PTE Score for Australia 482 Visa: Per-Skill Minimums

Short answer: for the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Home Affairs lists PTE Academic minimums of 33 in listening, 36 in reading, 29 in writing and 24 in speaking for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025. The test must be taken within 3 years before you apply, unless you are exempt. Checked 2026-10-13 against the official 482 English proficiency page.

The official PTE Academic minimums for the 482

Checked 2026-10-13. Source: Home Affairs, 482 English proficiency. Each figure is a minimum for that component. Home Affairs notes that if your test offers a single skill retake, it may accept your result for that skill. The page also says that for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 a TOEFL iBT must be registered under "Taking TOEFL for Australia"; that does not affect PTE.

Older tests (before 13 September 2025)

For earlier tests the same page asks for a PTE Academic overall score of at least 36 and at least 36 in each component, achieved in one sitting, and single skill retake results are not accepted. Checked 2026-10-13, same source. Because the 3-year window runs back from your application date, an older result may still be usable if it falls inside it.

Do not use the Competent English table

Home Affairs also publishes a general Competent English page for visas that ask for that level. Its PTE Academic scores for tests from 7 August 2025 are 47, 48, 51 and 54 (listening, reading, writing, speaking), checked 2026-10-13. The 482 uses its own, lower table above. Using the Competent English figures for a 482 could send you into an unnecessary retest.

Differences by stream

For a labour agreement, ask your employer for the English clause in the agreement itself; the Home Affairs page does not set a PTE score for that stream.

Exemptions

The official page says you are exempt if one of the following applies. Checked 2026-10-13, same page.

• You hold a passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
• You completed at least 5 years of full-time study at secondary level or above where most classes were in English. You must supply the institution names and locations, qualification levels, official transcripts, weekly contact hours in English and years of study.
• Your nominated occupation will be performed at a diplomatic or consular mission of another country, or an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan.
• Your occupation needs a licence, registration or membership, and you had to prove equal or higher English than the table above to get it.
• You are an employee of an overseas business that has nominated you, and you will receive guaranteed annual earnings of at least AUD 96,400.

Worked example

Using the 2025 table: a candidate who scores listening 40, reading 38, writing 31 and speaking 30 meets all four minimums (33, 36, 29, 24). A candidate with 45, 50, 52 and 22 does not, because speaking 22 is below 24, even though the other three are well above. There is no averaging across skills, so check each line individually.

Checklist before you book

1. Check whether you hold an exempt passport or qualify under study or occupation grounds.
2. Confirm your stream; labour agreement applicants follow their agreement.
3. Book a test centre sitting; at-home tests are not accepted.
4. Make sure the test date is within 3 years before the day you lodge.
5. Compare your score report against each component line, not just the total.
6. Re-open the official page on the day you apply, since the table has been revised before (the page was updated on 21/09/2026).

Not sure how your practice scores line up? Use the PTE eligibility checker, and see universities if you are also comparing study routes. For the graduate visa table see the 485 guide, and for how long your result stays usable see PTE score validity.