If you are applying for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) through the Employer Sponsored stream, the main applicant must have at least Competent English. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the current PTE score for 494 visa applicants is 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing and 54 in Speaking. The Labour Agreement stream can follow different English settings, so applicants under that stream need to check the agreement itself.
On This Page
- Current PTE Score for 494 Visa Applicants
- Why the PTE Test Date Matters
- Is an Overall PTE Score Enough for Subclass 494?
- Which 494 Visa Stream Uses Competent English?
- Employer Sponsored Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
- How Recent Does Your PTE Result Need to Be?
- Check the score
- Check the timing
- Can a Passport Replace the PTE Test?
- Do Adult Family Members Need the Same PTE Score?
- Is the 494 Visa PTE Requirement the Same as the 482 Visa?
- Can You Use PTE Academic From Home?
- What Score Should You Target in Practice?
- What If You Plan to Move From Subclass 494 to Permanent Residence?
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
Current PTE Score for 494 Visa Applicants
For the standard Employer Sponsored stream, the 494 visa PTE requirement comes from the Competent English standard.
| PTE Academic skill | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 47 |
| Reading | 48 |
| Writing | 51 |
| Speaking | 54 |
You need the minimum in each of the four skills. There is no single overall PTE score that replaces these component requirements. Home Affairs lists these scores for Competent English tests taken from 7 August 2025.
If you want the English level itself explained in more detail, PTEClasses has a separate Competent English PTE Score guide. That page covers Competent English generally, while this article stays focused on the Subclass 494 requirement.
Why the PTE Test Date Matters
The approved Australian visa English-test framework changed on 7 August 2025.
For PTE Academic tests taken from that date, Competent English requires:
- Listening 47
- Reading 48
- Writing 51
- Speaking 54
For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the old PTE Academic requirement was 50 in each skill. Home Affairs says qualifying older results may still be used for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa and the relevant evidence period.
So if you already have an older PTE result, do not compare it with the new table automatically. Check the test date first.
Is an Overall PTE Score Enough for Subclass 494?
No, For the Employer Sponsored stream, Home Affairs requires at least Competent English. Under the current PTE Academic rules, that means meeting all four component thresholds separately.
For example:
| Skill | Example result | Meets Competent English? |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 60 | Yes |
| Reading | 58 | Yes |
| Writing | 50 | No |
| Speaking | 61 | Yes |
This result falls short because Writing is below 51.
A stronger Reading or Speaking result does not compensate for the missing Writing mark.
Which 494 Visa Stream Uses Competent English?
The Subclass 494 visa has more than one pathway, and the English requirement is not identical across them.
Employer Sponsored Stream
The Employer Sponsored stream requires the main applicant to have at least Competent English. Home Affairs also tells applicants to make sure their English result is current before applying. This is the stream most people mean when they search for the PTE requirement for subclass 494.
Labour Agreement Stream
The Labour Agreement stream is different. Home Affairs states that applicants in this stream must meet the English level written into the relevant labour agreement. That may be the standard level, or the agreement may contain a concession. So if your employer is sponsoring you through a DAMA or another labour agreement, do not assume that 47/48/51/54 is automatically the final requirement.
How Recent Does Your PTE Result Need to Be?
For Competent English, Home Affairs generally requires the approved test result to have been achieved within the three years before the visa application, depending on the subclass.
The Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored guidance also tells applicants to make sure their English results are current for the visa before lodging. That gives you two things to check:
Check the score
Make sure your PTE result reaches the Competent English thresholds that applied on the day you took the test.
Check the timing
Make sure the result is still within the relevant period when you make the visa application. These are separate issues. A score can be high enough but too old, or recent enough but below the required level.
Can a Passport Replace the PTE Test?
Yes, for some applicants. Home Affairs allows Competent English to be shown through a valid passport if you are a citizen of:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- the Republic of Ireland
- the United Kingdom
- the United States of America
If you meet that passport rule, you may not need PTE or another English test to prove Competent English. Do not book an English test automatically if you already fall within this evidence category.
