The English requirement for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is different for the main applicant and adult family members. The primary applicant needs at least Competent English at the time of invitation, while family members aged 18 or older generally need Functional English or may have to pay a second installment of the visa application charge. For a current PTE Academic test, the minimum PTE score for 491 visa eligibility for the main applicant is 47 Listening, 48 Reading, 51 Writing and 54 Speaking.
On This Page
- PTE Requirement for the Main Subclass 491 Applicant
- What English Do Adult Dependants Need?
- Functional English Is Not Always a PTE Test
- Passport evidence
- Education in English
- What Happens If an Adult Dependent Has Less Than Functional English?
- Does Subclass 491 Give Points for Higher English?
- Why the Test Date Still Matters
- When Should the Main Applicant Have Their English Result?
- Partner English Can Affect More Than the Visa Charge
- State Nomination and Family Sponsorship Do Not Change the English Minimum
- Does an Overall PTE Score Work for the Main Applicant?
- Is PTE Academic Mandatory for Subclass 491?
- Choosing the Right PTE Target for a 491 Application
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
PTE Requirement for the Main Subclass 491 Applicant
The 491 visa PTE requirement for the primary applicant is based on Competent English.
For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025:
| PTE Academic skill | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 47 |
| Reading | 48 |
| Writing | 51 |
| Speaking | 54 |
All four scores matter. A higher Listening score, for example, does not compensate for Writing below 51. Home Affairs also makes the timing clear: the primary applicant must have at least Competent English when invited to apply for Subclass 491.
For readers who need the English level explained separately from the visa itself, PTEClasses already covers the Competent English PTE score in detail.
What English Do Adult Dependants Need?
Adult family members are not assessed against the same English standard as the main applicant. If a partner or dependent aged 18 or older is included in the application, they generally need Functional English. If they do not provide acceptable evidence, a second instalment of the visa application charge may apply.
For PTE Academic tests taken from 7 August 2025, Functional English requires:
PTE Academic overall score of at least 24.
That creates a clear difference:
| Applicant | English level | Current PTE requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | Competent English | L47, R48, W51, S54 |
| Adult dependant | Functional English | 24 overall |
This is the most important distinction in the 491 visa English requirement. An adult dependant should not prepare for the primary applicant’s higher component scores unless they need that level for another reason.
PTEClasses has a separate Functional English PTE Score guide if you need the full range of evidence options.
Functional English Is Not Always a PTE Test
An adult dependent does not necessarily have to sit PTE. Home Affairs accepts several ways of proving Functional English. These include certain passports, English-medium education and approved English tests.
Passport evidence
Functional English can be established if the person is a citizen of and holds a valid passport from:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- the Republic of Ireland
- the United Kingdom
- the United States of America
Education in English
Qualifying study can also be used. For example, Home Affairs recognises a degree, higher degree, diploma or trade certificate where the qualification required at least two years of full-time study or training and all instruction was in English. Other school and Australian-study options also exist. So before booking a test for a functional English 491 dependent, first check whether existing education or passport evidence already satisfies the rule.
What Happens If an Adult Dependent Has Less Than Functional English?
Having less than Functional English does not necessarily mean the whole Subclass 491 application fails. Home Affairs provides an alternative: the relevant adult family member may be required to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge. The Department asks for this payment when applicable rather than requiring it automatically at the beginning.
The same principle applies to a Subclass 491 subsequent entrant. Applicants aged 18 or older must either have Functional English or pay the second installment when requested. Visa charges can change, so it is better to check the current Home Affairs fee information rather than hard-code an amount into a long-term article.
Does Subclass 491 Give Points for Higher English?
Yes, Although Competent English is the minimum, Subclass 491 is a points-tested visa. The overall points threshold is currently 65, and English proficiency is one of the factors used in the points test.
Under the skilled migration points system:
- Competent English gives 0 English points
- Proficient English gives 10
- Superior English gives 20
So an applicant can meet the minimum with Competent English but still choose to aim higher if extra points would improve the EOI. This is separate from the dependent’s Functional English requirement.
If you are comparing your current PTE result with migration targets, the PTE Score Calculator can help you review the individual modules rather than relying only on an overall number.
Why the Test Date Still Matters
The Australian Government changed its approved English-test score framework on 7 August 2025. For Competent English, PTE Academic moved from the old 50-each rule to the current uneven component scores of 47, 48, 51 and 54. Pearson also confirms that the Department of Home Affairs introduced the updated PTE score requirements from that date.
