IELTS Score Requirements for Australia PR in 2025

Australia has been seen as the perfect place for individuals who are looking to migrate in order to upscale their standard of living. With its vibrant culture, booming job market and a robust education establishment Australia has turned itself into a dream place for professionals who wants to take their skills to a global stage. For them to turn this dream into reality achieving Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia is their sole goal. Getting a PR of Australia opens doors for multiple opportunities, be if professional or personal. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand all the intricacies of getting Permanent Residency in Australia. 

Before applying for Australian PR, it’s important to understand one of the crucial components of this journey, which is proving your English language proficiency — and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most commonly accepted ways to do so. There are other test and factors that are to be considered by getting a good score in your IETLS exam remains a crucial one. 

In this blog, we give dive into how IELTS scores impact your PR eligibility, we will be shedding light on what the minimum band requirements are and will be listing down other factors which can increase your chances of success in getting PR in Australia. 

IELTS Score Bands & PR Points – Explained Clearly

There are two IELTS examinations that may be taken by those who wish to get permanent residency in Australia: the Academic and General Training tests. Aside from professions like medicine, nursing, accounting, and engineering, which require the IELTS Academic to be eligible, the General Training test is the alternative for skilled professionals seeking a work visa. The IELTS Academic is typically used by students seeking an Australian study visa. 

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs classifies English proficiency under three levels: Competent, Proficient, and Superior. Each of these levels corresponds to a range of IELTS scores and contributes differently to your overall PR points. 

Here’s a simplified table for better understanding: 

Note: You must score the minimum in each of the four components — overall band scores are not considered. 

Why Aim Higher Than the Minimum? 

Although IELTS 6.0, or Competent English, satisfies the prerequisite for the majority of skilled visas, such as Subclass 189, 190, or 491, it does not increase your overall immigration point total. You receive more points the better your IELTS score, which can: 

• Increase your total PR score 

• Help you meet the cut-off faster 

• Improve your chances in competitive state nominations or invitations 

In most PR programs, even a single point can make a difference between getting selected or not. 

IELTS Requirements Across Different Visa Categories

Here’s how IELTS requirements generally apply to popular PR visa subclasses: 

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): Minimum Competent English 

• Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Minimum Competent English, higher scores beneficial 

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): Minimum Competent English 

However, Proficient or Superior English is strongly recommended if you want to score higher in the PR points grid. 

Other English Tests Accepted for Australia PR

Apart from IELTS, the Australian government also accepts several other tests: 

*Order: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking 

Choose the test that suits your strengths best — but always aim for the score bracket that gives you the most points. 

Other Key Factors That Affect Your PR Eligibility

When applying for permanent Residency in Australia English language proficiency is just one part of the points-based immigration system. Other equally important factors include: 

• Age: 25–32 years earns the maximum 30 points 

• Work Experience: Both overseas and Australian experience is rewarded 

• Educational Qualifications: Higher degrees, especially from Australia, earn more points 

• Australian Study Requirement 

• STEM & Research Degrees 

• Partner Skills (if applicable) 

• Credentialed Community Language 

• Professional Year in Australia 

• State Nomination or Regional Sponsorship 

To maximize your total score, it’s crucial to strategically build your profile across these parameters — not just IELTS. 

Conclusion

Reaching the IELTS minimum score is only the first step. Your application may have a significant advantage if you score Proficient or Superior English in Australia’s competitive PR system.  

On paper, the procedure may appear simple, but in practice, it calls for careful preparation, calculated decisions, and current awareness of changing visa regulations. Working with knowledgeable visa advisors may be quite beneficial in this situation.  

Professional assistance may streamline your process and greatly raise your chances of success, from teaching you how to raise your IELTS score to assisting you in developing a more compelling public relations presence.