Do Adult Family Members Need the Same PTE Score?
No, The primary applicant in the standard Employer Sponsored stream needs Competent English. Adult family members are treated differently.
Home Affairs requires a partner or adult dependant included in a Subclass 494 application to show Functional English. If they cannot, a second instalment of the visa application charge may be payable when Home Affairs asks for it.
Is the 494 Visa PTE Requirement the Same as the 482 Visa?
No, Subclass 482 has its own English test thresholds. Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored requires Competent English, which is a higher standard than the current 482 PTE requirement. If you have a PTE result that was enough for a 482 visa, do not assume it automatically meets the 494 visa English requirement.
For current PTE Academic tests:
- Subclass 482 uses its own lower visa-specific component scores.
- Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored uses Competent English.
That distinction is important for workers moving from temporary employer sponsorship into a regional employer-sponsored pathway.
For broader Australian visa comparisons, PTEClasses has a dedicated PTE for Australia PR guide rather than repeating all migration English levels here.
Can You Use PTE Academic From Home?
No, Home Affairs does not accept English tests delivered completely online or through remote proctoring for Australian visa purposes. PTE Academic is computer-based, but you still sit it at an approved test centre.
If you are preparing specifically for a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional PTE requirement, make sure you book the accepted PTE Academic test rather than assuming any Pearson product or home-based format will work.
What Score Should You Target in Practice?
The legal minimum is:
47 Listening, 48 Reading, 51 Writing and 54 Speaking.
That does not mean your practice target should sit exactly on those four numbers.
If your recent Speaking scores are 53, 55 and 52, you are hovering around the minimum rather than consistently above it. The same applies to Writing if your scores regularly move between 49 and 52.
The better approach is to look at the weak component and work there. Someone who already scores 65 in Listening and 62 in Reading does not need to spend equal time on those areas if Writing is still at 48. Use our PTE Score Calculator to estimate your score and identify the areas where you need more practice.
What If You Plan to Move From Subclass 494 to Permanent Residence?
Subclass 494 is a provisional regional visa. Home Affairs states that eligible holders may apply for permanent residence after they have held the visa for three years, subject to meeting the later Subclass 191 requirements.
That future pathway does not mean you need a higher PTE score for the 494 application itself.
Your current task is to satisfy the English standard attached to the stream you are applying under. The later permanent residence application has its own rules and should be checked separately when the time comes.
Final Thoughts
For the Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored stream, the present PTE score required for applicants of the 494 visa is the Competent English level, which consists of 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing and 54 in Speaking for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Tests taken before that date can be evaluated using the previous score table, and those applying under the Labour Agreement may have different English requirements. Before determining whether your current result is sufficient, you should check your stream, the date of your test and your evidence period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Can I use IELTS instead of PTE for a 494 visa?
Yes, PTE Academic is only one of the approved ways to prove Competent English. Home Affairs also accepts IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and other specified tests, each with its own score requirements.
Can I use PTE Core for a Subclass 494 visa?
No, Home Affairs lists PTE Academic under the approved Competent English tests. PTE Core is a different Pearson test and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Can I use IELTS One Skill Retake for Subclass 494?
Home Affairs accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for eligible visas, but it directs applicants to check the relevant visa page to confirm eligibility. Do not assume OSR is accepted for your 494 application without checking the current subclass-specific rule.
Does a higher PTE score give extra migration points for Subclass 494?
No. Subclass 494 is an employer-sponsored regional visa, not a points-tested skilled visa. Scoring above Competent English does not give you extra points for the 494 visa itself.
Does the 494 Labour Agreement stream always require Competent English?
No. The English level for the Labour Agreement stream is whatever the relevant labour agreement specifies. Some agreements can contain concessions, so the standard Employer Sponsored score should not be applied automatically.
Does a partner need to take PTE if included in a 494 application?
Not necessarily. An adult partner or dependant needs Functional English or may face a second instalment of the visa application charge. Functional English can also be proven through other accepted evidence, so PTE is not always required.
