If you are applying for an Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa and want to use PTE Academic as your English evidence, the PTE score for 186 visa applicants is based on the individual skill scores required for Competent English, not simply the overall PTE result.
On This Page
- What Is the PTE Requirement for Subclass 186?
- Current PTE Score for a 186 Visa
- Does a 186 Visa Still Require PTE 50 in Each Skill?
- Is an Overall PTE Score Enough for a 186 Visa?
- English Requirement for 186 Direct Entry
- 186 TRT English Requirement
- How Long Can You Use Your PTE Result for a 186 Visa?
- 186 Visa Dependent Functional English
- Can You Meet the 186 English Requirement Without PTE?
- Does the Labour Agreement Stream Have the Same PTE Requirement?
- Can You Take PTE From Home for a 186 Visa?
- What PTE Score Should You Aim for?
- PTE Score for 186 Visa: What You Need to Remember
- Frequently Asked Questions
For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the current Competent English requirement is:
| PTE Academic skill | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 47 |
| Reading | 48 |
| Writing | 51 |
| Speaking | 54 |
The Department of Home Affairs requires these minimum scores in each of the four components. A higher Reading or Listening result cannot compensate for a Writing or Speaking score below the required level.
What Is the PTE Requirement for Subclass 186?
For the primary applicant, both the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition pathways generally require at least Competent English.
For a current PTE Academic test, this means:
- Listening: 47
- Reading: 48
- Writing: 51
- Speaking: 54
The Subclass 186 Direct Entry criteria expressly require at least Competent English.
If you want to understand how this English level works beyond the 186 visa specifically, PTEClasses has a separate guide to Competent English PTE scores. That page covers the English level itself, while this article focuses on the PTE requirement for subclass 186.
Current PTE Score for a 186 Visa
For someone taking PTE now, the relevant scores are:
| Test date | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after 7 August 2025 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| On or before 6 August 2025 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
This date distinction matters.
Home Affairs changed the approved English-test requirements on 7 August 2025. Although the test continues to be called PTE Academic, Home Affairs specifically notes that the test and applicable scores differ from the previous version.
Pearson also confirms that updated Australian visa score requirements took effect from 7 August 2025.
Does a 186 Visa Still Require PTE 50 in Each Skill?
Not if you are taking a new PTE Academic test.
The familiar PTE 50 in each skill requirement belongs to the previous Competent English score table for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025.
For tests taken from 7 August 2025, the requirement changed to:
- 47 in Listening
- 48 in Reading
- 51 in Writing
- 54 in Speaking
So using “50 each” as your target for a new test could cause a problem. A Speaking score of 50, for example, would now fall below the required 54.
Home Affairs states that eligible results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may continue to be used for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa and the applicable validity requirements.
If you already hold an older result, the separate PTEClasses guide on PTE score validity for Australia PR can help you understand the broader validity issue before you decide whether another test may be necessary.
Is an Overall PTE Score Enough for a 186 Visa?
No.
For Competent English for 186 visa purposes, Home Affairs sets minimum scores for each component rather than one overall PTE threshold.
Consider this example:
| Skill | Example score | Meets the current requirement? |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 64 | Yes |
| Reading | 60 | Yes |
| Writing | 50 | No |
| Speaking | 66 | Yes |
Despite three strong scores, the Writing result is below the required 51. This is why concentrating only on your overall result can be misleading. You need to check all four communicative skills independently.
PTEClasses’ PTE Score Calculator can help you review your individual scores against different PTE targets. For visa eligibility, however, always compare the result with the current Home Affairs requirement.
English Requirement for 186 Direct Entry
The English requirement for 186 Direct Entry is at least Competent English. Home Affairs states that a Direct Entry applicant must meet minimum English-language standards, and its detailed criteria specify at least Competent English for the primary applicant.
For PTE Academic tests taken from 7 August 2025, that means:
Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51 and Speaking 54.
The Direct Entry criteria also state that your English test result needs to be current. Home Affairs says the result cannot have been issued more than three years before you make the application, and you must have received the result before lodging. Check the official Subclass 186 Direct Entry criteria.
This timing requirement matters for applicants who completed PTE for an earlier visa and now want to reuse the same result for permanent residence.
186 TRT English Requirement
The 186 TRT English requirement also needs to be considered separately when moving from a temporary employer-sponsored visa to permanent residence.
The Temporary Residence Transition stream is available to eligible workers nominated by their current employer. The broader Subclass 186 information identifies TRT as one of the permanent employer-sponsored pathways.
Where Competent English applies, a current PTE Academic result needs the same component scores:
Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51 and Speaking 54.
Do not assume that because you previously satisfied an English requirement for another Australian visa, the same result automatically meets the Subclass 186 requirement.
The English level, test date and validity of the result still need to be checked for the 186 application.
How Long Can You Use Your PTE Result for a 186 Visa?
For Competent English, Home Affairs states that an approved test result generally needs to have been achieved in the three years before the visa application, depending on the relevant visa subclass.
For the Direct Entry stream specifically, Home Affairs says:
- the English test result must be current for the visa
- it cannot have been issued more than three years before the application
- the applicant must receive the result before lodging.
