English Exemption: Evidence and Documents to Prepare

Who is exempt from submitting an English test result?

The Department of Home Affairs has specific rules on exemption from submitting an English test result. An important point to understand: an “English exemption” in this context means being exempt from submitting an official test result — it does not mean there is no English requirement at all. A person who is exempt is treated by the Department as having met the English requirement through other evidence.

There are two main bases for exemption:

1. Citizenship of a specified English-speaking country
2. Completing at least 5 years of full-time study at an educational institution in a specified English-speaking country

Exemption by citizenship

Citizens of the following countries are usually exempt from submitting an English test result for the common skilled visas:

• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland

Note: this list applies to most common skilled and family visas, but does not necessarily apply to every visa type. Some visas or occupations (particularly in healthcare) may have their own requirements regardless of citizenship.

Evidence of citizenship the Department accepts

To prove citizenship of an exempt country, you need to submit:

A valid passport:

• A valid passport from an exempt country (the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, NZ) is the simplest and most readily accepted evidence.
• If you hold dual citizenship (for example, citizenship of both your home country and the UK), the UK passport is enough to prove the exemption.

An expired passport:

• In some cases, an expired passport from an exempt country together with other evidence of citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or a naturalisation certificate) may be accepted.
• However, a valid passport is always the safest option.

Additional documents if needed:

• A naturalisation certificate if you have naturalised as a citizen of an exempt country
• A birth certificate if you were born in an exempt country and this is the basis for citizenship

Exemption through study at an English-medium institution

If you do not hold citizenship of an exempt country, you may still be exempt if you have completed at least 5 years of full-time study at an educational institution in a specified English-speaking country.

The specific conditions:

• Duration: At least 5 years of full-time study. Part-time study does not qualify, or it requires a correspondingly longer period.
• Institution: It must be a recognised educational institution (a school, university or college).
• Language of instruction: It must be English — study at an international school where the language of instruction is not English does not count.
• Country: It must be a country specified by the Department as English-speaking (usually the countries on the citizenship-exemption list above, plus Australia).

For example: someone who studied high school in the US from Year 9 to Year 12 (4 years) and then 2 years of university in the US may qualify if the total reaches 5 years of full-time study.

Evidence of study the Department accepts

To prove 5 years of study at an English-medium institution, you need to provide:

Official transcripts:

• Transcripts from each institution, officially stamped
• The transcripts should clearly state the name of the institution, its location, the period of study and confirmation of completion

Degree/diploma certificates:

• A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from an institution in a specified country
• A high school graduation certificate from a specified country

A letter of completion/attendance from the institution:

• An official letter from the institution confirming the period of study and that the language of instruction was English
• Particularly important if the transcripts do not clearly state the language of instruction

Old visas and passports:

• Student visa or residence visa pages to prove you were actually present in the country during the period of study.

Notes on special cases

Study in Australia: If you have studied at least 5 years at an Australian institution (including, in rare cases, studying an Australian program online from overseas), this can also count.

Study in other English-speaking countries: Some countries, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, teach in English but are not on the Department’s specified list. Qualifications from these countries usually do not qualify for the English exemption.

Online qualifications: A qualification from a fully online program at an institution in the UK or US, but which you completed from overseas, may not count as “studying in” that country. Check carefully with a migration agent.

Healthcare occupations — an extra note: Even if you qualify for an exemption under the Department’s rules, professional registration bodies such as AHPRA may still require an English test result. The Department’s English exemption and AHPRA’s requirements are two separate systems.

How to submit evidence of an English exemption

When you lodge a visa application through ImmiAccount:

1. Upload a copy of your passport (all pages, including visa pages and entry/exit stamps)
2. Upload evidence of study if applicable
3. Do not enter English test result details — leave it blank if you are exempt

If the Department requests further information, provide the additional evidence within the time allowed.