For the Training visa (Subclass 407), the English standard is Functional English. If you are using PTE Academic, the current PTE score for 407 visa purposes is 24 overall for tests taken from 7 August 2025. There is no separate 24-point minimum for Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. The bigger issue for most applicants is not just the score, but whether they actually need PTE and whether the result is recent enough for the nomination and visa process.
On This Page
- What PTE Score Do You Need for a 407 Visa?
- Why You May See PTE 30 Mentioned for Subclass 407
- Is PTE 24 Required in Every Module?
- Functional English Can Matter Before You Lodge the Visa
- When to sort out your English evidence
- How Recent Does Your PTE Result Need to Be?
- You May Not Need PTE at All
- Passport evidence
- Education completed in English
- Can You Use IELTS Instead of PTE?
- Can PTE Be Taken Online From Home?
- Is Functional English the Same as Competent English?
- What PTE Score Should You Aim for in Practice?
- Does a Higher PTE Score Improve a Subclass 407 Application?
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
What PTE Score Do You Need for a 407 Visa?
The current Training visa PTE score is:
| Requirement | Current position |
|---|---|
| English standard | Functional English |
| Pearson test accepted | PTE Academic |
| Minimum result | 24 overall |
| Individual skill minimums | None specified |
| Evidence timing | Subject to the Functional English evidence period |
The official Home Affairs Functional English page lists PTE Academic among the accepted tests. This is different from visa pathways that use Competent English, where each communicative skill has its own minimum score.
Why You May See PTE 30 Mentioned for Subclass 407
If you search older material, you may still find PTE 30 overall listed as the Functional English standard. That figure relates to the previous PTE rules. Australia changed the approved English-test score framework from 7 August 2025. Under the current settings, Functional English requires 24 overall in PTE Academic.
For anyone booking a new test now, 24 overall is the figure to work from. An older result needs a different check. Its test date and the transitional rules may affect whether it can still be used, so an old score should not be judged against the new table without first checking when the test was taken.
Is PTE 24 Required in Every Module?
No, The 407 visa PTE requirement uses an overall score.
You do not need to achieve:
24 Listening,
24 Reading,
24 Writing, and
24 Speaking.
That is not how Functional English is defined for PTE Academic. This matters because some applicants look at Competent English or skilled-migration score tables and assume every Australian visa uses component minimums. Subclass 407 does not use that structure for Functional English. PTEClasses covers the English level itself in more detail in the Functional English PTE Score guide.
Functional English Can Matter Before You Lodge the Visa
For Subclass 407, English is tied closely to the nomination process. The current Training visa framework generally requires the sponsor and nomination to be approved before the visa application is lodged. Functional English is also relevant to the nominee. So leaving your English evidence until the very end can create a practical problem.
When to sort out your English evidence
If you are using PTE, arrange the test early enough that the result is available when the nomination and visa stages require it.
That becomes especially important if:
- your sponsor is close to lodging the nomination
- you have never taken PTE before
- your practice score is near 24
- you may need another test attempt
The official Training visa Subclass 407 information should be checked before lodgement because nomination procedures and evidence rules can change.
How Recent Does Your PTE Result Need to Be?
Functional English test evidence is generally tied to a 12-month period around the relevant application. That is easy to misunderstand because people often hear broader statements about PTE scores lasting for two years.
Those are not the same issue. Pearson’s general score-report period does not decide whether a result is acceptable for a specific Australian visa requirement. Immigration rules do.
For a 407 application, you should look at the date the test was taken against the relevant nomination or visa step rather than assuming that any visible PTE score report is still usable.
You May Not Need PTE at All
A PTE score for 407 visa purposes is only relevant if PTE is the evidence route you choose. Functional English can be shown in other ways.
Passport evidence
You may already satisfy Functional 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
Education completed in English
Some applicants can rely on qualifying study instead of an English test.
This can include certain:
- degree qualifications
- higher degrees
- diplomas
- trade certificates
- school education completed in English
- Australian study completed in English
The exact study length and conditions matter, so do not assume that simply having studied in English is enough.
The full evidence options are listed on the Home Affairs Functional English page.
Can You Use IELTS Instead of PTE?
Yes, PTE Academic is not mandatory for Subclass 407. Functional English can be shown through several approved English tests. Depending on the current government list, these include options such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP General and other recognised tests.
Each test uses its own scoring system. Do not convert PTE 24 into another test using an unofficial equivalency table. Use the score published by Home Affairs for the test you actually take.
Can PTE Be Taken Online From Home?
No, PTE Academic is computer-based, but the accepted test is completed at a secure test centre. A remote or fully online test taken from home is not accepted for Australian visa English evidence.
Before your official test, you can use the PTEClasses Practice Portal to practice all four skills, work through PTE-style questions and monitor your performance against your target score.
Is Functional English the Same as Competent English?
No, This is where applicants often set the wrong target. Functional English is a lower standard than Competent English. For Subclass 407, the relevant level is Functional English, which currently means PTE Academic 24 overall. Competent English uses a completely different score structure, with minimums in each skill. If your immediate goal is only the subclass 407 Visa English requirement, there is no need to prepare for a much higher score unless you have another reason to do so.
What PTE Score Should You Aim for in Practice?
The immigration threshold is 24 overall, but repeatedly scoring around 23 or 24 in practice is still risky. A better position is to be consistently above the minimum before your official test. For example, if your recent mock scores are:
22, 25, 24, 23
you are still sitting too close to the cutoff. You can use the PTEClasses PTE Score Calculator to review your current performance and see whether your practice results are moving safely above the score you need.
That does not mean you need to chase 65 or 79. It simply means you need a little more margin. If you decide to use PTE, focus on getting a stable result rather than preparing for English levels that your 407 application does not require.
Does a Higher PTE Score Improve a Subclass 407 Application?
Not in the same way it can affect a points-tested skilled visa. Subclass 407 is not a points-tested visa. Once you satisfy the English requirement, a much higher PTE score does not give you extra migration points for the Training visa. A stronger English result may still be useful later if you intend to move into another visa pathway, but that is a separate issue.
Final Thoughts
For current applications, the PTE score for 407 visa purposes is 24 overall in PTE Academic because Subclass 407 uses the Functional English standard. Before booking a test, check whether passport or education evidence already covers the requirement. If PTE is needed, pay attention to the timing of the result because English can be relevant during the nomination process as well as the visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Can I use an old PTE score for a 407 visa?
Possibly. The answer depends on when the test was taken and whether it falls within the Functional English evidence period applying to your nomination or visa application.
Can I use PTE Core for Subclass 407?
No, The Pearson test used for this Australian visa English requirement is PTE Academic.
Does my employer choose which English test I must take?
Not normally, The English evidence needs to satisfy the Australian visa rules. Your sponsor may ask for documents, but the accepted tests and scores come from the immigration framework.
Can professional registration replace the 407 Visa English requirement?
Not automatically. A registration body may have its own English rules, but Subclass 407 still has its own Functional English requirement. You need to check whether your existing evidence fits one of the accepted Functional English pathways.
Can I take PTE again if I score below 24?
Yes, Pearson allows another PTE Academic booking after your previous score has been released, subject to its current retake rules.
Does the 407 visa give extra points for a higher English score?
No, Subclass 407 is not a points-tested visa, so a higher PTE score does not add migration points to the application.