Functional English changed as well. The previous PTE threshold was 30 overall, while the current score is 24 overall. If you already hold an older result, do not judge it using the new table alone. Transitional rules and the relevant evidence period may affect whether it can still be used.
When Should the Main Applicant Have Their English Result?
The key point for the main applicant is the invitation. Home Affairs states that a Subclass 491 applicant must have at least Competent English at the time of invitation.
You can update an EOI before an invitation is issued if your circumstances change. SkillSelect recalculates the indicative points score after updates. So if your first PTE result only gives Competent English and a later test reaches Proficient English, the improved result can be added before invitation. Once invited, your application needs evidence supporting the claims that produced the invitation.
Partner English Can Affect More Than the Visa Charge
There is another reason a partner’s English may matter. For points-tested skilled migration, partner factors can contribute to the primary applicant’s points score. A partner who has Competent English can potentially contribute partner points, subject to the full partner-points criteria.
That is different from simply satisfying Functional English for inclusion as an adult family member.
In other words:
Functional English may be enough for the dependent’s visa-related English position.
Competent English may become relevant if you are trying to claim partner points.
Do not mix those two purposes when deciding what score your partner needs.
State Nomination and Family Sponsorship Do Not Change the English Minimum
Subclass 491 can be accessed through either:
- nomination by a state or territory government, or
- sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
The primary applicant still needs Competent English at invitation. What changes is the nomination or sponsorship route, not the basic English level.
State and territory governments can also apply their own nomination criteria, so an applicant should check the rules for the jurisdiction they are targeting rather than assuming the federal minimum covers every nomination requirement.
Does an Overall PTE Score Work for the Main Applicant?
No, The primary applicant’s Competent English is assessed through the four component thresholds.
Suppose the result is:
| Skill | Score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 55 |
| Reading | 57 |
| Writing | 50 |
| Speaking | 62 |
Writing is below 51, so the result does not establish Competent English even though the other scores are comfortably above their minimums. For the adult dependant’s Functional English, however, PTE uses an overall score of 24. That difference is exactly why one PTE target should not be used for every person in the same application.
Is PTE Academic Mandatory for Subclass 491?
No, PTE Academic is one approved English test, not the only option. For Competent English, some applicants can also use qualifying passport evidence. Home Affairs recognises valid passports from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States for that purpose.
Higher levels such as Proficient English need the appropriate test evidence if you want to claim the extra English points.
Choosing the Right PTE Target for a 491 Application
The main applicant should start by deciding what English level the EOI actually needs. If the profile is already strong enough, Competent English may do the job.
If another 10 points would significantly improve the EOI, Proficient English may be worth targeting. For a dependent, the calculation is different. If the only concern is satisfying the family-member English requirement, Functional English may be sufficient.
For wider migration planning, the PTEClasses PTE for Australia PR guide explains how different English levels fit into skilled migration without repeating the Subclass 491-specific rules here.
Final Thoughts
The current PTE score for 491 visa applicants depends on who is being assessed. The primary applicant needs Competent English, which for a current PTE Academic test means 47 Listening, 48 Reading, 51 Writing and 54 Speaking. Adult family members generally need Functional English, where the current PTE threshold is 24 overall, or the second instalment may apply. Keeping those two requirements separate makes it much easier to plan the right English evidence for each person in the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Does a child under 18 need Functional English?
No, Home Affairs’ Functional English requirement for family members applies to applicants aged 18 or older.
What if my child turns 18 while the 491 application is being processed?
Home Affairs may require additional evidence for a child who turns 18 during processing, including evidence of dependency. The English-document requirements can also become relevant once the dependent is an adult.
Does my partner need Competent English if I do not claim partner points?
Not simply for inclusion in the application. For the family-member English requirement, Functional English is generally the relevant level. Competent English becomes important if you are relying on partner English for points.
Can a subsequent entrant use PTE 24 overall?
Yes, where PTE Academic is being used to prove Functional English under the current rules. Adult subsequent entrants need Functional English or may have to pay the second installment.
Can I improve my PTE score after submitting my EOI?
Yes, before the invitation. SkillSelect allows an EOI to be updated when your circumstances or points claims change.
Is 65 points enough to guarantee a Subclass 491 invitation?
No. Sixty-five is the minimum points threshold for consideration, but Home Affairs states that meeting the threshold does not guarantee an invitation.