Two dates therefore matter:
- The test date, which determines whether the old or current PTE scoring table applies.
- The visa application date, which affects whether your result is still acceptable.
This is a different question from how long Pearson displays or recognises a score. Visa evidence requirements are determined by Home Affairs.
For a deeper explanation of this distinction, read PTE Score Validity for Australia PR.
186 Visa Dependent Functional English
The English requirement for an adult family member is not the same as the primary applicant’s Competent English requirement. For Direct Entry, Home Affairs states that a dependent applicant who was at least 18 when the application was lodged should provide evidence of at least Functional English. If that evidence is not provided, an additional second instalment of the visa application charge can apply.
For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the current Functional English requirement is an overall score of at least 24.
That creates an important distinction:
| Applicant | English level | Current PTE requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Primary applicant, Direct Entry | Competent English | L47, R48, W51, S54 |
| Primary applicant, TRT | Competent English | L47, R48, W51, S54 |
| Relevant adult dependent | Functional English | Overall 24 |
Functional English can also be shown through certain passport or education evidence. An adult dependent should therefore check the accepted evidence before booking a PTE test unnecessarily. Check the official Functional English requirements.
Can You Meet the 186 English Requirement Without PTE?
Yes, PTE Academic is only one of the approved ways to demonstrate Competent English.
Home Affairs also accepts other specified English tests. A test may not be required to demonstrate Competent English if you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- the Republic of Ireland
- the United Kingdom
- the United States of America.
Applicants considering other Australian permanent residence pathways can read the broader PTEClasses guide to PTE for Australia PR.
That broader page should not replace the specific Subclass 186 criteria. Different visa pathways can use English results differently.
Does the Labour Agreement Stream Have the Same PTE Requirement?
Not necessarily, Subclass 186 also includes a Labour Agreement stream. Home Affairs describes this as a pathway for workers nominated by employers who are parties to a labour agreement.
The terms of the relevant labour agreement can affect the requirements that apply.
For this reason, someone applying under a Labour Agreement should not automatically use the standard Direct Entry or TRT English position without checking the particular agreement and the relevant Home Affairs criteria.
Can You Take PTE From Home for a 186 Visa?
No, Home Affairs states that it does not accept English tests delivered completely online, including remote-proctored or at-home tests, for Australian visa purposes.
PTE Academic is computer-based, but the approved visa test is not simply an online test you can complete from home.
Pearson confirms that PTE Academic is accepted by the Australian Government for visa purposes and directs applicants to the Home Affairs requirements for the applicable scores.
This is worth checking before booking, especially if you encounter different Pearson products or delivery formats online.
What PTE Score Should You Aim for?
The legal requirement tells you the minimum score you must meet. It does not mean that consistently scoring exactly at the minimum is a sensible preparation target.
Suppose your recent Speaking results are 52, 54 and 53. You have reached the required 54 once, but you are not yet consistently above it. The same issue applies to Writing if your scores regularly sit around 50 or 51.
A better approach is to identify the skill closest to or below the required threshold and concentrate your practice there.
If you need targeted practice rather than another explanation of visa rules, use the relevant PTEClasses PTE Practice Questions to work across individual question types. The PTE Study Material page is also available when you need broader preparation across all four skills.
These resources support preparation. They do not change the immigration requirement, which should always be checked against Home Affairs.
PTE Score for 186 Visa: What You Need to Remember
For a primary applicant using PTE Academic for a standard Subclass 186 Direct Entry or TRT pathway, a test taken on or after 7 August 2025 currently needs at least:
Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51 and Speaking 54.
Do not rely on the old PTE 50-each rule if you are taking a new test. Do not judge the result from the overall score alone either. Each of the four Competent English component minimums matters.
If you already have a PTE result, check its date and validity before deciding whether you need another test. Adult dependants should also check the separate Functional English rules rather than using the primary applicant’s scores.
Visa requirements can change, so the final check before lodging should always be against the current Home Affairs Subclass 186 and English-language criteria. View the official Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Can I combine two PTE test results to meet the 186 requirement?
Do not assume that you can take the strongest component from one PTE result and combine it with another test attempt to create a qualifying Competent English result. Your evidence needs to satisfy the Home Affairs requirements applying to your application. If you have multiple test results and intend to rely on them in an unusual way, confirm the evidence rules before lodging.
Can I use PTE Core for a Subclass 186 visa?
The Australian visa information published by Pearson identifies PTE Academic as the test accepted by the Australian Government for visa purposes. PTE Core is a different Pearson test and should not be treated as interchangeable with PTE Academic for an Australian Subclass 186 application.
Do I need a higher PTE score because Subclass 186 is a permanent visa?
Not simply because the visa grants permanent residence. The English requirement for the standard Direct Entry pathway is at least Competent English. Your required score comes from that specified English level, not from the fact that Subclass 186 is a permanent visa. If you are comparing English levels used elsewhere in Australian migration, the PTEClasses PTE for Australia PR guide provides the broader context without changing the specific 186 requirement.
