114+, so treat 114 as a floor. Each band is a range. For example, Listening band 3.5 covers 13-16 and Reading band 3.5 covers 12-17, so one band can sit on either side of a minimum such as the 16 Home Affairs sets for Competent English listening. That is why we cannot turn a 1 to 6 score into a pass or a fail for you. Our reading: before you book, ask ETS what your TOEFL for Australia report will show, and ask your migration adviser what Home Affairs will check.
How long your result lasts
ETS and Home Affairs count differently.
ETS says TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years. Home Affairs' English level pages ask for a test in the 3 years before your visa application for most levels, depending on the visa subclass, and the 12 months before for Functional English. The Student visa (subclass 500) page sets its own limit: the test must be completed within the 2 years before you lodge if you are Regular Evidence level, or within the 2 years before a decision is made if you are Streamlined Evidence level and the Department has asked for evidence.
| Who | What it says |
|---|---|
| ETS | TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years |
| Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500) | Test within the 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level), or within the 2 years before a decision is made (Streamlined Evidence level, if the Department has requested evidence) |
| Home Affairs, most levels | Test in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass |
| Home Affairs, Functional English | Test in the 12 months before your visa application |
ETS's Information Bulletin adds that scores more than 2 years old cannot be reported or verified. Home Affairs measures from your test date. Our reading: plan to the shorter of the two limits, because a result close to either one is a risk you can avoid by applying sooner.
Professional registration
AHPRA and the nursing and midwifery board.
If you need English for professional registration rather than a visa, the same option matters. AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, says the same thing.
"NOTE: To ensure your TOEFL iBT result is valid for Australian registration purposes, you must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when registering for your test. TOEFL iBT Australia is the test currently accepted by National Boards for registration purposes."
The score levels for registration are set separately from the visa levels. AHPRA says it updated its minimum scores on 23 April 2026, so use the tables on its own page. Our AHPRA English requirements page covers them.
What ETS says about itself
Marketing claims, kept separate from the rules.
ETS's Australia page says the test is accepted by every Australian university and recognised for visa purposes. This is ETS describing its own test, so we attribute it. It also says the test takes about 2 hours.
"Accepted by 100% of Australian universities and recognised for Australian visa purposes, TOEFL iBT Australia gives you a trusted, globally respected way to demonstrate your English proficiency."
"Because immigration policies and score requirements can change, we strongly recommend checking official government resources before booking your test or submitting your application."
That second line is the one to follow. A visa decision belongs to Home Affairs, not to ETS.
Before you book
A short checklist, in order.
- Open the Home Affairs page for your visa and find the English level it names. The Student visa page gives minimum scores instead, so use those.
- Find that level's TOEFL iBT row in the table above and note the scores you need.
- Register for the TOEFL iBT with ETS and select Taking TOEFL for Australia.
- Choose a test centre date. Do not choose the Home Edition.
- Check the TOEFL fee for Australia and the cancellation deadline before you pay.
- After your results arrive, check them against the row for your level before you lodge anything.
This is not immigration advice. Home Affairs decides what counts, and its pages change.
Common questions
For visas, Home Affairs accepts the TOEFL iBT when it is taken at a secure test centre and you select Taking TOEFL for Australia when you register. ETS also says its Australia test is accepted by 100% of Australian universities.
Home Affairs names it as a registration pathway: you select Taking TOEFL for Australia when you register. We found no official page that describes a different test format. ETS says the TOEFL iBT Australia test takes approximately 2 hours.
No. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online and names the TOEFL iBT Home Edition as an example. ETS says Home Edition scores are not currently accepted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
It depends on your visa. Many skilled and temporary visas name an English level, and for Competent English Home Affairs asks for at least 16 for listening, 16 for reading, 19 for writing and 19 for speaking on a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. The Student visa (subclass 500) page instead sets a minimum overall TOEFL iBT score that depends on your course, so read the table on that page. Other levels are in the table above.
ETS says TOEFL iBT scores are valid for 2 years. Home Affairs' English level pages ask for a test in the 3 years before your visa application for most levels, depending on the visa subclass, and the 12 months before for Functional English. The Student visa page asks for a test within the 2 years before you lodge. Use the limit on the page for your own visa.
Possibly, but two limits apply. Home Affairs says a result from a test taken before 7 August 2025 may still be valid for up to 3 years (up to 12 months for Functional English), depending on the visa subclass, and that results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive (6 August 2026 for Functional English, which has passed). Our reading: the earlier of the two dates decides. The Student visa (subclass 500) page asks for a test within the 2 years before you lodge, so use that limit for a student application. A test taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 does not count at all.
The Home Affairs pages we read show plain numbers and do not mention the 1 to 6 scale. ETS says its report carries both the 1 to 6 scores and a comparable 0 to 120 total estimate. Ask ETS and your migration adviser before you book.
AHPRA says TOEFL iBT Australia is the test currently accepted by National Boards for registration purposes, and you must select Taking TOEFL for Australia when you register.